Dp Accountant

Deputy Principal Accountant - Northern Ireland Civil Service - Belfast
Your new company
Hays are thrilled to be partnering with the NICS for the Temporary recruitment of a Deputy Principal Accountant, on a full-time basis based in the Belfast office city centre office of this prestigious department.
Your new role
Calculation and payment of Victims' Payments
- Ensure all Victims' payment calculations and Determination Letters Payment Annexes are accurate and compliant with the Regulations, and calculators are accurate and kept updated.
- Ensure all payment made to Applicants are made on a timely basis, accurate and comply with Victims' Payments Board/NICS Policies and Regulations.
- Ensure all relevant correspondence to applicants is send in a timely and accurate manner e.g. annual uplift letters, beneficiary letters, lump sum offer letter.
- Interpretation of Regulations, identify areas of improvement/issues and problem solve.
- Ensure any overpayments are identified and recovered in a timely manner the through implementation of the Overpayment Policy.

Implement efficient systems, procedures, and policies
- Ensuring robust systems and procedures are in place and adhered to by the Applicant Award Calculations Team.
- Develop policies relating to the work of the Applicant Award Calculations Team.

Financial planning
- Preparation of financial analysis as required, and completion of all ad hoc financial reporting exercises including payment data for the Government Actuarial Department.
- Provide statistical information and trends on awards in payment by maintaining and refining the assumptions and methodology.
- Preparation of Cash forecasts of Victims' payments.
- Provide monthly statistics for the Management Accounts Pack.
- Liaise with Internal and External Audit as required relating to all financial management issues.

Management of Applicant Award Calculations Team
- Provide effective operational running and leadership of the Applicant Award Calculations Team (7 staff), by providing direction and dealing efficiently and effectively with any queries.

Provide advice, briefings, and assurance
- As a member of the Senior Management Team, you will provide financial advice and make recommendations in relation to applicant calculations, in a timely manner to support the Head of Scheme, and to support the Board.
- Support the Head of Scheme in their Accountable Officer role, ensuring that any relevant guidance is brought to their attention and processes put in place to adhere to.
- Provide advice and training to the Board and Panels on the calculation of awards, etc.
- Interpret, implement, and advise on all financial policies, including treatment and approval of expenditure under the accounting standards, IFReM and Managing Public Money NI.
- Ensure the Scheme is compliant with all relevant Government and Departmental policies, Delegated Limits, regulations, and legislation in relation to finance.
- Deal with applicant queries via phone and in writing.
- Attend meetings of the Board, Senior Management Team, and the Executive Office.
- Provide input to Freedom of Information Requests, Assembly Questions, Oral Questions, and Applicant queries/correspondence, etc. as required.

VPB Regulations
- Have an in-depth knowledge of the regulations that underpin the Victims' Payment Scheme and the ability to assess the potential impacts of policy and other changes that may impact upon the operation and management of the Scheme.
- Ensure the work of the Applicant Award Calculations Team is fully compliant with the VPB Regulations and provide advice and guidance to the Applicant Award Calculations Team and other members of the TPDPS on interpretation from a finance perceptive.
- successfully passed their final professional examinations and be a full current member of one a recognised professional accountancy body.
- Have two years' post-qualification experience gained in the last five years, in a finance related environment, in the following areas:
(a) financial planning and budgeting. (b) financial accounting. (c) management accounting and cost analysis.
- Possess high attention to detail and ability to work to tight deadlines.
- The ability to lead, manage, plan, and organise the flow of work through their work area and prioritise work to meet set deadlines.
- Excellent communication skills and proven written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with staff and stakeholders at all levels.
- Advanced Excel skills.
- Strong Team Management/Leadership skills.
- Strong report and letter writing skills.
- The ability to identify problems/areas for improvement and provide solutions (Problem Solving); and
- Ability to see the bigger picture and impacts on other areas

What you'll get in return
Flexible working options available.
What you need to do now
If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.