HR Payroll Assistant (M/F) – reference: 1128

Centrale Nantes is a prestigious engineering school that awards degrees to engineers, master’s students and PhD candidates following academic programmes based on the latest developments in science and technology and on best management practices.

As a member of the Groupe des Écoles Centrales (Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes and Paris), our school provides high-quality education for highly selected students.

A public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Centrale Nantes has over 2,250 students, 500 staff members and 600 part-time staff.

Job description:

You will join the four-person Budget and Operations Unit within the Directorate of Financial Affairs and the Accounting Agency (FAAA).

Your role will be to implement and monitor financial and/or accounting operations related to multi-year research contracts.

Your responsibilities

• Provide support to the Head of the Budget and Operations Division in organizing and monitoring activities, ensuring service continuity and the reliability of financial processes.

• Coordinate the team on an operational level, in collaboration with the division head, by prioritizing tasks, tracking deadlines, and ensuring consistent management of operations related to research contracts.

• Verify the compliance of agreements, create transactions in the financial IT system, validate budget proposals, and allocate budget funds for research contracts.

• Provide financial oversight of research contracts involving complex financial engineering, particularly those requiring cross-functional coordination.

• Collect and prepare the financial supporting documents required by funders, ensuring their compliance.

• Validate funding for recruitment linked to research contracts and monitor payroll-related budget allocations.

• Organize the stages of the budget dialogue process, review requests for budget reallocations, and generate the necessary budget reports from the information systems.

• Prepare closing operations as part of project progress monitoring.

• Implement monitoring and alert tools to manage financial risks and help improve procedures, and contribute to teamwork and the sharing of best practices.

• Advise internal stakeholders on financial matters and provide information on accounting procedures and changes in legislation.

Skills:

• General knowledge of budgeting and accounting

• Excellent proficiency in Excel

• Ability to analyze financial and contractual documents

• Ability to analyze accounting and financial data

• Ability to provide clear and concise financial communication, including serving as a point of contact

• Strong time management and prioritization skills

• Team leadership skills

Required Qualities:

• Independence

• Diligence / Reliability

• Teamwork

• Professional communication skills

Flexibility in dealing with tight deadlines and fluctuating workloads (budget planning and financial closing).

Required qualifications: You hold a bachelor’s degree in management accounting, finance, or project management. You have initial, successful experience in a related field.

What we offer:

• 12-month fixed-term contract

• Position open to contract employees

• Category A – Assistant Engineer

• Full-time position – based in Nantes

• Flexible hours

• Adjustable work schedules (option to work 4.5 days)

• RTT + additional leave

• Health insurance and retirement plan

• Remote work possible

• Remote work allowance

• Free parking

• 75% transportation reimbursement

• Sustainable mobility bonus (for biking or carpooling)

Compensation: according to the French civil service pay scales

Position available: September 2026

HR Contact: Guénolée COTTINEAU

Manager Contact: Sophie ROUTHIEAU

This job posting uses terms such as “candidate,” “engineer,” “manager,” etc. These titles should be understood as gender-neutral and apply to both men and women.

Centrale de Nantes is committed to equality and diversity. In accordance with our institution’s CSR commitments, this position is open to all.