Payroll Finance Partner: Strategic Budgeting & Reporting

Ministry of Justice; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

The Northern Ireland Office seeks a payroll finance officer to join the Financial Accounting and Reporting team. The post posts payroll journals to the Account NI system, supports cash management, and works with HR on costing and payroll forecasting across Belfast and London locations.

The role involves monthly reconciliations, accruals, invoicing for payroll costs, and collaboration with ALBs. A strong finance background, CTC clearance, and effective stakeholder communications are essential.

Qualifications

• Hold existing CTC clearance.
• Demonstrable experience of supporting financial processes in a busy and complex finance function for a minimum of 6 months.
• Demonstrable experience of building positive and effective working relationships across a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to comprehend accounting information and distil into a format that is widely understandable to non-finance stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience of using financial software, and advanced MS Excel skills (including sorting data, vlookups & pivot table etc.)
• Ability to work independently and prioritise workload.
• Desirable: Hold AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting.

Responsibilities

• Posting payroll journals to Account NI accounting system as part of the month-end process.
• Funding requests to ensure sufficient balances at bank for outgoing payments on pay-day.
• Process third party payments as advised by payroll provider.
• Calculate staff accruals including retention of supporting audit evidence on a monthly basis.
• Prepare invoices for payroll costs and debtors control.
• Liaise with HR and other teams, including ALBs, providing support on costing data to support workforce planning and payroll forecasting.
• Prepare all necessary expense and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Undertake analytical reviews of monthly payroll costs and challenge movements for line manager review, and presentation in monthly financial reporting.
• Support the NIO internal and external audit processes.
• Assist in the completion of statutory returns.

Skills

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Independent working

Prioritisation

Education

AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting

Tools

Excel

Job description

The Northern Ireland Office seeks a payroll finance officer to join the Financial Accounting and Reporting team. The post posts payroll journals to the Account NI system, supports cash management, and works with HR on costing and payroll forecasting across Belfast and London locations.

The role involves monthly reconciliations, accruals, invoicing for payroll costs, and collaboration with ALBs. A strong finance background, CTC clearance, and effective stakeholder communications are essential.