Assistant Principal Officer

Assistant Principal Officer – Corporate & Capital Accounting – 3-month contract

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Principal Officer (APO) to join a Corporate and Capital Accounting Service within a large, complex public-sector organisation. The post holder will play a key role in supporting the delivery of capital budgeting, year-end accounting, financial governance, and service improvement.

Location: Various NI locations (Ballymena, Belfast, Armagh, Omagh, Dundonald) - Hybrid

Grade: Assistant Principal Officer

Reports to: Functional Lead – Capital Budget & Accounting Function

Key Responsibilities:

· Support delivery of capital budget processes and annual accounts.

· Lead finance support for capital budgets, including complex areas and year-end activities.

· Provide technical accounting guidance and financial advice.

· Contribute to policy development, continuous improvement, and digital initiatives.

· Build strong internal and external stakeholder relationships.

· Support and guide budget holders, ensuring compliance with statutory and reporting requirements.

· Contribute to resource management, service performance monitoring, and training delivery.

· Deputise for management as required.

Essential Criteria:

· Fully qualified accountant (ACCA/CIMA or equivalent) and a Bachelor’s degree with 2 years’ relevant management experience OR 5 years’ demonstrable experience managing at least two areas:

o Finance policy & processes

o Financial planning & strategy

o Capital budget setting, monitoring & control

o Budget holder support

o Fixed asset register management

· Proven ability to meet demanding deadlines and deliver high-quality services.

· Strong knowledge of statutory and/or financial reporting requirements.

· Access to transport to meet the needs of the role.

Additional Requirements (assessed at interview):

· Strong stakeholder relationship-building and collaborative working skills.

· Ability to lead teams and drive service improvement.

· Alignment with organisational values and ethos.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute to high-impact financial activity across a wide and diverse organisation, supporting statutory compliance and best-practice accounting.

If you are interested in hearing more or being considered for this role, apply here or contact Sophie Keogh at Cpl NI.