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Job description

The Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) is looking for Grade 7 Accountants. Good financial management is a high priority for all government departments and financial expertise is one of the key skills. Advising top management in relation to the financial planning processes of government departments and agencies, including advice and guidance on the budget and Estimate processes. Please see employer website for full job details & person specification.

Responsibilities

• Advising top management in relation to the financial planning processes of government departments and agencies, including advice and guidance on the budget and Estimate processes
• Leadership in a changing and challenging environment both as a finance professional and a civil service leader
• Leadership in a changing and challenging environment both as a finance professional and a civil service leader
• Preparation of Annual Reports and Accounts
• Development and implementation of financial systems including contribution to the co-design of finance service delivery and the transition to Cloud based technology solutions
• Leading, managing and motivating teams of staff who often need to work to tight deadlines, and on tasks where high quality information and guidance needs to be produced
• Developing management accounting and financial performance reporting for departments
• Establishing and maintaining close and effective working relationships
• Maintaining an up-to-date and comprehensive understanding of current public expenditure planning, monitoring, control and accountability, corporate governance and risk management systems
• Providing clear and practical advice and guidance to promote good governance
• Review and assessment of business cases and investment appraisal
• Managing the resources of your own section
• Audit/specialist review/internal control

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants must, by the closing date for applications: Have successfully passed the final professional examinations, and be a full current member of one of the professional bodies detailed below:
• Chartered Accountants Ireland; The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland; The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
• The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants; The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants; The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy; The Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland
• Applications will also be considered from applicants with relevant formal qualifications considered by the selection panel to be of an equivalent or higher standard to those stated
• AND Have at least three year’s post qualification experience gained in the last 10 years, in a finance related environment in two or more areas detailed below:
• Financial planning and budgeting; Financial accounting/auditing (including forensic accounting/insolvency); Management accounting and cost analysis; Financial policy and governance/corporate governance including risk management;
• Investment finance; Treasury management; and/or Development/implementation of financial systems AND
• Demonstrate evidence of at least two of the following: Providing accounting advice, analysis and scrutiny to support business managers in developing business plans of strategic significance, future business strategies and decision-making
• Application of different financial planning and budgeting techniques to support the achievement of outcomes of strategic significance
• Application of sound principles of corporate governance, including risk management to support the delivery of business objectives of strategic significance

Desirable Skills

• In addition, applicants should be aware that after an eligibility sift, should it be necessary to shortlist candidates to go forward to interview, the shortlisting criteria will be used in the order set out in the Candidate Information Booklet

Further Information

Location: Posts will be based in the NICS throughout Northern Ireland. NICS Application form only, vacancy closing date Friday 6th December 2024 at 12 noon. Applications from Protestants, females, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.