Corporate Services Manager

Salary Scale: €60,611 (Entry Level) – €78,795 Location: Up to 60% Remote Working Available

Closing date: 25th May 2026 at 12 noon

CONTEXT TO THE ROLE

The Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA), established in February 2021, plays a crucial role in ensuring the effective governance, financial management, and performance of voluntary and co-operative housing bodies. This oversight is in line with the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019.

AHBRA's mission is to regulate Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to bolster governance and financial stability within the sector. This is particularly important for safeguarding the substantial public investment in social and affordable housing provided by AHBs.

By doing so, AHBRA offers reassurance to investors, tenants, the government, and the AHB sector itself, ensuring that social housing providers operate within a well-regulated and stable environment.

ROLE SPECIFICATION

AHBRA invites applications for the position of Corporate Services Manager (Grade 7, Administrative Officer). This is a key role within the organisation, offering the opportunity to contribute to the effective running of a national regulator in a dynamic and evolving sector.

Reporting to the Head of Corporate Services and working closely with the Corporate Services team, including HR and Procurement specialists, the Corporate Services Manager will support the coordination and delivery of key corporate functions across the organisation. These include finance administration, budgeting, payroll, procurement, audit support and facilities management.

The role combines financial oversight, operational coordination, compliance and staff supervision, with a focus on ensuring that corporate services are effective, well-managed and continuously improved.

This varied and hands-on role is suited to someone who is organised, solutions driven and results focused.

The successful candidate will also be responsible for developing and sustaining strong working relationships with a range of external 3rd party service providers and for the contract management of procured corporate services.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The key duties and responsibilities are as follows:

Financial Administration & Budget Support

• Support the budget management process including participation in the preparation of the annual budget.
• Monitoring of corporate expenditure through all payment channels.
• Manage the procure-to-pay supplier payment cycle involving requisition and purchasing controls, creditor and accruals management.
• Manage and maintain appropriate financial controls and ensure adherence to corporate financial policies.

Payroll Administration

• Oversee the payroll process, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and full compliance with all relevant payroll and pension requirements.

Procurement

• Working to support the Procurement Specialist to manage corporate contract expenditure and to promote best practice.

External Audit

• Support the annual external audit process, preparing the annual audit file and implementing audit recommendations as required.

Operational Coordination

• Coordinate day-to-day corporate services activities, working with internal stakeholders and external service providers to ensure effective service delivery.
• Manage corporate services contracts in line with AHBRA’s procurement policies.

Reporting & Information Management

• Prepare and maintain accurate records, procedure documents, reports and management information to support oversight and decision-making.

People Management

• Manage a small team of finance and administrative staff ensuring work is delivered to a high standard and supporting a collaborative team environment.
• Ensure the effective application of the Performance Management Development System.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Identify and support improvements to systems, processes and ways of working across corporate services.

Other Duties

• Undertake any other duties as directed by the Head of Corporate Services or Chief Executive Officer, consistent with the level and nature of the role.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Candidates must meet the following requirements prior to their appointment:

• A relevant third-level qualification (minimum Level 7 NFQ) or a professional qualification relevant to the role in areas such as Finance / Administration / Management.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• A minimum of 3 years’ relevant experience in a corporate service, finance, administrative, or operational support role.
• Experience supporting financial processes, including budgeting and/or expenditure monitoring.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to deadlines.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across teams and to build strong working relationships with external service providers.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

• Experience in payroll administration or oversight of payroll processes.
• Project management.
• Experience in leading and managing people.
• Knowledge of housing, not-for-profit, financial or public-sector regulatory contexts.

Candidates must have unconditional authorisation to live and work in Ireland.

KEY COMPETENCIES FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE AT THIS GRADEManagement & Delivery of Results

• Proactively identifies and drives delivery of initiatives that have governance, risk and compliance impact.
• Delivers results efficiently and effectively, ensuring that objectives are met within set timelines.
• Effectively plans and prioritises work and resources within the team.
• Development of comprehensive operational and team plans.
• Leads and engages the team to develop individuals and maximise performance.

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

• Develops and maintains positive, productive and beneficial working relationships, fostering a team-oriented environment.
• Presents information clearly, concisely and confidently when speaking and in writing to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Communicates clearly and persuasively to build trust and influence others to act.

Judgement, Analysis & Decision Making

• Makes timely, informed, effective decisions and shows good judgement and balance in making decisions or recommendations that align with organisational goals.
• Gathers and analyses information from relevant sources, whether financial, numerical or otherwise, weighing up a range of critical factors.
• Takes account of any broader corporate issues, agendas, sensitivities and related implications when making decisions.

Specialist Knowledge

• Strong understanding of budget management, especially in planning, monitoring and controlling budgets, contributing to the effective use of resources.
• Ability to achieve strong, high-quality operational outcomes with the application of strategic thinking, contributing to corporate improvements.
• Capability to build and maintain productive working relationships and influence internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared objectives.

PAY SCALE

Grade 7 Administrative Officer – €60,611 – €62,095 – €63,826 – €65,563 – €67,300 – €68,852 – €70,442 – €71,982 – €73,518 – €76,149¹ – €78,795²

¹ After 3 years satisfactory service at the maximum. ² After 6 years satisfactory service at the maximum.

Important Note

In line with Government policy, all new entrants will be appointed on the first point of the payscale.

Different terms and conditions may apply if immediately before appointment, the successful candidate is a currently serving civil/public servant.

ELIGIBILITY TO COMPETE

Eligible candidates must be: a. A citizen of the European Economic Area. 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 visa; or

e. A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a Stamp 4 visa; or

f. A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or Switzerland and has a Stamp 4 visa.

BLENDED WORKING

AHBRA is committed to excellence in the delivery of our broad range of services and to the quality of our customer service.

In this context, AHBRA have implemented a blended working policy while maintaining our commitment to the delivery of the highest standard of services.

All employees are entitled to apply for blended working of up to 40% remote working in the probationary period and 60% once probation is successfully completed.

HOURS OF ATTENDANCE

The standard business hours for AHBRA are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

ANNUAL LEAVE

The annual leave for this role is 25 days, increasing over time depending on service.

This is based on a five-day week and is exclusive of statutory public holidays.

OTHER BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR AHBRA

• A permanent pensionable position.
• A public sector salary with incremental pay progression (Grade 7 scale).
• Flexible working hours within defined limits.
• Personal development opportunities through employer-sponsored academic education, paid study leave and in-house training and development programmes.
• Dynamic and interactive work environment.
• Career progression opportunities.
• Facilitation of Tax Saver travel tickets and Bike to Work Scheme.
• Bike parking onsite.
• Modern city centre office, located near Merrion Square, Dublin 2, which is easily accessible by DART and many bus routes.