Payments Manager

ACCA Careers; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is seeking a Payments Manager to lead the NIHE Payments function from its Belfast base. You will ensure efficient, accurate and compliant processing of all transactions, while driving improvements and strengthening financial controls within a full-time, permanent role.

Reporting to the Shared Services Manager – Payments and Payroll, you will manage a team, drive digital transformation of payment processes, and provide senior management with high-quality

Qualifications

• Final exams of AAT or IATI with 3 years’ experience in transaction processing.
• CCAB foundation papers (or equivalent) with 3 years’ experience in transaction processing.
• Relevant degree in Accounting/Business or equivalent with 3 years’ experience in transaction processing.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a high-performing payments service aligned to organisational priorities and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure strong financial control, governance, and audit readiness.
• Lead and develop a capable and resilient team.
• Drive continuous improvement and digital transformation of payment processes.
• Provide high-quality reporting, insight, and assurance to senior management.

Skills

Team leadership

Data interpretation

IT & payments systems

Communication & influencing

Customer focus

Education

AAT or IATI exams

CCAB foundation papers

Accounting/Business degree or equivalent

Tools

Spreadsheets

Finance/payments systems

Data reporting tools

Job description

Payments Manager

Grade: 7
Salary: £45,091 - £51,356 per annum
Hours of work: Full-time, permanent
Location: Adelaide Street, Belfast

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is the strategic housing authority for Northern Ireland and a public sector landlord at scale. With a £1.3bn annual budget, responsibility for 83,000 homes and a range of cross‑tenure housing functions, our mission is to ensure that housing helps to resolve society's greatest challenges.

Working closely with the Shared Services Manager – Payments and Payroll, the successful candidate will lead the NIHE Payments function, ensuring the efficient, accurate and compliant processing of all transactions while driving continuous improvement, strengthening financial controls, and supporting delivery of payment related financial systems.

This role is central to NIHE business delivery and supports our vision and values of making a difference, fairness, passion, and expertise, as we aim to address rising demand for social housing, combat homelessness, deliver housing services and high‑quality homes.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver a high-performing payments service aligned to organisational priorities and regulatory requirements;
• Ensure strong financial control, governance, and audit readiness;
• Lead and develop a capable and resilient team;
• Drive continuous improvement and digital transformation of payment processes;
• Provide high-quality reporting, insight, and assurance to senior management.

Essential Criteria

Applicants must provide evidence by the closing date for application that they meet the following essential criteria:

• (i) Final examinations of AAT or IATI and have 3 year’s relevant experience in transaction processing / Finance environment.
• (ii) Foundation papers of a CCAB body (or equivalent) and have 3 year’s relevant experience in a transaction processing / Finance environment.
• (iii) Relevant degree (e.g. Accounting, Business Studies) or equivalent qualification and have 3 years’ experience in a transaction processing/ Finance environment.
• (iv) Exceptionally, Candidates not holding the above qualifications but can demonstrate at least 5 years’ experience in a transaction processing /Finance environment.

• Have at least the required number of years’ experience, as per point 1, in each of the following (please include dates for each criterion):
• Lead/Manage a team to ensure service delivery.
• Interpreting data and managing complex information in order to understand and improve performance.
• Identify and implement best practice demonstrating strong systems / IT capabilities.
• Can demonstrate (to be assessed at interview)
• Strong leadership skills
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Ability to work accurately under pressure of multiple deadlines
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills
• Strong customer orientation
• Excellent IT skills including spreadsheets, finance / payments systems
• Possess a current driving licence or have access to a form of transport that enables them to meet the requirements of the post in full

Please note that in addition to this post, offers of a similar role may be made from a candidate Reserve List during the following 12-month period.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday 10th September 2026 at 4:30 pm.

The Housing Executive is an equal opportunities employer. All appointments are based solely on merit.