Deputy Principal (DP) Accountant

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 (FRS, 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. There are currently nine main Government departments and nine agencies in Northern Ireland, all with specific remits, and accountancy professionals are employed in each to help make the best use of their skills. The Northern Ireland NI Government department for which this job reports to is the Department of Justice. As part of the Northern Ireland Prison Service within the Department of Justice you will be based in HMP Maghaberry. The Northern Ireland Prison Service plays a vital role in helping to build a safer community in Northern Ireland. Its core purpose is to keep people safe and secure while they are in prison and to work with them so they can address their offending behaviour and play a positive role when they are released. Maghaberry Prison is a high security prison, housing adult male long-term sentenced and remand prisoners in separated and integrated conditions. The successful candidate will become part of the Maghaberry Senior Management Team within the Prison. It is a business-critical post which provides the Governor with professional advice and support in relation to the prison’s financial management and administration. We are therefore looking for an accountant who is highly motivated and can deliver results in a challenging and dynamic environment. Further information on the NI departments can be obtained on the NI Direct website:

Responsibilities

• Member of Maghaberry Senior Management Team; Estimation, allocation and profiling of Opening Budget; Monthly variance analysis review and reporting of budget pressures and easements to NIPS Finance Committee;
• Provision of Monthly Finance Report to Senior Management Team and NIPS Finance, providing details of ongoing or potential issues; Completion of In Year Monitoring exercises;
• Completion of Month End accounts including accruals returns, reconciliation of Prisoner Amenities Fund, Government Procurement Cards and Operational Staffing Levels;
• Completion of Year End processes including co-ordination of Internal stocktakes, review of Open Purchase Orders and provision of relevant finance information within agreed deadlines; Capital Budget Management;
• Provision of financial information within agreed timescales for all major financial exercises conducted in the department as well as FOI requests and Assemby Questions;
• Provision of advice in finance related matters to all establishment staff as per Management of Public Money NI and NIPS Procurement rules; Administration of Worldpay accounts for the provision of electronic cash payments to individual prisoner.
• Participation in NIPS Projects such as the development of on-line prisoner payments and the roll out of the prisoner portal. 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; Review and assessment of business cases and investment appraisal; and
• managing the resources of your own section.

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:
• a) Chartered Accountants Ireland; b) The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland; c) The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales; d) The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants;
• e) The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants; f) 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.
• Relevant or equivalent qualifications: 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:
• a) financial planning and budgeting; b) financial accounting/auditing; c) forensic accounting/insolvency-related work; d) management accounting and cost analysis;
• e) investment finance; f) treasury management; g) corporate governance, including risk management; and/or h) 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 1, having fully satisfied all the criteria of membership.
• AND, A minimum of 1 year’s cumulative management experience
• Management experience includes being accountable for the output, targets and performance of a team
• 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

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:
• 1. The requirement at eligibility criterion 2 will increase to two of the areas listed. Should further shortlisting be required: Should further shortlisting be required:
• 2. The Panel will carry out an objective evaluation of the depth and breadth of evidence provided in response to eligibility criterion 3.
• The Panel will complete this assessment against the information provided in the application form in response to eligibility criteria 2 and 3

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date Friday 7th August 2026 at 12 noon. Deputy Principal (DP) Accountant Maghaberry Prison. Applications from Protestants, young people, (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit

Application Information

Visit the recruitment service website (Please quote reference number: IRC324865)