A. Details
Position: Finance Manager
Grade: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Whole time equivalent: Full time (35 hours per week)
Reports to: Senior Finance Manager
Duration: Permanent
Role Closing Date: 12 noon, Thursday 29th October, 2026.
B. Department & Role Overview
The Arts Council is the Irish Government’s agency for supporting and promoting the arts in Ireland. We work in partnership with artists, arts organisations, public policy makers and others to build a central place for the arts in Irish life.
The Finance Manager leads a team of three within the Finance and Governance Team. A qualified accountant with a number of years post qualification experience, the finance manager is responsible for budgeting, management accounts and year-end financial accounting processes.
C. Key Responsibilities
Perform financial management duties including generating financial data, compiling and submitting reports, control account reconciliation including bank and trust accounts;
Preparation of management accounts and statutory financial statements;
Preparation and reporting against annual team budgets;
Supervision of accounts payable function;
Supervision of three staff;
Management of grant processes;
Reporting to parent department.
Note: Arts Council roles and responsibilities are subject to change as per on-going and future organisational requirements and developments. Other duties appropriate to the grade that may be assigned from time to time.
D. Skills Knowledge and Experiences
Excellent administrative and organisational skills ( with at least three years relevant experience in a public sector body would be desirable);
A recognised qualification from an accountancy body (ACCA,CIMA,CAI,CIMA, CIPFA);
Experience leading a team and managing staff;
Experience in the production of management accounts and year-end financial statements;
Experience and proficiency in the use of Finance Systems;
Proficient using Microsoft Excel (Advanced), Word and Power BI(desirable);
Excellent communication skills, both written and interpersonal, including the capacity to deal with situations requiring diplomacy and tact;
Ability to work well in a team environment be self-motivated and able to manage own workload;
A commitment to high standards of public service;
The ability to communicate through the Irish language, both verbal and written, is desirable but not essential.
Skills Required
- Recognised accountancy qualification from ACCA, CIMA, CAI, or CIPFA
- Experience producing management accounts and year-end financial statements
- Experience leading a team and managing staff
- Experience and proficiency using finance systems
- At least three years of relevant experience in a public sector body
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word
- Proficiency in Power BI
- Excellent administrative and organizational skills
- Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to work effectively in a team, self-motivate, and manage workload
- Commitment to high standards of public service
- Ability to communicate in Irish verbally and in writing
What We Do
The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon is the national government agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts in Ireland. Its role is to advocate, advise, invest and work in partnership with others to cultivate a vibrant arts environment at the heart of Irish society, distributing public funding to artists and arts organisations across the country.
