Director of Financial Projects

We are delighted to be recruiting for a Director of Financial Projects with our client Sport Ireland.

About Sport Ireland

Sport Ireland is the authority tasked with the development of sport in Ireland, including sport’s participation, high performance sport, anti‑doping, and the development of the Sport Ireland Campus. Budget 2026 allocated €10.8 million in additional funding, bringing total funding to €154 million, reflecting the Government’s continued commitment to sport as a driver of health, community and economic growth.

Position Description

The Director of Financial Projects reporting to the Director of Finance & Corporate Services is a senior leadership role responsible for driving financial strategy, planning, and analysis across Sport Ireland. This position plays a critical role in supporting strategic decision‑making around financial forecasting, budgeting and performance analysis. The role holder will provide financial oversight of operational budgets and monitoring of various capital projects exceeding €100 million, including the construction of the National Cycling Velodrome and other strategic infrastructure developments on the Sport Ireland Campus.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Planning & Budgeting

- Lead the development and preparation of Sport Ireland’s annual budgets in collaboration with department heads and key stakeholders.

- Design and maintain sophisticated financial models to support strategic planning and scenario analysis.

- Ownership of the production of the monthly operating results & quarterly board packs for senior management.

- Coordinate the budget setting process across all departments, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy and funding parameters.

- Liaise regularly with department heads to review expenditure to date and validate forecast requirements.

- Champion process improvements and automation initiatives.

- Monitor organisational cash flow and maintain rolling cash flow forecasts, ensuring adequate liquidity for operational and capital commitments.

- Partner with Finance Operations to ensure management reporting is accurate and fit for decision‑making.

- Prepare comprehensive budget documentation for Board approval and funding body submissions, providing insightful commentary and recommendations.

- Establish and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) and management information dashboards modelled in Microsoft Power BI.

Capital Programme Management

- Provide financial oversight and monitoring of Sport Ireland’s capital investment programme (€100 m+).

- Monitor financial progress on the construction of the National Cycling Velodrome and other major capital projects.

- Track capital expenditure against approved budgets and funding profiles.

- Prepare regular capital programme financial reports for senior management and the Board.

Public Procurement Oversight & Reporting

- Monitor and report on Sport Ireland compliance with public procurement thresholds & commitments.

- Track procurement activities across the organisation, including competitive tendering processes for goods, services and works.

- Prepare procurement reports for management and the Board, highlighting compliance status and value for money outcomes.

- Support the implementation of strategic procurement initiatives aligned with public sector best practice.

Governance & Compliance

- Ensure compliance with Sport Ireland’s financial policies and procedures.

- Support internal and external audit processes.

- Contribute to the continuous improvement of financial systems and processes.

- Maintain appropriate financial controls and governance frameworks.

Leadership & Team Development

- Build and develop a high‑performing FP&A function.

- Foster a culture of financial awareness and accountability across the organisation.

- Mentor and develop team members.

- Develop reports via Sage/Oracle Netsuite FMS & Power BI.

This is not an exhaustive list, and the role will include any duties required by Sport Ireland from time to time which are appropriate for the position and the needs of the organisation.

Person Specification

Essential:

- Minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar senior financial planning and analysis role with 7+ years PQE.

- Proven experience in financial planning, forecasting and budgeting in a complex organisation.

- A professional qualification in accounting, finance, or a related field – ACCA, ACA, CPA, CIMA or equivalent.

- Demonstrated experience with major capital programmes.

- Strong background in financial analysis and business partnering.

- Experience working with multiple stakeholders at senior management level.

- Advanced financial modelling and analytical skills.

- Exceptional Excel skills and proficiency with financial systems and business intelligence tools.

- Experience or strong interest in leveraging AI technologies (including Agentic AI) to automate reporting processes and enhance financial analysis.

- Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking ability.

- Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to explain complex financial information clearly to a non‑financial audience.

- Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders.

- High attention to detail with strong organisational and time‑management skills.

- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

- Self‑motivated with ability to work on own initiative.

Desirable:

- Experience in the sports, public sector or not‑for‑profit environment.

- Knowledge of public sector financial management and compliance requirements.

- Experience with ERP systems (e.g. Sage, Oracle NetSuite or similar).

- Experience with data visualisation tools (Power BI, Tableau, etc.).

- Project management qualification or experience.

Additional Information:

- Position: Permanent, Full Time.

- Salary Scale: Assistant Principal Officer Standard Scale. The appointment will be made on this scale in line with the current Government Pay Policy. New entrants to the public sector commence on the first point of scale.

- Location: Sport Ireland, Sport Ireland Campus, Snugborough Road, Blanchardstown, D15.

If you would like to apply for this position, please send your CV in confidence to sportirelandjobs@orangerecruitment.ie. Closing date for applications is Monday 17th November 2025, 5pm.

Sport Ireland is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace which values and benefits from the diversity of the workforce. Sport Ireland is an equal opportunity employer of all qualified individuals. We actively welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on any protected groups. If you require reasonable accommodation for the interview, please let us know and we will do our best to assist.

Sport Ireland is a Great Place to Work® Ireland.

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