Financial Accountant

About Chartered Accountants Ireland

Chartered Accountants Ireland is Ireland’s leading professional accountancy body, representing over 39,000 members in over 100 countries and educating 6,600 students. Its members provide leadership across both the public and private sector, bringing experience, trusted expertise, and strict standards to all aspects of their work. As the largest professional body on the island of Ireland, Chartered Accountants Ireland engages with several stakeholders including governments, policy makers, regulators, and business groups on key issues affecting the profession and the wider economy. Chartered Accountants Ireland supports members at every stage of their career from education to qualification to continuing professional development.   

Institute Values

The Institute seeks to ensure an environment based on our new values of Excellence, Forward-Looking, Openness and Accountability. Candidates should be able to demonstrate how these may apply to them in the role for which they are applying and how their previous experience is relevant to them.

Summary of Role

 The role of Financial Accountant is a key role within the Finance & Services Function of the Institute, reporting to the Financial Controller. The successful candidate will be expected to deliver strong financial and commercial assistance and excellent financial advice and guidance to the organisation.  This person will liaise with relevant stakeholder groups on an ongoing basis to further develop the future value proposition of the Institute as the premier all island professional accounting body.  

The Institute operates in both the North and South of Ireland. This role acts as a key finance business partner for the Education segment and supports related entities. The position involves preparing monthly accounts, forecasts, and budgets; managing financial statements for subsidiaries; coordinating audits; and presenting reports to leadership and Boards. The role also contributes to finance process improvements, system upgrades, internal audit support, and automation initiatives, while liaising with internal and external stakeholders. 

Key responsibilities 

Reporting to the Financial Controller with responsibility for: 

• Serve as finance business partner for the Education segment, providing financial insights and guidance.  

• Prepare monthly accounts, variance analysis, quarterly forecasts, and annual budgets.  

• Tax Compliance & Planning: Assist with tax filings and planning. 

• Performance Monitoring & KPIs: Develop and track key financial performance indicators for the Education segment and subsidiaries to support strategic decision-making. 

• Manage financial statements for four subsidiaries, coordinate audits, and liaise with Boards.  

• Review and improve finance processes and procedures annually.   

• Compliance & Regulatory Reporting: Ensure adherence to relevant accounting standards, tax regulations, and statutory requirements. 

• Participate in finance system replacement projects.  

• Provide financial analysis and cost-benefit evaluations for new initiatives or strategic projects (e.g. within the Education segment). 

• Assist with internal audit and annual budget cycles.  

• Present financial reports to leadership and Boards.  

• Support process automation and simplification initiatives.  

• Undertake additional duties and projects as assigned. 

Required Competencies

• Qualified accountant with 3–5 years’ post-qualification experience.  

• Strong financial operations, reporting, and internal control expertise.  

• Experience in tax compliance and planning for multi-entity structures. 

• Excellent problem-solving, prioritization, and interpersonal skills.  

• Advanced MS Office skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); knowledge of Dynamics Great Plains beneficial.  

• Strong analytical and business acumen; experience with senior management preferred.  

• Interest in finance systems and data analysis tools. 

• Project management skills for system upgrades and process improvement initiatives. 

Personal profile 

• Ambitious, motivated, and detail-oriented professional.  

• Confident self-starter with strong communication and presentation skills.  

• Ability to build trust across teams and drive process improvements.  

• Goal-oriented with a hands-on approach and logical decision-making. 

• Proactive and adaptable in a dynamic, multi-jurisdictional environment.  

• Collaborative mindset with ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders.  

• Continuous improvement focus, with a passion for leveraging technology in finance.  

• Commercial awareness to support strategic decision-making. 

Flexible work arrangements

The Institute is seeking and encourages applications from experienced candidates who may be looking for flexible work arrangements. If such arrangements are being sought please bring these to the attention of your interviewer.

The Institute will use the information which you have provided in this form to respond to your request or process your application and will hold and protect it in accordance with the Institute's privacy statement, which explains your rights in relation to your personal data.  By submitting this application acknowledge you have read our privacy statement.

Chartered Accountants Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.

How to apply:

To apply please click the link below:

Financial Accountant