Finance Services Senior Specialist

The postholder will manage the day-to-day service support operations within the Finance and Services Directorate, ensuring the effective delivery of administrative, financial, and operational support functions.

Key Responsibilities

Invoice Administration & Debt Management: Lead and manage the end-to-end invoice administration and debt collection processes, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to internal controls and organisational policies.

Reporting & Analysis: Prepare, analyse, and maintain aged debtor reports and other management information to support decision-making.

Stakeholder Engagement: Work proactively with internal business owners and external customers to maximise the collection of outstanding debt and resolve issues promptly and professionally.

Team Leadership: Plan, organise, manage, and supervise the work of direct reports, including overseeing performance, supporting staff development, and fostering a positive, high-performing team culture.

Health & Safety Oversight: Provide oversight of health and safety matters within the Finance Directorate, ensuring compliance with organisational standards and statutory requirements.

Office & Resource Management: Manage the procurement and maintenance of office supplies, stationery, and equipment to support efficient business operations within the Finance Directorate.

Undertake any additional duties appropriate to the grade of Higher Executive Officer, as required or directed, to support the effective functioning of the Directorate.

This description of the role is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and may be reviewed from time to time to reflect the needs of the role and organisation.

Essential Criteria

Professional Qualifications, Experience & Requirements

Candidates by the closing date must have:

Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a credit control or debt management environment, with a proven ability to manage invoicing, collections, and/or debtor processes effectively.

Experience operating to tight deadlines, maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Proven leadership and people management experience, with the ability to foster a culture of innovation and accountability.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Desirable Criteria

Experience & Skills

Strong report preparation and presentation skills, with the ability to produce clear, informative, and accurate management information.

Experience working in a public sector organisation.

Formal training or certification in finance and/or business administration (e.g., AAT Level 2/3, OCR, ILM, or equivalent).

Key Skills/Competencies for effective performance as Finance Services Senior Specialist at Higher Executive Officer level

Team Leadership

Works with the team to facilitate high performance, developing clear and realistic objectives and addressing and performance issues if they arise.

Provides clear information and advice as to what is required of the team.

Strives to develop and implement new ways of working effectively to meet objectives.

Leads the team by example, coaching and supporting individuals as required.

Places high importance on staff development, training and maximising skills & capacity of team.

Is flexible and willing to adapt, positively contributing to the implementation of change.

Judgement, Analysis & Decision Making

Gathers and analyses information from relevant sources, whether financial, numerical or otherwise weighing up a range of critical factors.

Takes account of any broader issues, agendas, sensitivities and related implications when making decisions.

Uses previous knowledge and experience in order to guide decisions.

Uses judgement to make sound decisions with a well-reasoned rationale and stands by these.

Puts forward solutions to address problems.

Management & Delivery of Results

Takes responsibility and is accountable for the delivery of agreed objectives.

Successfully manages a range of different projects and work activities at the same time.

Structures and organises their own and others work effectively.

Is logical and pragmatic in approach, delivering the best possible results with the resources available.

Delegates work effectively, providing clear information and evidence as to what is required.

Proactively identifies areas for improvement and develops practical suggestions for their implementation.

Demonstrates enthusiasm for new developments/changing work practices and strives to implement these changes effectively.

Applies appropriate systems/ processes to enable quality checking of all activities and outputs.

Practices and promotes a strong focus on delivering high quality customer service for internal and external customers.

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Builds and maintains contact with colleagues and other stakeholders to assist in performing role.

Acts as an effective link between staff and senior management.

Encourages open and constructive discussions around work issues.

Projects conviction, gaining buy-in by outlining relevant information and selling the benefits.

Treats others with diplomacy, tact, courtesy and respect, even in challenging circumstances.

Presents information clearly, concisely and confidently when speaking and in writing.

Collaborates and supports colleagues to achieve organisational goals.

Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self Development

Has a clear understanding of the roles, objectives and targets of self and team and how they fit into the work of the unit and Department/ Organisation and effectively communicates this to others.

Has high levels of expertise and broad Public Sector knowledge relevant to his/her area of work.

Focuses on self-development, striving to improve performance.

Drive & Commitment to Public Service Values

Strives to perform at a high level, investing significant energy to achieve agreed objectives.

Demonstrates resilience in the face of challenging circumstances and high demands.

Is personally trustworthy and can be relied upon.

Ensures that customers are at the heart of all services provided.

Upholds high standards of honesty, ethics and integrity.

Eligibility to apply and certain restrictions on eligibility

Citizenship 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.

Please note that a 50 TEU visa, which is a replacement for Stamp 4EUFAM after Brexit, is acceptable as a Stamp 4 equivalent.

To qualify candidates must be eligible by the date of any job offer. It is the candidates responsibility to maintain eligibility.

Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants

The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants.

It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the Public Service by any Public Service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment.

People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility).

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER)

It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that Scheme, are not eligible to apply for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

General

The appointment is to a permanent post in An Garda Síochána and is subject to the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and any other Act for the time being in force relating to An Garda Síochána.

Please note appointments from within An Garda Síochána for staff employed pre-commencement of the Policing Security & Community Safety Act will be to a Civil Service grade with Civil Service terms and conditions, insofar as applicable.

Salary Scale

The Higher Executive Officer salary scale will apply to this position.

The PPC (Personal Pension Contribution) salary scale (annually) for this position, with effect from 1st August 2025 is as follows:

Higher Executive Officer Scale - PPC €58,847 - €60,567 - €62,285 - €64,000 - €65,723 - €67,437 - €69,157 - €71,637¹ - €74,112²

¹ Long Service increment (LSI 1) may be payable following 3 years’ satisfactory service at the maximum of scale. ² Long Service increment (LSI 2) may be payable following 6 years’ satisfactory service at the maximum of scale.

Personal Pension Contribution

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 to a contribution in respect of membership of a Spouses’ and Children’s scheme, or the Additional Superannuation Contributions (ASC).

A different rate will apply where the appointee is not required to make a Personal Pension Contribution.

Candidates should note that entry will be at the minimum of the scale and will not be subject to negotiation and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Increments may be awarded annually, subject to satisfactory performance.

Important Note

Different terms and conditions may apply, if, immediately prior to appointment the appointee is already a serving Civil Servant or Public Servant.

Payment will be made fortnightly in arrears by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) into a bank account of an employee’s choice. Payment cannot be made until a bank account number and bank sort code has been supplied to the HR Directorate, Athlumney House, Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath C15 ND62.

Statutory deductions from salary will be made as appropriate.

Upon appointment, you will agree that any overpayment of salary, allowances, or expenses will be repaid by you subject to An Garda Síochána’s Management of Overpayments Policy.

Location

The position will be based in An Garda Síochána Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, DO8 HN3X.

Tenure and Probation

The appointment is to a permanent position on a probationary contract in An Garda Síochána. The probationary contract will be for a period of one year from the date specified on the contract.

During the period of your probation, your performance will be subject to review by your line manager(s) to determine whether you:

(i) Have performed in a satisfactory manner; (ii) Have been satisfactory in general conduct; and (iii) Are suitable from the point of view of health with particular regard to sick leave.

Prior to the completion of your probation, a decision will be made as to whether or not you will be retained, subject to An Garda Síochána’s Probation Policy.

This decision will be based on your performance assessed against the criteria set out in (i) to (iii) above. The detail of the probationary process will be explained to you and you will be given a copy of An Garda Síochána Policy on probation.

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs in this section, your probation contract may be terminated at any time prior to the expiry of the term of the contract by either side in accordance with the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts, 1973 to 2005.