Regional Management Accountant

About SVP

SVP is a large, national, voluntary organisation with extensive experience of working with a diverse range of people who experience poverty and exclusion. Through its network of volunteers and employees, it is strongly committed to working for social justice and advocates the creation of a more just and caring society.

SVP is an equal opportunity employer committed to treating all individuals with dignity and respect. We are dedicated to protecting everyone we encounter from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation, in accordance with Irish equality legislation. All employees are expected to adhere to SVP's Dignity & Respect and Safeguarding policies, including those pertaining to children and vulnerable adults.

The founder of the Society, Blessed Frederick Ozanam, was a devout Christian, and his legacy of spirituality remains a key element of the make-up of every Conference within the Society. It is normal practice within the Society that prayers are said at the beginning and end of Conference meetings or at other meetings where members are in attendance, as this underpins the ethos of the Society. You are not required to take part.

Purpose of the Role

The Regional Management Accountant plays a critical role within SVP Ireland's Regional Council by safeguarding financial integrity, ensuring robust accounting practices, and promoting operational efficiency. Reporting to the Regional Coordinator, this qualified professional is responsible for a broad range of financial duties, from supporting Conference Treasurers and managing the Regional Office's bookkeeping to overseeing financial management tasks across the wider Region.

This includes providing expert guidance and oversight to ensure that all financial transactions, records, reports, and controls meet best practice standards, comply with SVP policies, and adhere to all relevant regulations. The role demands a hands-on approach, with accountability for maintaining accuracy, transparency, and strong internal controls while working closely with the Finance team in the National Office.

A key focus is enhancing the Region's financial systems, reporting capabilities, and internal controls to support informed decision-making and strategic planning at both regional and national levels. The Regional Management Accountant actively contributes to developing efficient financial processes, improving data quality, and maximising the value of SVP's national financial system.

By ensuring that resources are managed effectively, ethically, and in alignment with SVP's mission, the role directly supports the Society's goal of providing meaningful assistance to individuals and families facing poverty and disadvantage. This position requires not only strong technical expertise but also a deep commitment to the values and ethos of the organisation.

Guidance and Authority

The post holder is expected to operate with considerable autonomy, referring matters to their line manager when:

• Significant resistance is encountered in implementing good practices or policies.
• Actions may place stakeholders such as children, vulnerable adults, scheme participants, volunteers, or the Society's reputation at risk.
• Decisions could substantially impact the workload of others.

Principal Accountabilities

The role holder will be responsible for:

Remote & Face-to-Face Support for Conference Treasurers

• Provide remote assistance (email, phone, online tools) for accounting, governance, policy, and technical queries.
• Offer face-to-face drop-in clinics, refresher training, and in-office support.
• Deliver training for new Treasurers and those moving from manual to online systems.

Support for Area Presidents & Treasurers

• Build relationships with Area Presidents and Treasurers to ensure timely system data entry.
• Provide requested and proactive information to support their work.

Reporting & Data Quality

• Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual system usage and trend reports.
• Communicate training updates and tips to members.
• Review and improve data quality through system reports and by liaising with Conferences.

Procedural & System Improvements

• Guide Treasurers through new or updated procedures.
• Escalate gaps in processes to relevant stakeholders.
• Recommend and test system developments with colleagues and the National Office.

Annual Returns Process Support

• Assist Treasurers with completing Annual Financial Returns.
• Review the quality of submissions, liaise on audit queries, and work with volunteers during the process.

Regional Council Bookkeeping & Compliance

• Manage accounts payable and receivable, cash and banking, and internal transactions.
• Prepare trial balances, income and expenditure reports, and financial analysis.
• Maintain strong internal controls and work with the National Consolidation Team.

Finance Administration

• Process and record donations, legacies, and vouchers.
• Maintain required documentation and coordinate with legal firms on bequests.
• Manage the central voucher system for Conferences.

Annual Reporting & Audit

• Support the Regional Treasurer and Regional Coordinator in the reporting cycle and quality assurance.
• Produce annual budgets and cash flow forecasts and assist in national and regional audits.

Frederic Ozanam Trust & Property Register

• Administer FO Trust records and maintain the property register.

Insurance & Legal Administration

• Liaise with insurers on member and staff queries.
• Support legal, financial, and governance-related tasks.

Support for Regional Treasurer

• Assist in annual report submissions and escalate breaches in financial policies.
• Provide financial reporting and ensure compliance with regulations and standards.

Regional Accounting

• Prepare management reports and financial statements and control accounts payable and receivable processes.
• Monitor internal controls and risk management and support internal and external audits.
• Support national projects, education committee finances, and CE scheme supervision.
• Manage banking processes, cash forecasts, and legacy and bequest registers.

Other Duties

• Undertake additional projects covering finance, legal, compliance, and service delivery as required.

Challenges

There are a number of challenges in this role, largely determined by the scale, complexity, voluntary nature, and high levels of local autonomy within the Society.

• Ensuring confidentiality at all times.
• Ensuring a friendly and supportive atmosphere at all times.

Other Information

In addition to the duties and responsibilities listed above, the job holder may be required from time to time to perform other duties as deemed reasonable and necessary by the employer.

The job holder may also be required from time to time to work or attend training and meetings at another location. As much notice as is reasonably practicable will be given of any such requirement or change.

Employees are responsible for notifying their manager in writing of any statutory rest period or break to which they are entitled but were unable to avail of on a particular occasion, together with the reason for not availing of such rest period or break, within one week.

Education, Experience, Knowledge and Skills RequiredQualifications

• Finalist or fully qualified with a professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, or CIMA is essential.

Experience

• Experience of annual audits, audit pre-work including audit files, working papers, advance audit analysis, and annual reporting/audits is essential.
• Experience of financial statement preparation through to filing and publication is essential.
• Budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis experience is desirable.
• Experience in analysing trends and KPIs is desirable.
• Experience with presentations is desirable.
• Experience of key performance metrics reporting and variance analysis for inclusion in management reports.
• Experience of system implementation and systems improvement.
• Experience in the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and controls.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the Society and its mission and values.
• Knowledge of the needs and issues affecting poor and disadvantaged people.
• Knowledge of audits, statutory accounts, management accounts, internal controls, and process analysis is essential.
• Knowledge of financial policies and GAAP/SORP application is essential.
• Knowledge of commercial and retail business operations, best practices, procedures, internal controls, reporting, and analytics is desirable.
• Knowledge and experience with large entity financial accounting systems is desirable.

Skills

• Excellent IT skills, including finance software such as Agresso, Sage, or similar systems, MS Office, and advanced Excel skills are essential.
• Excellent report writing skills with a high level of attention to detail.
• Strong analytical, operational analysis, and evaluation skills.
• Strong people management skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team, contribute to initiatives, and support continuous improvement.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present ideas clearly and concisely to a variety of audiences.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to use initiative to develop solutions.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise in a busy environment.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate must demonstrate:

• Honesty and trustworthiness
• Respect for others
• Flexibility
• Sound work ethics
• Confidentiality

Salary: €50,500 per annum