Unit:
Global Programme Operations Unit - Brussels
Organisation:
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:
EU Representative Office, Brussels, Belgium
Reporting to:
Senior Programme Manager I BESTLIFE2030
Expected start date:
01 September 2026
Type of contract:
Fixed-term (up to 11 months with possibility of renewal)
Closing date:
28 June 2026
BACKGROUND
IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network - a democratic membership union with more than 1,400 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 15,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by more than 1,000 professional staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. Its headquarters are based in Gland, Switzerland.
The IUCN European Regional Office (EURO) provides vital linkages for IUCN Members, National Committees, Commissions and the Secretariat to governments, EU institutions, NGOs, scientists, practitioners, the private sector and other stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the European Green Deal, the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and related national and regional biodiversity plans. It provides knowledge and advise decision makers to improve conservation policy and action, connect and engage.
JOB DESCRIPTION
IMPORTANT: Please note that the position is part-time from September until December 2026, and 80%-100% from January to July 2027.
The Finance Grants Assistant will support the Grant Finance Officer and the Grants Administrator in developing and delivering effective and efficient finance and administration services to the BESTLIFE2030 Programme, and ensure: Consistent application of relevant IUCN financial and administration procedures tin the Programme in areas such as budgeting, cost recovery, procurement, time recording, contract management, thereby ensuring integrity of financial information and operational processes; Fiduciary and Quality assurance of IUCN financial processes in the programme, ensuring that donor contractual conditions are met.
Under the supervision of the Grants Finance Officer, and in close collaboration with the Grant Administrator, the Finance Grants Assistant will have the following responsibilities:
1. Financial reporting support
- Support the preliminary review of financial reports submitted by grantees before final review by the Grants Finance Officer.
- Check the completeness, internal consistency and basic accuracy of financial reports and reporting templates.
- Verify that reported expenditures are supported by the required documentation and appear aligned with the approved budget and reporting period.
- Compile review comments, identify missing information and prepare financial reporting files for further assessment by the Grants Finance Officer.
- Update internal follow-up trackers and support follow-up on pending financial reporting submissions and clarifications.
2. Supporting documents review and financial filing support
- Review supporting documents submitted by grantees to ensure completeness, legibility and consistency with reported expenditures.
- Organise and classify supporting documentation related to financial reporting in accordance with internal procedures and donor requirements.
- Support the filing of financial reporting documentation in shared systems, ensuring that documents are complete and easily retrievable for review and compliance purposes.
3. Grantee support during reporting
- Provide first-level guidance to grantees on financial reporting templates, supporting documents and submission requirements.
- Follow up with grantees on missing supporting documents, incomplete financial submissions and clarification requests.
- Assist in improving the quality and completeness of grantee financial reporting packages prior to final review
4. Due diligence and operational support
- Assist in collecting and organising due diligence documentation for new grantees and partners, particularly for financial and compliance review.
- Follow up on outstanding due diligence and financial reporting documents.
- Update financial reporting trackers and help ensure files are complete and ready for review.
- Carry out any other related support tasks assigned by the Grants Finance Officer.
- Carry out any other related support tasks assigned by the Grants Finance Officer in relation to financial reporting and grants finance workflow.
REQUIREMENTS
University degree in finance, accounting, business administration, economics, or another relevant field.
At least 3 years of administration and/or accounting support experience
Practical experience of using and updating financial systems
Good communication skills
Hands-on mentality, result driven and team player
Ability to work and function in multicultural and multidisciplinary environment
Strong written and spoken English and French
EU National and/or holder of a Belgian work permit.
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
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