Verification Officer

Role Requirement 1

Budget and Milestone Development Review

• Support the review and development of project budgets to ensure proposed costs are reasonable, eligible, accurately costed and aligned with approved project activities and deliverables.
• For a sample of projects, review budget assumptions and quotations, price-checking documentation and supporting cost evidence to ensure compliance with PEACEPLUS Change Makers Programme requirements and value-for-money principles.
• Verify that procurement and price-checking requirements have been applied appropriately in line with programme guidance, including the application of relevant procurement thresholds and documentation requirements.
• Assist Development Coordinators (DCs) in the development of clear, measurable and deliverable project milestones that align with the approved application, appraisal recommendations and budget.
• Define proportionate evidence requirements for each milestone, ensuring that documentary evidence directly reflects and substantiates the activities and deliverables of a project
• Maintain a clear audit trail of activities, evidencing the rationale for conclusions and recommendations made during the appraisal, milestone setting and contracting process.

Role Requirement 2

State Aid Assessments

• Support the assessment of funding applications for compliance with applicable State Aid/Subsidy Control requirements, in line with programme guidance and approved assessment methodologies.
• Review project activities to identify potential State Aid/Subsidy Control implications and determine the appropriate escalation approach where necessary.
• Liaise with Appraisers and other programme staff to obtain and evaluate information required to support State Aid/Subsidy Control assessments.
• Document assessment findings, conclusions and recommendations on the prescribed assessment templates, ensuring a clear and comprehensive record of the rationale supporting each determination.
• Contribute to the consistent application of State Aid/Subsidy Control requirements and maintain an appropriate audit trail to support programme assurance and compliance activities.

Role Requirement 3

Milestone Verifications

• Support the Controller function in developing, updating and documenting processes and procedures for Risk Based Management Verifications of the PEACEPLUS Change Makers projects in line with programme and EU requirements
• Plan, schedule, and conduct on-site and desk-based, verifications of project milestones/activities, outputs, and deliverables across the PEACEPLUS Change Makers Funding Programme area.
• Develop verification plans and checklists based on project risk profiles, milestone schedules, and expenditure claims (project reports).
• Verify the correct application of approved Simplified Cost Options (SCOs), ensuring that methodologies and underlying assumptions are correctly applied by beneficiaries.
• Assist the Controller in reviewing and validating the use of SCOs as part of the verification process, ensuring consistency with programme rules and the approved project budget.
• Review financial and non-financial evidence to confirm that reported results align with approved applications and funding agreements.
• Conduct site visits to verify physical outputs, meet with project partners, and confirm the reality and delivery of reported activities.
• Ensure all verifications are undertaken in line with EU regulations, programme procedures, and audit standards.

Role Requirement 4

Stakeholder Management

• Liaise effectively with internal programme management and colleagues, project beneficiaries, Lead Partners, the Managing Authority, and other verification and audit stakeholders.
• Represent the PEACEPLUS Programme professionally during on-site and remote verifications.
• Communicate verification findings clearly, ensuring that partners understand the requirements and expectations for compliance.
• Collaborate closely with the Controller and wider Programme teams to ensure consistency in verification and reporting practices.

Required Experience

Essential:

• Demonstrable experience in audit, financial verification, or compliance monitoring of grant-funded or publicly funded projects.
• Evident experience in designing/developing/documenting audit and/or verification systems, processes and procedures.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and assess both financial and activity-based evidence.
• Excellent attention to detail, accuracy, and record-keeping.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, evidence-based reports.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple verification assignments and deadlines.
• Experience in the use of IT for the purpose of audit, verification and/or financial reporting
• Proficient in MS packages e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook, financial accounting systems, SharePoint portals
• The postholder will be required to travel throughout Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland and beyond to attend verifications and meetings/conferences which may include overnight stays on occasion. The successful candidate must, therefore, have access to a form of transport and be prepared to travel and stay away from home overnight as and when required in order to properly perform the duties and responsibilities of the post.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with electronic monitoring systems such as JEMS.
• Familiarity with State Aid and/or UK Subsidy Control regulations and requirements
• Experience working in a cross-border or EU programme environment.
• Knowledge and understanding of Interreg, PEACEPLUS, or other EU-funded programme rules, including Simplified Cost Options (SCOs).