Staff Officer Accountant - Finance Business Partner
| Posting date: | 11 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £24.04 to £25.01 per hour |
| Additional salary information: | 24.04-25.01 |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 13 March 2026 |
| Location: | Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 3LA |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 4 days per week |
| Company: | Hays Specialist Recruitment |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | 4770117_1770807614 |
Summary
Your new company
You will be joining the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) within the Financial Strategy and Planning Branch. The team provides financial management, business partnering and strategic oversight across a wide range of justice‑related functions, including the Legacy Inquest Unit (LIU), Coroners Service NI (CSNI), the Lady Chief Justice's Office, Official Solicitor's Office and regional courts. This role is based in Laganside House, Belfast, with hybrid working 2 days in office/3 from home.
Your new role
As a Staff Officer Accountant/ Finance Business Partner- Financial Strategy Planning Branch (In‑Year), you will take on a key business partnering role and be responsible for the effective management, control and reporting of budgets across several high‑profile justice areas.
Your core responsibilities will include:
- Managing the Legacy Inquest Unit and Coroners Service NI budgets.
- Acting as a finance business partner for a range of directorates.
- Preparing monthly finance returns and reports including accruals, variance analysis, cash management and profiling.
- Preparing Monitoring Round submissions and budget forecasts.
- Supporting senior leaders with spend analysis, trend reporting and financial planning.
- Forecasting counsel costs and building forecasting tools for legal teams.
- Running and interpreting Account NI reports to support financial decision‑making and monthly monitoring.
- Developing and maintaining automated Excel spreadsheets.
- Training budget holders on financial processes.
- Liaising with key stakeholders including audit, administrators and legal officers.
- Ensuring internal financial controls and governance requirements are met.
- Supporting the wider In‑Year budgeting team with ad‑hoc queries.
What you'll need to succeed
Essential:
- Qualified accountant- Chartered or equivalent
Desirable:
- Experience using Account NI
What you'll get in return
- Hybrid working pattern- 2 days offer/ 3 days home
- Flexibility options- flexible time and flexible start/finish times
- 37‑hour working week- opening to part time
- 37 day annual leave
- A 12‑month+ contract with a supported pathway to future permanent NICS opportunities
- Opportunity to work in a high‑impact public‑sector finance environment supporting justice services.
- Experience partnering with senior stakeholders across multiple high‑profile functions.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up‑to‑date copy of your CV, or call us 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.
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