Finance Manager

Your new company

Hays Accountancy & Finance are seeking an immediate Finance professional for our client, a large, well established body that delivers vital services across Northern Ireland. This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to step into a key leadership role, overseeing finance operations and governance while supporting an organisation going through a period of modernisation and structural change.
As Finance Manager, you will lead the organisation's Finance function, ensuring strong financial management, effective governance practices, and compliance with all relevant financial policies and public sector frameworks. You will work closely with senior leadership, internal stakeholders, external auditors, and government partners to deliver accurate financial reporting and support organisational planning.

Your new role

• Managing day to day finance operations, ensuring effective systems, controls, policies and reporting processes are in place to support organisational needs.
• Preparing statutory annual accounts and management accounts in line with public sector accounting frameworks and delivering accurate financial reporting to senior leadership and governance committees.
• Leading budget planning, monitoring and forecasting for budgets exceeding £500k, ensuring expenditure remains within approved limits and aligned with organisational priorities.
• Overseeing governance activities, including risk management, fraud response procedures, procurement compliance, and assurance processes for funded projects.
• Managing audit engagement (internal and external), coordinating evidence, preparing responses, and ensuring recommendations are implemented within agreed timescales.
• Providing high quality financial and governance advice to senior leaders, contributing to organisational planning, strategic decision making and continuous improvement.
• Leading and developing the Finance and Governance teams, fostering a collaborative, high performing environment that supports change, innovation, and effective service delivery.
• Ensuring timely month end processes, report preparation, and secretariat support for governance committees.
• Supporting business cases, procurement activity and funding claims in accordance with organisational guidelines and relevant legislation.
• Building strong working relationships with internal stakeholders, government partners and external auditors.

What you'll need to succeed

• Full membership of a recognised professional accountancy body (e.g. CIMA, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAEW, Chartered Accountants Ireland, or equivalent).
• At least 2 years' experience across:
  • Corporate governance
  • Preparing statutory financial statements
  • Delivering management accounts to tight deadlines
  • Budget management for budgets >£500k
  • Managing internal/external audit relationships
  • Leading and motivating staff
• A full current UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (reasonable adjustments considered).

What you'll get in return

• Flexible working options available
• 25 plus 12 bank holidays
• Public Sector Benefits

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.

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