Assistant Controller

Serco is a leading Space Services Provider with thousands of skilled resources that have supported over 50 space missions on behalf of more than 10 Space or Government agencies around the globe, including the ESA and NASA.
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, and management services, playing a key role in logistics and operational support for missions. Serco's expertise in spacecraft management, ground systems, and data processing has earned them recognition, including the 'Best in Domain' award from ESA. Their long-standing partnership with ESA reflects their commitment to excellence and innovation in the space sector.

We are seeking for an Assistant Controller to work on our customer site (ESA-ESTEC) in the Netherlands. This is a fantastic opportunity to get into one of the most sought-after space agencies in the world. 

Responsibilities: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 the implementation of procurement actions in the related systems
• Coordinate and update all procurement activities in the related systems, providing the overall oversight and proactive 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, Contracts, and CCN objects in the related systems and follow 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 the 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 (PCMS and SAP)
• Verify the procurement action changes in SCI planning (e.g. PCMS) 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 SCI-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:

• Provide user assistance for procurement item implementation in the ESA tools.
• Ensure there is a well-co-ordinated service interface with SCI-F, SCI-P, and SCI-M for the efficient financial and project control processes and related tasks in planning, procurement, cost, commitment, cash, and expenditure management, and reporting;
• Implement, maintain, and monitor all procurement objects and contract actions in SAP, such as Shopping Carts, RFx, New Contracts, Purchase Orders, Contract Change Notices, GRN/MACs, Fund reservations, etc.
• Provide updates to the requesters on Status, progress, and issues encountered.
• Support preparation of detailed and accurate budgets, forecasts, and financial reports for the SCI 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;
• Support the creation, implementation, update, and reporting of all project CACs in the SCI 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 SCI planning databases (e.g. PCMS & WFM);
• Support the Geo-Return management and controlling process and related tasks;
• Perform industrial GEO-Return updates in the related databases (e.g. EROS, SCI, and any other databases according to SCI 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 training;
• Support the digitisation, consolidation & tracking of procurement action plans in the related systems, close coordination and support from the SCI Business Tools;
• Support programme contingency planning in the related databases;
• Support coordination, planning, and CAC review meetings, briefings, and training for ESA tools;

Profile:

• University degree (Bachelor) in Business Administration (or Communications as relevant), with relevant experience.
• At least 4 years of relevant work experience.
• Experience in financial planning and controlling and/or management of activities and resources in the aerospace industry.
• High capacity to interact and communicate effectively with cross-functional teams, from engineering, technical, and business domains.
• Good sense of contacts and communications, ability to interface at the 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, identifying priority actions, and handling high workloads.
• Ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team within the boundaries of assigned tasks and stringent schedules.
• Highly proficient in the use of modern activities and resource management support tools/databases of standard office automation support software packages including advanced usage of MS Office and in particular advanced use of Excel.
• Experience as a proficient 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: ESA-P, ESA-STAR, EROS, ECLIPSE, WLMS, PCMS, WFM+, PowerBI, and ESA Data Factory.
• 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 the 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.

On offer:

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

 Relocation:The Netherlands' central location in Europe makes it an ideal base for travel and business within the EU. Major cities are well-connected by road, rail, and air with Amsterdam Schiphol Airport one of Europe's busiest and most well-connected airports, facilitating easy international travel. Serco offers relocation support for all EU passport holders who are planning to relocate to the Netherlands and work for Serco B.V. DE&IDiversity, Equity & Inclusion at Serco is based on a culture where every voice is heard and every employee feels valued. Working together as one team, we can enhance the experience of our people and teams, improve the value of our solutions to better serve the missions of our customers, and make an impact in our world.

About Serco:

Serco is a leading Space Services Provider with thousands of skilled resources that has supported over 50 space missions on behalf of more than 10 Space or Government agencies around the globe, including the likes of ESA, CNES, EUMETSAT, EUSPA, ASI and NASA. We offer space capabilities across the full space lifecycle from satellite testing to Launch services, LEOP to spacecraft operations, space surveillance to data management, and supporting downstream application development. With over 55 years history in the space sector Serco is well placed to contribute to National strategies across Europe and the globe We work within the heart of the space sector so understand the challenges our customers face. When it comes to recruitment we are experts in sourcing the very best talent within space engineering, earth observation, satellite communications and cyber security. We have placed hundreds of people from post graduates through to C-suite executives into space agencies, satellite operators, manufacturers, system integrators, consultancies, earth observation/remote sensing, launch providers and much more.

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