Vacancies

Assistant Controller

Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.

Package Description

What we offer if you join our amazing team:

Flexible working policy (hybrid working)
Comprehensive and competitive benefits plan
A range of wellness activities and employee assistance programs
Casual dress code

Job Introduction

Serco has made significant contributions at ESA's European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands, supporting a wide range of space missions and projects. Serco has provided essential engineering, technical, scientific and management services, playing a key role in operational support for missions. Serco's expertise in spacecraft management, ground systems and data processing has earned them recognition, including 'Best in Domain' awards from ESA. Their long-standing partnership with ESA reflects their commitment to excellence and innovation in the space sector.

On behalf of our client, the European Space Agency, we are looking for several Financial and Business Management Assistant Controllers to support the Business Control and Management Support Group of the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration (HRE). at the esteemed ESA-ESTEC site, in the Netherlands. The service is expected to be on-site in ESTEC, collocated with the project teams and providing remote support to EAC or ECSAT with travels/missions as required.

The service will assist the project teams from the study phase, to implementation of the projects up to the end of the to the end of in-flight commissioning

Main Responsibilities

As an Assistant Controller you will concentrate your activities on the following:

Procurement Implementation Tasks

Provide support and assistance for project control aspects of the procurement process and related tasks
Ensure common, harmonised, approved processes, are followed for implementation of procurement actions in the related systems
Coordinate and update all procurement activities in the related systems, providing the overall oversight and pro-active follow up to clarifications, issues, requests for information, approval workflow and providing consolidated activity logs, status, and statistics for all actions
Create and implement Purchase Order, Work Orders, Contract and CCN objects in the related systems and following up on approval flow
Implement RFXs & Shopping Carts in ESA-p after verification of the proper information and documentation provided
Support inputs clarifications and follow up on actions and status of Purchase Orders created by Purchase Office
Handle low-value purchase orders and reimbursement requests related to project expenses
Implement contracts in ESA-p based on the agreed Milestone Payment Plan (MPP) and Advance Payment table when required
Collect geo-return information and perform approved updates in corporate systems
Create and process Goods Receipt Notes (GRNs) in ESA-p clarifying any ambiguities or issues and follow up on approval flow.
Handle the approval process in line with audit requirements, ensuring the audit trail is prepared.
Create and process invoices in ESA-p, clarifying any ambiguities or issues and follow up on approval flow
Collect and update the ESA-estimating dates for payment milestones in the related systems (IPCDB and SAP)
Verify the procurement action changes in HRE planning (e.g. IPCDB) are within the CAC/cost plans
Implement approved accruals in the related systems in close coordination and approval with the Project Controllers
Support contract close-out activities in the ESA corporate and HRE related systems and handle the nominal operational and analytical processes required to close contracts
Produce and maintain procurement process implementation documentation and guidelines
support the review of Contract / Work Order financial annexes / PSS forms for accuracy and correctness before ESA-p implementation in close coordination with Project or Business Control

Planning and Project Support tasks

Ensure there is a well-co-ordinated service interface with HRE-P for the efficient financial and project control processes and related tasks in planning, procurement, cost, commitment, cash and expenditure management and reporting;
Support preparation of detailed and accurate budgets, forecasts, and financial reports for the HRE Directorate;
Maintain the budget implementation plan for projects;
Support programme and project contingency planning and updates in the related databases;
Support the multi-year planning exercise and Interim/financial closure exercise by making data collection, data verification and validation exercises, performing updates & corrections, and providing tailored and ad hoc data analysis and reporting;
Support the Quarterly Cost Report exercise including identification and analysis of variances in the financial data and the implementation of approved corrections;
Provide cost, fund commitment and cash disbursement reports at the required level of granularity;
Collect and consolidate programme and project KPI data and information, performing the update of IT systems for KPI tracking and reporting;
Support the creation, implementation, update and reporting of all project CACs in the HRE planning and control database;
Support data consistency verification for project CACs between the ESA corporate financial systems (e.g. ESA-p, EROS, WLMS) and in the HRE planning databases (e.g. IPCDB & WFT);
Support the Geo-Return management and controlling process and related tasks;
Perform industrial GEO-Return updates in the related databases (e.g. EROS, HRE and any other databases according to HRE and ESA needs);
Provide reporting such as activity logs, statistics and progress status on work-package tasks;
Produce and maintain project CAC process documentation and guidelines;
Provide inputs and recommendations for process optimisation for procurement support activities and tasks;
Support financial and management audits, including preparation activities, information gathering, coordination, presentations and action item tracking / implementation;
Support and attend coordination meetings, working groups, database/ tool briefings and trainings;
Support the digitisation, consolidation & tracking of procurement action plans in the related systems, in close coordination and support from the HRE Business Tools;
Support programme contingency planning in the related databases;
Support coordination, planning and CAC review meetings, briefings and trainings for ESA tools;
Provide user assistance for procurement item implementation in the ESA tools.

Successful Candidate

Do you think you are the person we are looking for? See below what experience or knowledge you should bring:

University degree (Bachelor) in STEM and/or Business Administration, with relevant experience.
At least 5 years of relevant work experience.
Experience in financial planning and controlling and/or management of activities and resources in aerospace industry.
High capacity to interact and communicate effectively with cross-functional team, from engineering, technical and business domains.
Good sense of contacts and communications, ability to interface at appropriate level with relevant actors within and outside of the Directorate.
Good knowledge of supporting project-oriented environment
Reliability, rigor and initiative in the execution of the assigned work.
Proactive attitude to solving problems, identify priority actions and to handle high workload.
Ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team within the boundaries of assigned tasks and stringent schedule.
Highly proficient in the use of modern activities and resource management support tools/databases of standard office automation support software packages including advance usage of Excel (Ms-Office and in particular advanced use of Excel).
Experience as user of SAP and in particular ECC and SRM modules and familiarity with relevant ESA corporate applications ( e.g. ESA-p) is an asset.
Proficient with one or more of the following: Microsoft365, ESA-P, ESA-STAR, EROS, THREAD, Polaris, ECLIPSE, OMNES, WLMS, CIFM, MAS, IPCDB, HRE Workforce Database, PowerBI, Business Objects, LLM modules, ESA Data Factory and Symbio/Zenith;
Ability to rapidly understand and adapt to ESA specific context and environment including ESA corporate IT applications.
Experience with ESA in relevant activities is an asset.
Familiarity with ESA working environment in a similar position is a distinct advantage.
Excellent interpersonal skills are needed, together with a high degree organizational and communication abilities, and comfortable with working in a diverse and multinational team environment.
Proficient in the English language, both written and spoken.
Knowledge of another EU member state language is an asset.
Candidates must be eligible to work in the EU.

About the Company

Why should you join Serco ?

At Serco not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play.

Meaningful and vital work - You’ll contribute to methodologically intercepting challenges whilst achievements will also be recognised and celebrated.

A world of opportunity - You’ll be wholeheartedly supported with development and career progression

Great people - You’ll become an integral member of a well-defined and supportive team who believe passionately in the value of our work. We are a company passionate about diversity and inclusion.

About Serco

Serco Europe has operated in the Netherlands and Spain over the past 30 years, mainly in the field of Space. Serco Netherlands and Spain have a long history of partnership and trust with the European Space Agency (ESA).

In both countries, Serco is proud to deliver the highest calibre of people and services at ESTEC (ESA’s technology and engineering hub) and ESAC (ESA’s Astronomy and Science centre).

At the heart of its business, Serco Netherlands and Spain source, train, care and support employees, enabling them to better pursue their dreams of working in the Space industry in excelling in the delivery of essential public services.

We are diverse and inclusive organisation

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential and we are committed to supporting the needs of all our colleagues. It’s a mix of people from different backgrounds, experiences and opinion that keeps our culture strong and vibrant.

We believe in equity so we strongly encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their abilities in an interview. We also welcome a conversation about any adjustments that would make the interview process more accessible for you. Wherever possible we are open to discussions around flexible working and we operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas.

In the UK we are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader in the government’s scheme and hold the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard; in Belgium we are partner of Diversicom and member of Charter der Vielfalt in Germany.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to The Serco Europe Recruitment Team

Important:

Any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing documents to verify your identity and employment eligibility, as required by law.

Applicants are reminded that they will be requested to produce such documentation during the recruitment process.

Please contact a member of the recruitment team if you require further details of acceptable types of documentation required for verification of identity and work authorization.

Data Protection:

For more information on how the personal data in your application is process, please see the link Data Protection policy here.