The European Patent Office's Accounting and Internal Control department in Munich is seeking a senior fund accountant for the Reserve Funds for Pensions and Social Security (RFPSS).

The RFPSS is a special class of asset primarily designed to lend support to the EPO's pension and social security schemes by providing the appropriate reserves. RFPSS assets are invested in a broad range of asset classes in accordance with the strategic asset allocation policy, and are managed internally, both by means of direct investments and by using third-party collective investment vehicles, including investment funds and certificates.

As senior fund accountant in the Accounting and Internal Control department, you will be responsible for checking that the investment activity of the portfolio managers complies in content and form with all regulations applying to the RFPSS and for ensuring the settlement and accounting of all transactions and of the correct and complete income.

Your main responsibilities

• Day-to-day monitoring of the execution of trades by portfolio managers, the custodian bank and the brokers; ensuring protection of RFPSS assets by reconciling the investments held by the custodian bank or other financial institutions and reviewing income obtained from investments (no unjustified tax or fee deductions); preparing, reviewing and approving journal entries; approving and sending settlement instructions
• Monitoring the application of regulations (relevant EU and specific RFPSS regulations); ensuring the uniform and effective application of accounting principles
• Analysis and implementation of complex and non-standard cases such as new financial instruments and non-standard corporate actions; setting up new procedures in the accounting system according to IFRS and co-ordination with other units in Principal Directorate 0.5 (Administration of the Reserve Funds)
• Calculation of the net asset value of the different Reserve Funds; checking the correct valuation of the assets (prices), ensuring the accuracy of the financial figures and processing the monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports for the Fund Administrator and the EPO's Finance department
• Participating in projects contributing to the overall operating efficiency of Principal Directorate 0.5 with a view to optimising processes and minimising risks, documenting and reviewing internal processes and procedures, engineering suitable work solutions, and generating ideas and proposals for workflow improvement
• Assisting with enquiries from management and other colleagues, liaising with other EPO units; supporting requests from internal and external audit staff; supervising the work of external service providers
• Deputising for the RFPSS accounting and compliance officer

What we expect from you

• Diploma of completed studies at bachelor's level in accounting/economics/finance or equivalent professional experience acquired over many years in the relevant field
• Four to five years of experience in financial accounting and reporting, preferably with specialisation in financial instruments
• A good knowledge of standard office applications and accounting modules for portfolio management
• Interest in efficiency-related questions, including office automation
• A thorough understanding of regulations and compliance
• Ability to work well both independently and as a member of a team
• Strong communication skills, both orally and in writing, and good presentation skills

Minimum qualifications

• Diploma of completed university studies at bachelor's level or – in exceptional cases – equivalent professional experience
• Working knowledge of two official languages
• Citizenship of one of the member states of the European Patent Organisation.

Time frame

It is intended to hold the interviews in week 49 of 2018.

* after deduction of EPO internal tax and before deduction of staff contributions to the social-security and pension schemes.

To foster gender diversity, EPO encourages applications from female candidates. 

The EPO is an equal opportunities employer and supports workforce diversity as a signatory to the Diversity Charter (Charta der Vielfalt) since 2010.
All applications for vacant positions will be welcomed and considered on the professional merits of the applicant against the role profile for the position regardless of nationality, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, parental responsibilities, age, religion or belief.