CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Auditors in the fields of (i) mathematics and statistics — (ii) data science, digital audit, data and network analysis, data and text mining, process automation and process mining

Temporary staff (grades AD 5–AD 9)

(2020/C 185 A/01)

 

WHO WE ARE

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) is the European Union’s external auditor. Established in 1975, the ECA is one of the EU’s seven institutions. We are based in Luxembourg and employ around 900 audit, support and administrative staff of all EU nationalities.

The ECA operate as a collegiate body of 27 Members, one Member from each EU Member State. Our auditors check that the EU keeps good accounts and correctly applies its financial rules, and that its policies and programmes achieve their intended objectives and deliver value for money.

Through our work, we contribute to improving the EU’s financial management and promote accountability and transparency. We warn of risks, provide assurance, indicate shortcomings and successes and offer guidance to EU policymakers and legislators. We present our observations and recommendations to the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, and national governments and parliaments, as well as the general public.

The Court is divided into audit Chambers. The Court has a ‘task-based’ organisational structure, with staff placed in a pool from which they are selected for administrative assignment to the various Chambers on a priority basis.

WHAT WE ARE OFFERING

The Court has decided to establish a reserve list of auditors who may be offered contracts as temporary agents of the institution, depending on the available posts and operational needs.

The auditors will be recruited under Article 2b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the EU (CEOS) for a four-year period, renewable once for a maximum period of another two years. The initial contract will be subject to a probationary period of nine months.

The newly recruited auditors will follow an integration programme, which will consist of an induction period that includes appropriate training and immersion in audit teams.

This selection procedure covers AD function group, grades AD 5 to AD 9 and several fields.

The grading of the successful candidates will be determined based on their relevant professional experience.

The basic monthly salary for grade AD 5 (step 1) is currently 4 883,11 euros, while the basic monthly salary for grade AD 9 (step 1) is currently 8 002,30 euros.

Under the conditions laid down in the CEOS, and depending on individual circumstances and household composition, certain allowances may be added to the basic salary, which is subject to EU tax and exempt from national tax.

The provisions guiding the calculation of these allowances can be consulted in the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (1).

The EU institutions have their own pension and health systems for which contributions are deducted from staff salaries at source.

Staff members’ children may enrol at the European School free of charge.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

I.   Eligibility criteria

1.   Legal requirements

In accordance with Article 12(2) of the CEOS, candidates must, on the date of their application:

—	be a national of one of the EU’s Member States;

—	enjoy their full rights as citizens;

—	have fulfilled any obligations imposed on them by the recruitment laws concerning military service; and

—	meet the character requirements for the duties involved.

2.   Qualifications

In accordance with Article 10(1) of the CEOS:

—

for grades AD 5–AD 6 a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years, as attested by a diploma, in the fields of either (i) mathematics or statistics (ii) data science, digital audit, data/network/business analysis, data/text mining, forensic accounting, process automation or process mining; or

—

for grades AD 7 to AD 9 a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least four years, as attested by a diploma, in the fields of either (i) mathematics or statistics (ii) data science, digital audit, data/network/business analysis, data/text mining, forensic accounting, process automation or process mining.

Please note that only diplomas that have been awarded in EU Member States or that are the subject of equivalence certificates issued by the authorities of one of these Member States shall be taken into consideration.

3.   Professional experience (see also Annex)

Prior to the deadline for applications for this call, candidates must also have:

—	at least two (2) years relevant professional experience in the fields of either (i) mathematics and statistics or (ii) data science, digital audit, data and network analysis, data and text mining, process automation and process mining for grade AD 5; or

—	at least four (4) years relevant professional experience in the fields of either (i) mathematics and statistics or (ii) data science, digital audit, data and network analysis, data and text mining, process automation and process mining for grade AD 6; or

—	at least seven (7) years relevant professional experience in the fields of either (i) mathematics and statistics or (ii) data science, digital audit, data and network analysis, data and text mining, process automation and process mining for grade AD 7; or

—	at least ten (10) years relevant professional experience in the fields of either (i) mathematics and statistics or (ii) data science, digital audit, data and network analysis, data and text mining, process automation and process mining for grade AD 8; or

—	at least thirteen (13) years relevant professional experience in the fields of either (i) mathematics and statistics or (ii) data science, digital audit, data and network analysis, data and text mining, process automation and process mining for grade AD 9.

4.   Knowledge of languages

As EN and FR are the official working languages of the Court, a sound knowledge of one of these languages (minimum level C1 in understanding, speaking and writing) is required.

Knowledge of other languages would be considered an asset.

To assess your foreign language skills, see:

http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/resources/european-language-levels-cefr

II.   Selection criteria

In addition to the qualifications, professional experience and language level specified under I. Eligibility, the following competencies will be considered in the later stage of the selection:

—	Professional certification from a high level international organisation/s in any of the fields referred to above (CISA certification, for example);

—	Professional experience of at least 3 years in the areas of auditing (financial and compliance audit, performance audit) applying the knowledge gained in any of the fields referred to above;

—	A strong academic record — a PhD or official academic research in any of the fields referred to above.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Applications will be examined by a Selection Committee, appointed by the Authority empowered to conclude contracts of employment (AECCE), solely based on the information provided.

The Selection Committee will draw up a reserve list of candidates who meet the eligibility criteria, in alphabetical order.

The candidates on the reserve list may be invited to the interview. They will be selected based on the merit of their profiles, taking into account the needs of the service and the competencies referred to under point II. Selection criteria of this notice.

The purpose of this interview is to determine whether the candidate(s) actually meet(s) the requirements of the duties to be performed.

They may also be required to take further specific tests in order to assess their skills and competencies.

Following the interviews, the Selection Committee will give the AECCE a proposed list of candidate(s) who meet(s) the requirements of the duties to be performed.

Based on this, the AECCE may then make a job offer to one or more of the selected candidates.

The inclusion of candidates in the list submitted to the AECCE does not, in any way, constitute an entitlement to recruitment.

APPLICATIONS

The deadline for applications is midday on 2 July 2020 (CET)

Applications must be drafted in English or French and submitted only via the online form provided at the bottom of the Call (EN or FR) available on the ECA’s Job Opportunities page (under ‘Open positions’):

https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/Pages/JobOpportunities.aspx#page-search---index---lang---en_US

Applications shall be accompanied by the following documents:

—	A letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages);

—	an up-to-date CV (maximum 5 pages), which must be in the ‘Europass’ format (see: http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu).

In the application, candidates should clearly state the chosen field: (i) mathematics and statistics or (ii) data science, digital audit, data and network analysis, data and text mining, process automation and process mining.

Please note that only the information provided in your CV and motivation letter shall be taken into account when evaluating your application.

The details provided in the application are considered true and correct and will therefore be binding for the applicant.

The candidates have to be able, upon request, to produce written evidence of their qualifications, professional experience and current duties if deemed necessary.

Interested applicants should complete their online application in time. We strongly advise applicants not to wait until the last few hours to apply. Experience has shown that the system may become overloaded closer to the deadline for applications. It may therefore prove difficult to apply on time.

Any application failing to adhere strictly to these instructions will be rejected.

RECRUITMENT POLICY

In line with the Court’s equal opportunities policy and with Article 1d of the Staff Regulations, the Court embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. The Court accepts applications without discrimination on any grounds and takes steps to ensure that recruitment is evenly balanced between men and women, pursuant to Article 23 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The Court also implements measures to reconcile working life with family life.

If you require any special arrangements (for specific handicap or disability) in order to take part in this selection procedure, please send an email in good time to ECA-Recrutement@eca.europa.eu

DATA PROTECTION

The Court is committed to ensuring that candidates' personal data are processed in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC (2).

For more information, see the specific privacy statement for employment vacancies, available at:

https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADocuments/Specific_Privacy_Statement_vacancies/Specific_Privacy_Statement_vacancies_EN.PDF

If a vacancy notice or call for expression of interest provides for a reserve list to be established, the reserve list containing the names of successful candidates will be published on the ECA website (Intranet/Internet). The list will remain on our website until it is no longer valid. Please note you have the right to request that we omit your name from the published reserve list. You may do this by sending an email to ECA-recrutement@eca.europa.eu

REQUESTS FOR RECONSIDERATION — COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS — COMPLAINTS TO THE EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN

If, at any stage in the selection procedure, you believe that a decision adversely affects you, the following options are available:

I.   Request for a Selection Committee’s decision to be reconsidered

You may submit a reasoned written request for a Committee’s decision to be reconsidered. Such a request must be submitted to the following address within 10 days of notification of the decision: ECA-Recours@eca.europa.eu

II.   Complaints

Pursuant to Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations, you may submit a complaint against the Court’s Decision to reject your application within three months of being notified thereof, to the following address:

The Secretary-General

European Court of Auditors

12, rue Alcide De Gasperi

L-1615 Luxembourg

LUXEMBOURG.

III.   Judicial appeal

Pursuant to Article 91 of the Staff Regulations, if your complaint is rejected and this decision affects you adversely, you may then file an appeal with the European Court of Justice. Such appeals must be filed by a lawyer within three months of notification of the decision to reject the complaint.

IV.   Complaints to the European Ombudsman

If you believe that the handling of your application has involved maladministration by the European Court of Auditors, you may submit a complaint to the European Ombudsman, having first contacted the Court with a view to settling the dispute. You must submit your complaint in writing within two years of discovering the relevant facts. An electronic complaints form is available on the European Ombudsman’s website. Complaining to the European Ombudsman will not suspend the above-mentioned appeal deadlines.

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(1)  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:01962R0031-20200101&from=EN

(2)  OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39.