Finance Officer

The Opportunity

An opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified professional to join The Wheel as Finance Officer, supporting the financial management and delivery of a cross-border initiative led by The Wheel in partnership with a number of strategic cross border organisatios.

This role is part of the Digital Communities project, funded by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the EP2EIT (Empowering People to Engage with Information Technology)Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The project is focused on strengthening digital capacity, inclusion, and collaboration across community and voluntary organisations on a cross-border basis.

The Digital Communities project aims to support organisations to enhance their digital skills, adopt innovative tools, and improve service delivery through technology. A key element of the project is fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the island of Ireland, enabling organisations to respond more effectively to emerging challenges and opportunities in a digital context.

As Finance Officer, you will play a central role in ensuring robust financial governance, compliance, and reporting across the project. This includes managing budgets, overseeing expenditure, supporting financial reporting to funders, and working closely with project partners to ensure effective financial coordination. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to a significant all-island initiative, supporting the sustainable development of digitally enabled, collaborative, and resilient community and voluntary organisations.

The Role

Position:       Finance Officer (EP2EIT/ Digital Communities Project)

Location: Dublin 8 (Hybrid)

Note that only candidates based in and authorised to work in Ireland will be considered.

Reporting to:  Project Manager ((EP2EIT/ Digital Communities Project)

ROLE PURPOSE

The Project Finance Officer will be responsible for the financial reporting of a PeacePlus funded Digital Inclusion & Community ICT programme. The role will ensure that project finances are managed in full compliance with funder, organisational and regulatory requirements, and that robust systems are in place to support audit, transparency and value for money.

The postholder will work closely with the Project Manager, delivery staff and external stakeholders to provide accurate financial oversight and strategic financial guidance throughout the project lifecycle.

MAIN RESPONSIBLITIES AND DUTIES

The responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:  

Financial Management & Control

• Oversee the project budget in line with funding agreements and organisational policies.

• Monitor income and expenditure against approved budgets and forecasts.

• Ensure all project expenditure is eligible, correctly allocated and fully supported by documentation.

• Maintain accurate financial records for the project, including cost centres and audit trails.

Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Prepare regular financial reports for internal management, funders and governance bodies.

• Support the preparation and submission of grant claims, drawdowns and financial returns.

• Ensure compliance with funder rules, including eligibility, procurement, state aid / subsidy control (where applicable) and match funding requirements.

• Support internal and external audits and respond to audit queries.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Support the development of detailed project budgets and cashflow forecasts.

• Monitor financial risks and variances, and advise on corrective actions.

• Provide financial input to project planning, changes and extensions.

Procurement & Value for Money

• Support and oversee project procurement processes in line with funder and organisational rules.

• Ensure value for money and compliance with public procurement thresholds where applicable.

• Maintain records of procurement decisions and supporting documentation.

Partnership & Stakeholder Support

• Provide financial guidance and support to project partners and community organisations where required.

• Support partners to understand financial reporting and compliance requirements.

• Act as a key liaison point with funders on financial matters.

Systems, Policies & Governance

• Ensure project financial systems, controls and procedures are robust and fit for purpose.

• Contribute to governance meetings, steering groups or finance sub-committees.

• Ensure compliance with organisational policies, including financial controls and data protection.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential criteria

Experience

• Proven experience of managing finances for funded projects or programmes.

• Experience preparing financial reports and grant claims for funders.

• Experience working with audit processes and compliance requirements.

• Experience managing budgets of significant scale and complexity.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong financial management and analytical skills.

• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.

• Ability to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.

• Strong organisational and time-management skills.

• Proficiency in financial systems and spreadsheets (e.g. Excel).

Knowledge & Understanding

• Understanding of grant funding rules and financial compliance.

• Knowledge of public sector, non-profit or EU-funded project requirements.

• Understanding of procurement and value for money principles.

Desirable criteria  

• Professional accounting qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA or equivalent), or part-qualified.

• Experience working on national or EU-funded programmes.

• Knowledge of state aid / subsidy control requirements.

• Experience supporting multi-partner or consortium projects.

Behavioural Competency Framework: 

The Wheel uses a Behavioural Competency Framework as a key cornerstone of its performance management processes. The priority behavioural competences identified for this role are:  

• Collaborative Working: Co-operates with others and participates outside of own work area, seeks to understand fully the work of the organisation, willingly offers support where needed. Creates a friendly work environment where any conflicts can be resolved amicably. 

• Open Communications: Listens attentively, speaks clearly and to the point, and responds positively to questions. Uses relevant building/linking to improve on what has been said. 

• Quality: Pays attention to detail to produce high quality work; Is concerned with good outputs and thinks ahead to consider what is needed. Sets quality targets and aims to reach them; drives commitment to high quality work and ensures this through quality review processes.  

• Adaptability: Understands, accepts and adapts to change quickly, finding new ways of working while continuing to be productive and effective; Responds with enthusiasm & communicates clearly.   

• Leadership:  Seek and find new approaches and options to reach organisational goals and motivate others towards those goals. 

Successfully shortlisted applicants will be provided with the Behavioural Competency Framework prior to interview.  This will form the basis of the interview. 

Key Information about this role

This is a fixed term position with The Wheel offered for three years as per the current funding. The Wheel’s offices are currently located in Dublin 8. 

This contract is for 36-hour week and salary is payable monthly in arrears.

The Wheel both offers and expects flexibility in terms of hours and location of work for a role such as this and the remuneration and benefits package offered reflects this.

The pay band for Officer level posts in The Wheel is €36,000 to €48,100.

We anticipate that the salary for this role will be within the lower quartile of that band.

The Wheel offers the following benefits in addition to salary

• A 6% employers' contribution to a company contributory pension scheme (subject to a 4% employee contribution). Participation in the pension is mandatory, but a lower contribution option is available.

• Annual Leave of 21 days

• Closure of the office on Good Friday, Christmas Eve and the Christmas / New Year period which comes additional to annual leave entitlement

• Death in Service benefit of four times salary

• Access to our Employment Assistance Programme with HSF Assist

• Working hours 9-5:30pm Monday to Thursday and 9-4pm on Fridays

• Further Education / Training and learning investment programme

• Professional subscriptions (as applicable)

• Travel (bike-to-work schemes/tax saver commuter tickets)

• The Wheel operates a hybrid work environment, with a blend of remote and in-person work.  Please note specific location requirements outline above Regular attendance at the office will be required.

• Travel expenses in line with our Travel and Expenses Policy

• Volunteering leave- up to 3 days per year

• Fully paid Maternity/Paternity Leave subject to service tenure requirements

A complete list of all the terms and conditions will be made available to the candidate offered the role through The Wheel’s Staff Handbook.

Shortlisting will apply.

About The Wheel

The Wheel is Ireland’s national association of community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises. We are a registered charity in Ireland and are unique in our role as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for anything related to the charity and non-profit sector.

‘Our Vision is a thriving community and voluntary sector at the heart of a fair, just and inclusive Ireland.’

We are an authoritative and trusted voice for the sector, and we are enthusiastically committed to transparency, accountability, and the highest standards of practice and governance. Together, we work to ensure that the sector is recognised and respected, adequately resourced and appropriately regulated.

Learn more about who we are here https://www.wheel.ie/