Accounts Manager (Higher Executive Officer)

The Role – Overview

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Finance, the Accounts Manager (HEO – Standard Scale) will play a central role in establishing the Finance function in the Gambling Regulatory Authority.

This role will oversee the Authority's accounting operations, ensure compliance with public sector standards and provide effective support to GRAI's strategic and operational objectives.

Key Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the role may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Supporting the development and management of GRAI's finance function.
• Supporting the accounts management of GRAI's annual budget and the Social Impact Fund.
• Preparing expenditure projections and playing a central role in submissions for the annual Estimates campaign.
• Providing monthly expenditure reports to the Senior Management Team.
• Assisting in the monitoring of the licence fee regime (including financial modelling) to ensure GRAI's self-financing status is secure and maintained.
• Processing invoices accurately and in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act.
• Reconciling monthly creditors' statements.
• Supporting routine finance activities such as preparing and processing purchase order requests, processing bank payments, bank reconciliations, maintaining contract registers and carrying out ad hoc financial analysis.
• Engaging with all budget holders to ensure accurate financial recording and reporting and close monitoring of the annual budget against expenditure profiles.
• Supporting the production of the GRAI Annual Accounts and Financial Statements for the GRAI and the Social Impact Fund.
• Assisting the Internal Auditor and Comptroller and Auditor General, proactively addressing any queries and requests for the production of records.
• Liaising with the Department of Justice Accounts Unit and Governance Unit in relation to expenditure and budget queries as they arise.
• Assisting with the preparation of financial accounts and reports on various aspects of expenditure for review by the CEO and the Authority members.
• Liaising closely with GRAI shared HR, Pensions and Payroll providers when appointed.
• Supporting procurement activities across the organisation to ensure compliance with financial procurement guidelines.
• Carrying out any other duties appropriate to the grade and role as assigned by the Assistant Director or Director.

Essential Criteria

To be eligible to apply for this role you must have and demonstrate in your application form that you meet the following essential criteria:

• A professional qualification (minimum Level 7 under the QQI Framework) in Finance or a relevant discipline.
• A minimum of three years' relevant and recent experience in an Accounts role that includes a strong working knowledge of the key responsibilities outlined in this booklet.
• Strong knowledge of Accounting IT systems and a demonstrated capacity in this area, including the use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with key stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to progress tasks on your own initiative.

Desirable Criteria

• A current (or studying for) professional qualification in Accountancy.
• Experience of working in or providing relevant support services to Accounts Units within the Public Sector.

In addition, candidates must be able to demonstrate the key capabilities relating to effective performance at Higher Executive Officer grade in the Public Service.

Capability Framework for the Role

The Civil Service Capability Framework for Higher Executive Officer will be used as a basis for selection for this role.

The framework was developed based on extensive research and consultation and supports the Civil and Public Service in building the workforce of the future.

Exploring and strengthening capability requires consideration of the whole person.

The framework builds on the competency-based approach and considers a wider variety of factors that may influence performance, including:

• Behaviours and past experience.
• Skills.
• Strengths.
• Knowledge.
• Values.
• Motivation.
• Interests.

There are four broad Capability Dimensions within the framework:

• Building Future Readiness.
• Evidence Informed Delivery.
• Leading & Empowering.
• Communicating & Collaborating.

These dimensions are further broken down into sub-dimensions.

Eligibility to CompeteCitizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must be:

a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

or

b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK).

or

c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons.

or

d) A non-EEA citizen who has a Stamp 4 or a Stamp 5 permission.

To qualify, candidates must meet one of the citizenship criteria above by the date of any job offer.

Principal Conditions of ServiceGeneral

This appointment is to the position of Accounts Manager (Higher Executive Officer – Standard Scale) in the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland and is made under Section 26 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.

Employees of the Authority are Public Servants and are subject to all of the terms and conditions that apply to public servants generally.

Salary

The successful applicant will be paid at the Higher Executive Officer (Standard Scale) salary rates effective from 1 February 2026.

Higher Executive Officer Personal Pension Contribution (PPC) Scale:

• €60,029
• €61,785
• €63,537
• €65,286
• €67,044
• €68,792
• €70,547
• €73,077 (LSI 1)
• €76,546 (LSI 2)

The PPC pay rate applies when the individual is required to pay a Personal Pension Contribution (otherwise known as a main scheme contribution) in accordance with the rules of their main/personal superannuation scheme.

This is different from contributions in respect of membership of a Spouses' and Children's Scheme or the Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC).

Long Service Increments may be payable after:

• 3 years' satisfactory service at the maximum of the scale (LSI 1).
• 6 years' satisfactory service at the maximum of the scale (LSI 2).

A different ("non-PPC") rate will apply where the appointee is not required to make a Personal Pension Contribution.

Tenure and Probation

This competition is for appointment to a permanent Public Service post in the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, subject to successful completion of a probationary period.

The probationary contract will be for one year from the date specified on the contract.

During the probationary period, performance will be reviewed by the supervisor(s) to determine whether the employee:

• Has performed satisfactorily.
• Has been satisfactory in general conduct.
• Is suitable from the point of view of health, with particular regard to sick leave.

Prior to the completion of the probationary contract, a decision will be made as to whether the employee will be retained.

Duties

Appointees will be required to perform the duties outlined above and any other duties assigned from time to time as appropriate.

Outside Employment

The successful candidate may not engage in private practice or be connected with any outside business that would interfere with the performance of official duties or conflict in any way with the position of Accounts Manager (Higher Executive Officer).

Headquarters / Working Environment

The GRAI is currently based in Dublin City Centre, although this may change by Government decision.

Hybrid working arrangements will also be available.

When absent from home and headquarters on official duty, the Accounts Manager (Higher Executive Officer) will be paid appropriate travelling expenses and subsistence allowances, subject to the normal Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform regulations.

Hours of Attendance

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to:

• 41 hours and 15 minutes gross per week.
• 35 hours net per week.

The Accounts Manager (Higher Executive Officer) may be required to work additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of duties, subject to the Working Time Regulations.

The rate of remuneration payable covers any extra attendance liability that may arise.

Annual Leave

Annual leave for this position is:

• 29 days per year.
• Rising to 30 days after 5 years' service.

This entitlement is subject to the normal conditions governing annual leave in the Public Service, is based on a five-day working week and excludes public holidays.

Sick Leave

Pay during properly certified sick absence, provided there is no evidence of permanent disability for service, will apply on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the Civil and Public Service sick leave circulars.

Officers paying Class A PRSI will be required to sign a mandate authorising the Department of Social Protection to pay any Social Welfare benefits directly to the Authority.

Payment during illness is subject to the officer making the required claims within the prescribed time limits.

Superannuation and Retirement

The successful candidate will be offered the appropriate superannuation terms and conditions applying in the Public Service at the time of appointment.

In general, an appointee who has never worked in the Public Service will be appointed under the Single Public Service Pension Scheme ("Single Scheme").

Where the appointee has worked in a pensionable Public Service position before 1 January 2013, and any subsequent breaks in service have been less than 26 weeks, they may be entitled to membership of a pre-existing Public Service pension scheme.

Pension entitlement will be established based on the individual's Public Service employment history and the relevant legislation and scheme rules.

Pre-existing pension scheme terms may vary between Public Service bodies.

Existing civil or public servants should make themselves aware of any pension implications arising from changing employment.

Appointment to a fixed-term position may also have pension implications.

Pension Abatement

If the appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and is receiving a Civil or Public Service pension, or if such a pension becomes payable during re-employment, that pension will be subject to abatement under Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

Ill-Health Retirement

Anyone who previously retired on ill-health grounds under a superannuation scheme must declare, at the initial application stage, that they are receiving such a pension.

Applicants will be required to attend the GRAI Occupational Health Physician's office to assess their ability to provide regular and effective service, taking account of the condition that qualified them for ill-health retirement.

Pension Accrual

Section 52(6) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 limits pensionable service across all pre-existing Public Service schemes (non-Single Scheme) to a maximum of 40 years or equivalent.

Where pensionable service exceeded 40 years on 28 July 2012, Section 52(7) allows retention of those accrued benefits.

This may have implications for appointees with previous Public Service pension rights.

Additional Superannuation Contribution

This appointment is subject to the Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC) in accordance with the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017.

ASC deductions are additional to any main scheme and spouses' and children's pension contributions required under the relevant pension scheme.

Ethics in Public Office

The Ethics in Public Office Acts will apply, where appropriate, to this appointment.