Finance Officer

JOB & PERSON SPECIFICATION: About the WDC: The Western Development Commission (WDC) is a statutory body whose role is to promote the social and economic development of the western region of Ireland. The WDC works with a range of stakeholders to support sustainable and inclusive growth in the region and has a strong track record of delivering impactful initiatives and programmes. Culture of the WDC: At the WDC, we are committed to creating a positive and supportive work environment where employees can thrive and make a difference. Our culture is defined by teamwork, innovation, and a deep sense of purpose. We value diversity, respect for different perspectives, and a willingness to learn and grow. If you are passionate about making a difference in the western region of Ireland and want to be part of a dynamic and collaborative team, we encourage you to apply for this role.

Purpose of Role: Under the direction of the Financial Controller, the Finance Officer will work as part of the Corporate Services team to support the financial reporting process in the WDC. This post will involve processing financial transactions, the compilation of financial reports & submissions, assisting with the budgeting process, maintenance of the financial system to include internal controls and procedures and other ad hoc project duties as required.

Key responsibilities: Assist in the financial management of the WDC including but not limited to Exchequer reporting, the Western Investment Fund, EU programme reporting, ConnectedHubs reporting and other funded project programmes.

Financial Transactions & Reporting • Ensure all financial transactions are recorded accurately and completely in a timely manner • Assist with the preparation of monthly accounts and financial reports in line with reporting requirements and deadlines • Process Revenue returns (Payroll, PSWT, VAT etc.) • Prepare financial returns for submission to the parent department and other statutory bodies • Prepare the monthly payroll & pension reports • Compile financial information to support EU funding claims • Support the preparation of annual Financial Statements in line with applicable standards and regulations • Assist with the preparation and management of budgets, forecasts and such financial or other submissions as may be required • Respond promptly and comprehensively to all relevant requests for financial information

Accounts Management • Maintain the Accounts Payable function including processing purchase orders, credit card transactions and invoices • Maintain the Accounts Receivable function including invoicing and receipts • Ensure supplier payments are made in a timely manner in line with prompt payments • Assist with Treasury activities and prepare bank reconciliations for all accounts • Liaise internally and externally to resolve invoicing issues, accounting discrepancies and other financial related issues

Internal Controls & Compliance • Support and participate in the on-going review and improvement of the system of internal financial controls within the WDC • Promote and ensure all financial practices and procedures are correctly implemented in line with WDC policies • Assist with and engage in C&AG and internal audits

Budgeting & Expenditure • Provide support to other departments in relation to planning and managing budgets and expenditure • Prepare quarterly drawdowns for the parent department in accordance with funding schedules.

ESG Integration • Incorporate ESG factors into financial reporting and decision making, ensuring compliance with sustainability goals.

Administrative Support • Provide administrative assistance to the Corporate Services team • Carry out all other duties as required and participate as a full member of the Corporate Services team by supporting different work projects, as required, from time to time

The above is not, and does not purport to be, a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post. Additional Finance roles may be forthcoming within the next 12 months and a panel will be created to support the appointment of sanctioned EO level roles.

Knowledge & Experience: Essential: Applicants must by the closing date of application have the following: • Third level Finance related degree (minimum QQI Level 7) or equivalent Finance / Accountancy professional qualification • A minimum of 3 years’ experience working in a similar financial management role including: i. Processing a wide variety of financial transactions ii. Month end accounts preparations iii. Payroll processing iv. Accounts Payable processing v. Participation in financial audits and internal audits vi. Completing Revenue returns • Well developed IT skills with proven experience of Sage Finance, Thesaurus payroll or similar packages and advanced user of Microsoft Excel • Detail oriented with strong analytical, numeracy and problem-solving skills • Strong interpersonal skills • A self-starter with a proven ability to prioritise workload and deliver on targets both as an individual and as part of a team

Desirable: The following requirements are desirable: • Knowledge of Irish and EU public procurement and financial procedures • Previous experience of working in the public sector is an advantage • Proven experience of working remotely is advantageous • Fully Qualified Accountant or part qualified working towards achieving a full qualification

Key Competencies: For effective performance at this level, the candidate will need to demonstrate that they possess the key competencies for effective performance at Executive Officer level: • People Management • Analysis & Decision Making • Delivery of Results • Interpersonal & Communication skills • Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self Development • Drive & commitment to Public Service Values General Information This competition will be used to fill specific posts in the WDC. Please note, this role is a full time permanent post and the successful candidate will be required to take up assignment on a full time basis. Discussion regarding flexible working arrangements can be undertaken once the successful candidate is out of probation.

Health & Character: Candidates must be in good health, capable and competent of carrying out the work assigned to them, and they must also be of good character. Those under consideration for a position may be required to complete a health and character declaration. References will be sought. In the event of conflicts of interest, candidates may not be considered for certain posts. It is important that candidates list their previous civil or public service employment if they have availed of a voluntary redundancy or retirement scheme and/or are in receipt of an ill-health retirement pension. Failure to do so could lead to disciplinary action.

Eligibility to Compete: Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, 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 is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp four 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 four 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 the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp four visa.

To qualify candidates must be eligible by the date of any job offer.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS This is a competitive competency-based selection process to appoint the most suitable candidate to fill this specific position. A panel for this position may be formed as part of the recruitment process.

How to Apply: As part as of the application process, you will be required to submit the follow documentation: a) A comprehensive CV detailed as relevant to the position (no longer than 3 pages); b) A short cover letter/ personal statement (i.e. no more than 2 pages) outlining why you wish to be considered for the post and where you believe your skills and experience meet the requirements for the position. We request that both documents are submitted in a single Word document or PDF. Applications stored on personal online storage sites (e.g., OneDrive, Cloud, DropBox, etc or applications in other file formats (e.g., Google Docs) will not be accepted. Please note that omission of any or part of the two requested documents, as set out above, will render the application incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered for the next stage of the selection process. Please email your application to careers@wdc.ie If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application within two working days of applying, please email info@wdc.ie

Requests for Reasonable Accommodations: The WDC, in line with the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015, will ensure that it does all that is reasonable to accommodate the needs of a person who has a disability and will ensure that its services are accessible across the range of disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations made, please indicate this during the application process by emailing careers@wdc.ie Any requests for reasonable accommodation needs to be accompanied by a medical/psychologist’s report, the purpose of which is to provide the Western Development Commission with information necessary to make the decision on reasonable accommodation as promptly as possible. The Western Development Commission will consider each request on a case-by-case basis. All information provided will be treated as strictly confidential.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) The WDC is committed to attracting, recruiting, developing, and retaining the highest calibre of staff to build a diversified, supportive, innovative, and inclusive workforce reflective of the wider community. We aim to attract the best people who have the experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies to support WDC’s Strategy Statement. We are dedicated to promoting equality of opportunity, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from underrepresented groups and accommodate candidates with disabilities. Recruitment, selection, and appointment are conducted in compliance with the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 and WDC’s Diversity & Inclusion policy, which are the fundamental principles underpinning this approach. We are committed to implementing best practices in our recruitment, selection, and appointment procedures to ensure they are free from inherent or potential bias, open and transparent, and regularly monitored, analysed, and reviewed. This ensures a strategic and professional approach at all times. We ensure that our employment policies and practices are of the highest standard. All appointments are made on merit through fair and transparent recruitment processes.

Closing Date: The closing date and time for applications is stated on the cover page of this booklet. Applications received after the specified deadline will not be accepted. All correspondence should be sent to careers@wdc.ie and clearly state the title of the position that you are applying for in the subject line of the email.

Selection Methods: Depending on the number of applications received, the selection process may include: • Shortlisting of candidates on the basis of the information contained in their application. • A preliminary telephone / video conferencing call which may include a questionnaire. • A competitive, competency focussed, interview. • A second-round interview (if applicable). • A presentation; work sample or other exercise that may be deemed appropriate; and • Reference and online checks. PRINCIPAL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE Tenure and Probation: All appointments are subject to the Western Development Commission Act 1998 and staff must agree to the WDC Code of Business Conduct under the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. The appointment will be for a full-time, permanent contract, subject to a probationary period as specified in the employment contract. Candidates must satisfactorily complete a 12-month probationary period before the appointment can be confirmed. Notwithstanding the above, this will not preclude an extension of the probationary contract if performance dictates the same. In the following circumstances your contract may be extended and your probation period suspended. • The probationary period stands suspended when an employee is absent due to Maternity or Adoptive Leave. • In relation to an employee absent on Parental Leave or Carers Leave, the employer may require probation to be suspended if the absence is not considered to be consistent with the continuation of the probation , and • Any other statutory provision providing that probation shall o stand suspended during an employee’s absence from work, and o be completed by the employee on the employees return from work after such absence. Where probation is suspended the employer should notify the employee of the circumstances relating to the suspension.

Duties of Post: The duties and responsibilities set out in this job description are indicative of responsibilities related to this role. As with all posts, the nature of WDC business is evolving and flexibility is required to adapt to changing business needs.

Remuneration: Based on 40 hours gross per working week (or 35 hours net), successful candidate will be paid on the EXECUTIVE OFFICER STANDARD SCALE as of 1st March 2025 €37,544 – €39,465 – €40,550 – €42,667 – €44,564 – €46,400 – €48,229 – €50,019 – €51,848 – €53,670 – €55,604 – €56,900 – €58,748¹ – €60,610² 1 After 3 years satisfactory service at the maximum 2 After 6 years satisfactory service at the maximum The PPC (Personal Pension Contribution) scale applies when the individual is an existing civil or public servant appointed on or after 6 April 1995 or are a new entrant to the civil or public service and are making a compulsory personal pension contribution. A different rate will apply where the appointee is not required to make a Personal Pension Contribution.

Important Note: Interested applicants should understand that entry will be at the first point of the appropriate scale and will not be subject to negotiation. The rate of total remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Candidates should note that different pay and conditions may apply if, immediately prior to appointment, the appointee is a serving civil or public servant.

Office Location: The WDC is a remote-first organisation with its head office in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, staff are also located in Galway, Letterkenny, and Sligo. The successful candidate may seek to be located in Ballaghaderreen, Galway, Letterkenny or Sligo in line with the remote working policy of the WDC. New staff or those on probation may initially work on-site more frequently until completing role induction, as decided by their manager or the CEO

Remote First: At the WDC, we follow the Government’s / our parent Department’s guidance in extending remote working to all employees. In order to provide flexibility and opportunities for dynamic collaboration and work / life balance. We believe in harnessing technology to drive innovation and maximize efficiency, empowering our team to thrive in a flexible work environment. We promote in-person collaboration and attendance at our offices located in Sligo, Galway, Letterkenny and Ballaghaderreen, when it is required or warranted. New staff or those on probation may initially work on-site more frequently until completing role induction, as decided by their manager or the CEO

Travel: Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate will hold a full driving licence and have access to transport as this post will involve travel nationally in support of the seven county Western Region. When absent from home and your designated office location on official duty, you will be paid appropriate travelling expenses and subsistence allowances, in accordance with Civil Service regulations.

Hours of Attendance: Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 40 hours gross per week (35 hours net). The successful candidate will be required to work such additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of his/her duties subject to the limits set down in the working time regulations. The rate of remuneration payable covers any extra attendance liability that may arise from time to time.

Annual Leave: The annual leave allowance will be 23 working days a year. This leave is on the basis of a five-day week and is exclusive of the usual 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 provisions of the sick leave circulars. Officers who will be paying Class A rate of PRSI will be required to sign a mandate authorising the Department of Social Protection to pay any benefits due under the Social Welfare Acts directly to the employing Organisation. Payment during illness will be subject to the officer making the necessary claims for social insurance benefit to the Department of Social Protection within the required time limits.