SENIOR ADVISORY · FINANCE · CONTRACTS · COMPLIANCE

Securing your projects,
from budget preparation to audit.

I help consulting firms and international cooperation organisations keep the financial, contractual and administrative management of their donor-funded projects on solid ground.

Let’s discuss your assignment

Remote or on site, according to the needs of the assignment

23programmes across 18 countries

23countries covered throughout my career

€60M+in technical assistance contracts managed*

* Excluding budgets managed under programme estimates.

01 / YOUR NEEDS

The right support,
when it matters.

Targeted support or longer-term assistance, according to your team’s needs.

Preparing a tender budget

Prepare a budget that reflects the planned activities, the resources required and the donor’s requirements.

Launching a programme

Organise financial and administrative management, clarify responsibilities and establish practical working methods.

Ensuring sound procurement and contracting

Review tender documents, determine the applicable procedures and support procurement or contract negotiations.

Preparing for an audit

Check expenditure eligibility, the quality of supporting documents and the audit trail; prepare teams for the audit.

Strengthening financial and contract management

Ensure continuity of financial and contractual management, support a transition or resolve a complex situation.

02 / AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Procedural rigour.
The realities of project implementation.

Budgets & financial management

Preparation and review of tender budgets, budget monitoring, expenditure control, monitoring of margins, financial closure and reporting. Aligning contractual commitments and available resources with operational realities.

Procurement & contract management

Advice on donor rules and procedures, including PRAG and those applicable to EDF- and NDICI-funded projects; preparation and review of procurement dossiers, contract negotiation and management, consortium agreements and subcontracting arrangements.

Incidental expenditure & grants

Management of incidental expenditure (incidentals): budget planning, monitoring commitments and expenditure, compliance with competitive procurement procedures, verification of supporting documents and preparation for expenditure verification. Management of calls for proposals and administrative and financial monitoring of grants.

Compliance & audits

Checking expenditure eligibility and supporting documents; ensuring financial, contractual and administrative compliance; quality control of documents and reports. Preparing for audits and following up on recommendations.

Leadership, advisory support & training

Part-time leadership of finance and contract management, interim management, team supervision and advice to project managers. Establishing working methods and providing training to help teams work independently.

03 / EXPERIENCE & RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership experience,
from headquarters to the field.

ICE

International Consulting Expertise

Contract & Finance Director

Financial, contractual and administrative leadership for a portfolio of 23 international cooperation programmes in 18 countries, representing more than €60M in technical assistance contracts.

For some projects, I was also responsible for managing the entire implementation process, from start-up to closure: directing technical activities, monitoring results and deliverables, and coordinating headquarters and field teams.

My remit covered budget management, procurement, contracts, grants, incidental expenditure and audit coordination, working with donors, beneficiaries and consortium partners.

TRACK RECORD

No expenditure was declared ineligible across the portfolio I managed at ICE.

A result built on preventive controls and continuous support to teams.

GOPA PACE

March 2023 to May 2026

Head of ISU Implementation Support Unit

I managed a team of eight and advised teams across GOPA PACE.

The ISU supported day-to-day project management, including data entry and the monitoring of project data in the Maconomy ERP system.

As the procurement focal point, I co-authored the procurement manual and supported teams in applying it. My advisory role covered the financial, contractual and administrative aspects of project implementation.

I deepened my expertise in Maconomy for project accounting, budget monitoring, invoicing and financial reporting.

I held this role alongside my leadership responsibilities at ICE until May 2026.

Justice & rule of law · Governance · Health · Civil society · Public finance · Culture

04 / HOW I WORK

Behind every contract,
a team that needs to move forward.

I make donor requirements clear and practical to apply, anticipate difficulties and give teams reliable guidance to inform their decisions.

I combine rigorous documentation with practical knowledge of project implementation. I work with teams to solve problems and share methods that help them work independently.

05 / WORKING TOGETHER

Let’s discuss
your assignment.

A budget to prepare, a procurement question, an audit to prepare for or a need for senior support? Let’s discuss your situation and deadlines, even if you are still defining the support you need.

caroline.arnauts@outlook.com linkedin.com/in/caroline-arnauts ↗

ENGAGEMENT FORMATS: One-off assignments, part-time support, advisory services or interim management.
WORKING ARRANGEMENTS: Remote or on-site assignments. Scope, deliverables and timetable agreed together.
WORKING LANGUAGES: French · English · Italian
DONOR ENVIRONMENTS: European Union (EDF and NDICI funding; PRAG procedures), AFD, GIZ and the World Bank.