Financial Accountant/ IPSAS Subject Matter Expert

Location: Norfolk, VA (On-site at NATO HQ SACT)
Organization: Ironclad Defense Works 
Employment Type: Firm-Fixed Price / Level-of-Effort Contract Support
Security Clearance: Active NATO or National SECRET security clearance required

Role Overview

Ironclad Defense Works is seeking a highly qualified Financial Accountant / International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) Subject Matter Expert to provide on-site contractor support to NATO Allied Command Transformation’s Office of Budget and Finance.

The selected candidate will support the Treasury & Accounting function within BUDFIN, contributing to accounting operations, IPSAS implementation, financial statement preparation, audit support, accounting policy development, and ACT-wide financial reporting activities.

This role requires a senior accounting professional with deep experience in public-sector or international organization accounting, financial controls, IPSAS, reconciliations, audit liaison, and consolidated financial statement preparation

Key Responsibilities

The Financial Accountant / IPSAS SME will support BUDFIN Treasury & Accounting by performing duties including:

• Supporting the development, implementation, and compliance of accounting policies, directives, and international accounting standards.
• Contributing to ACT-wide IPSAS accounting policy and implementation activities.
• Drafting and updating accounting guidance, briefing materials, reports, and related documentation.
• Supporting the development and delivery of accounting and IPSAS-related training across ACT entities.
• Providing hands-on support to daily accounting operations, including general ledger activities, cash management, reporting, budgeting support, audit support, and bank reconciliations.
• Conducting and coordinating monthly and quarterly reconciliations, closure activities, and supporting documentation.
• Preparing and coordinating ACT’s consolidated annual financial statement process.
• Supporting end-of-year financial guidance and activities for ACT commands and related entities.
• Ensuring proper accounting and reconciliation of calls of funds from NATO member nations.
• Supporting periodic cash verifications and documenting corrective actions.
• Supporting fixed asset inventory accounting, including records maintenance and accounting treatment for acquisitions and retirements.
• Supporting audit evidence provision, audit responses, and tracking closure of audit recommendations.
• Providing recommendations related to reimbursable services, service-level agreements, accounting requirements, and asset management.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• University degree in finance, accounting, or audit; or professional qualification/accreditation from an IFAC member body such as CPA, ACCA, CIPFA, or national equivalent; or national government equivalent certification with at least six years of related post-certification experience.
• Minimum 10 years of demonstrated experience developing plans, policies, and processes in finance and/or accounting.
• Minimum 10 years of demonstrated experience developing and presenting analysis and controls related to mission information, functions, processes, and objectives.
• Minimum 5 years of experience analyzing and preparing financial statements in the private or public sector.
• Minimum 5 years of demonstrated knowledge and expertise in accounting principles, procedures, and standards related to IPSAS.
• Demonstrated ability to support IPSAS implementation.
• Demonstrated experience implementing intangible accounting policies, procedures, and registers.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and collaborative software.
• English proficiency equivalent to STANAG 6001 SLP 3333 or equivalent professional fluency.
• Active NATO or National SECRET security clearance.
• Citizenship of a NATO member nation.
• Valid NATO-nation passport with no travel restrictions to NATO nations.

Preferred Qualifications

Highly competitive candidates will have:

• 10+ years of IPSAS experience.
• 10+ years of financial statement preparation experience.
• Experience supporting NATO, international organizations, government agencies, or public-sector finance environments.
• Experience with consolidated financial statements across multiple entities.
• Experience supporting financial audits and responding to audit findings.
• Experience delivering accounting or IPSAS training to finance teams.
• Familiarity with NATO financial rules, regulations, or multinational finance environments.

Work Environment

This position is performed on-site at HQ SACT in Norfolk, Virginia. Normal NATO office conditions apply. No travel is currently anticipated for this requirement.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply through this site, or send a resume/CV to:
jobs@idw.inc

Please include “Financial Accountant / IPSAS SME” in the subject line.