The H2020 Research Funding framework of the European Commission for the 2014-2020 programming period reserved the biggest budget portion for research that has ever been endowed from the EU budget before 2014. Projects funded under H2020 are still being run and are going to be subject to EC surveillance for as long as five years after their completion. That is why knowing and understanding H2020 financial rules is a must for H2020 projects managers.

This online course is an opportunity to grasp the basic principles for managing the EC funds under the Horizon framework. It is addressed to all those project managers, accountants, financial officers, who on a daily basis have to document and keep detailed information on how they spend the EC money.  We will discuss the EC’s audit approach to Horizon beneficiaries in order to reassure project managers in their interaction with auditors.

With the new programming period 2021 – 2027 the EU budget envisages even more important investment focus on Research and Innovation, with its new framework Horizon Europe. We will discuss the novelties – investment focus, financial rules and simplification.

Day 1

Legal Framework behind the H2020 Financial Framework and changes under the new programming period 2021-2027 Horizon Europe

• The EC Financial Regulation – legal basis for EU funding, principles, management modes, control standards for a Sound Financial and Control Management system
• The H2020 Budget and Multiannual Work Programmes
• Horizon Europe 2021-2027 – how it steps on H2020 and how it differs (rules, reimbursement rates)
• Participation in the Guarantee Fund – the EC risk reserve tool
• The Grant Agreement and its Annexes – what the Commission wants from beneficiaries and what it awards them

Eligibility of costs subject to reimbursement

• Common principles of eligibility
• Direct vs. Indirect costs
• Keeping records
• Actual vs Unit costs accounting

Direct costs – Personnel costs

• Productive hours and hourly rate
• Supplementary contracts
• Unit costs (SME owners and Natural persons)

Day 2

Direct costs 

• Subcontracting and Implementing contracts
• Financial support to Third Parties
• Travel and subsistence allowances
• Other direct costs
  • Equipment
  • Administrative costs
  • Non-recoverable VAT

Indirect costs

• General rules
• Flat rate

Ineligible costs – identify and avoid errors from claiming them

How to treat Income from H2020 project?

EC Audits and conditions for final payment

Examples and questions

Participants of the two days training will learn: 

• The contractual requirements for EU funded projects
• Documentation and record keeping requirements  
• How to document project finance
• How to correctly distinguish and record economic and non-economic activities
• How to identify eligible and non-eligible costs
• The differences between direct and indirect costs
• How to prepare for financial audits
• How to respond to pre-audit questions from the EC
• How to act during on-the-spot checks
• How to avoid disputes 

Course’s Benefits & Outcomes: 

• Become familiar with the current EU rules

• Prepare accurate documentation

• Avoid compromising your project

• Avoid financial corrections and repayments due to incorrect financial recording

• Improve the success rate of your project proposals

• Increase absorption of your funds through simplifying application and reporting processes

• Find out how to utilise the financial and auditing control tools

• Find out how to avoid second audits

• Increase your organisation’s competitiveness

• Benefit from practical workshops and exercises

• Learn from best practice examples of our experienced speakers

• Benefit from key insights

• Receive tangible and actionable advice on your individual questions

• Network and exchange experience with peers and possible partners from across EU

Participation fee for the 2 days training:

Remote €1100 exl. VAT

Training package includes:

Admission to the course

Course’s Handbook

Hard copies of training material 

Certificate on the “Financial Administration & Auditing Preparation for E.C. Funded Projects” training completion

Certificate of attendance

Accreditation to Professionals Directory

Sara Dishkova
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) since 2002

Experienced internal auditor, both in the private sector and in the domain of EU-funds-spending entities. Sara was actively involved in the establishment of the internal audit function in the administration managing the pre-accession of EU funds in Bulgaria. As such, she worked as an internal auditor for SAPARD, ISPA and PHARE Agencies and held many training courses for government officials. Worked for more than three years as an internal auditor of EU Agencies and bodies, and served another three years as an external auditor in the Common Audit Service (CAS)of the European Commission (RTD), was responsible for the outsourced audits of FP7 beneficiaries. Participated in the development of the procedures used for audit of personnel costs in projects under H2020 funding. Sara is also a Business Consultant in Belgium, ICTNET.

Dimitrios Prilidis
Certified Auditor

Only recently left the B2 Unit, where for the last 4 years he has been conducting on the spot controls for beneficiaries. During his work, Dimitrios has contributed to the development and definition of new audit methodologies, approaches and strategies, guidance documents, manuals and other audit-related matters for Horizon 2020. Dimitrios has an extensive experience in Financial and Business Controls.