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Job description

Strong financial management is critical to the achievement of optimum efficiency and value for money in the public sector. Northern Ireland government departments and agencies produce annual commercial-style accounts based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), tailored for the specific accounting needs of government bodies. Departments must plan, manage and account for public expenditure utilising financial reporting and management information systems. In addition, the implementation of wider developments in corporate governance and risk management has created an increasing focus within government on the area of systems and internal controls. In the current economic climate there is greater public scrutiny, making financial information more widely available. Please see employer website for full job details & person specification.

Responsibilities

• Analysis of financial data; Assisting with the financial planning processes of government departments and agencies;
• Provision of high quality financial information; Preparation of Annual Reports and Accounts; Development and implementation of financial systems;
• Provision of advice, guidance and direction on the management of budgets, the in-year monitoring of expenditure, and the preparation of Estimates; 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 systems;
• Leading, managing and motivating teams of staff, including Trainee Accountants, who often need to work to tight deadlines, and on tasks where high quality information and guidance needs to be produced;
• Reviewing and assessing of business cases and investment appraisals; Managing the resources of your own section; and Audit/specialist review/internal control.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants must, by the closing date for applications: 1. 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; g. 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.
• Applicants must demonstrate on their application form how the qualifications they have provided are equivalent, in level, to those qualifications requested above.
• They should give the details of the awarding body and the date awarded (the date awarded is the date on which you were admitted by the official awarding body).
• If you believe your qualification is equivalent to the one required, the onus is on you to provide the panel with details of modules studied etc. so that a well-informed decision can be made.
• AND Have a total of at least two years’ post qualification experience gained in the last ten years, in a finance related environment, in one or more areas detailed below: financial planning and budgeting; financial accounting/auditing;
• Forensic accounting/insolvency-related work; management accounting and cost analysis; investment finance; treasury management; corporate governance, including risk management;
• development/implementation of financial systems.
• Post-qualification experience will be deemed to have commenced from the date on which applicants are admitted as fully qualified accountants to one of the professional bodies referred to at having fully satisfied all the criteria of membership.
• You will be required to provide documentary evidence of your qualifications/professional membership at interview so please ensure you have these readily available.
• Should you currently not be in possession of your qualification certificates, we would advise that you make immediate arrangements to obtain these.
• AND A minimum of 1 year’s cumulative management experience.
• Management experience includes being accountable for the output, targets and performance of a team.

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 following shortlisting criteria will be used:
• The requirement at eligibility criterion 2 will increase to two of the areas listed. Should further shortlisting be required:
• The Panel will carry out an objective evaluation of the depth and breadth of evidence provided in response to eligibility criterion

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date Monday 20th July 2026 at 12 noon. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. For guidance on completing the Monitoring Form and to read the NICS Equal Opportunities Policy Statement please refer to the DoF website: https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/articlesequalopportunitiesinformation- candidates. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit. Applications from young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post.