Job details
Title: Senior Compliance Officer
Reporting to: Head of Programmes
Direct Reports: None – proposed Compliance (Support) Officer at future date
Key relationships: Head of Programmes; Business Development; Programme Implementation Teams; Technical Advisors; Finance Department
Grade: 4
Contract Length: Permanent
Start date: January ****
Brief overview and purpose of role
Plan International Ireland is looking for a Senior Compliance Officer to play a key role within our Programmes Team.
Reporting to the Head of Programmes, you will provide expert support to ensure high standards of compliance and financial management across our portfolio of institutional and private donors.
Acting as a critical interface between Business Development, Programme Delivery, and Finance, you will strengthen systems, embed best practices, and ensure consistent application of compliance and financial management standards.
In this role, you will support the monitoring of grant performance, multi-annual income, long-term grants planning, and donor audits, as well as financial reporting and donor budget preparation.
You will work collaboratively with teams across the organisation to identify and address gaps in processes and systems, safeguarding organisational integrity and ensuring effective stewardship of financial resources.
About Plan International Ireland
Founded in ****, Plan International is a children's organisation that fights for children's rights, particularly girls, who live in the poorest regions of the world.
We are an independent organisation with no religious, political, or governmental affiliations.
Our vision is a just world that advances children's rights and equality for girls.
We work at local, national, and international level across over 75 countries to influence governments to tackle the root causes of child poverty and to create a more equal world for girls.
We work with communities to advance education, advocate for an end to child marriage, amplify girls' and women's voices and much more.
During emergencies, we save lives and ease suffering by providing humanitarian assistance, while also creating safe spaces to protect and keep children in school.
Established in ****, Plan International Ireland influences and supports Plan International's work worldwide.
We are triple locked through the Charities Institute of Ireland.
We hold a Financial Programme Agreement (FPA) with ECHO and a Programme Grant with Irish Aid.
Plan Ireland is made up of 25 dedicated and talented staff covering seven nationalities.
In the last financial year our turnover was €18m and we worked directly with 19 countries across the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.
Key roles and responsibilities
Finance and Compliance Oversight Across the Project Cycle
Provide finance and compliance support throughout the full project cycle for grants funded by Irish Aid, the European Union (ECHO & INTPA), Education Cannot wait, UN and other multilateral as well as private donors
Ensure donor-specific financial rules, compliance requirements, and reporting standards are understood and applied consistently in the programmes department
Grants set-up and tracking internal financial systems, ensuring accurate financial data entry and alignment with donor requirements
Lead on development of project budgets, multi-annual forecasting plans, cash flows, and expenditure verification processes
Review and track payment requests and intercompany transactions in line with donor and internal financial procedures
Lead ongoing internal financial and compliance capacity building across the Programmes Team, including structured inductions targeted trainings, and follow-up support
Provide financial and compliance capacityening support to Country Offices and partner organisations, ensuring shared understanding of donor requirements, internal controls, and reporting standards
Stay up to date with federation-wide finance, compliance, and risk procedures, and support their rollout and application across relevant teams
Identify recurring financial or compliance gaps and work with Programme and Finance colleagues to develop practical solutions and improvements
Promote consistent application of donor rules, internal policies, and financial management standards across all teams involved in grant development and delivery
Support the Head of Programmes in analysing key portfolio data, performance indicators, and grant parameters to inform strategic decision-making
Assist the Senior Management Team with regular portfolio reviews, forecasting, and risk assessment processes
Collaboration & Capacity Strengthening
Lead ongoing internal financial and compliance capacity building across the Programmes Team, including structured inductions, targeted trainings, and follow-up support
Provide financial and compliance capacity-strengthening support to Country Offices and partner organisations, ensuring shared understanding of donor requirements, internal controls, and reporting standards
Stay up to date with federation-wide finance, compliance, and risk procedures, and support their rollout and application across relevant teams
Cross-Departmental Collaboration
Support the Head of Programmes in analysing key portfolio data, performance indicators, and grant parameters to inform strategic decision-making
Assist the Senior Management Team with regular portfolio reviews, forecasting, and risk assessment processes
Monitor and analyse finance and compliance risks across the grants portfolio, providing insights to strengthen oversight and mitigate potential issues
People Management and Collaboration
While this role currently has no direct reports, this may change over time based on organisational developments and staffing needs.
This role is a crucial interface across teams and functions.
This includes providing guidance, support, and performance management to ensure team members are equipped to deliver high-quality financial and compliance support across programmes and grants.
Building strong relationships and collaborating effectively across teams and functions is essential to ensure seamless coordination, knowledge sharing, and consistent application of financial and compliance standards.
Person specification
Essential Skills and Abilities
Strong understanding of and experience with donor compliance and financial management processes for institutional donors including Irish Aid, EU, Education Cannot Wait, UNHCR, UNICEF and private donors
Strong project management skills, with experience managing multiple grants or projects across the programme cycle
Proficiency in Excel, SAP, and Exchequer, with the ability to navigate financial documents and assess finance documents in connection with programme narratives for accuracy and alignment
Analytical skills and numeracy to support financial monitoring, forecasting, and reporting
Ability to transfer knowledge and build capacity within the Programmes Team, Country Offices and partner organisations
Ability to monitor, analyse, and report on finance and compliance risks across portfolios
Knowledge of systems and processes for process optimisation, knowledge management, and embedding best practices
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messages for diverse internal and external audiences
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and network effectively internally and externally in a complex organisational context
Desirable Skills and Abilities
French language skills
Experience managing or leading teams, with the ability to motivate, coach, and support colleagues and partners to achieve objectives
Level of Experience Required
Minimum of five years' experience in a similar role, with demonstrable experience in finance and compliance support for institutional donor grants
Proven experience in programme cycle management, including monitoring, reporting, and risk management of donor-funded grants
Personal Attributes
Data-driven, results-focused, and highly organised
Positive, proactive, and solution-oriented mindset with flexibility and resilience in a fast-paced environment
Strong collaborator and team player with excellent relationship-building, interpersonal, and intercultural skills
assionate and supporter-focused, demonstrating integrity and accountability in financial and compliance management
Passionate about Plan International's vision, values, and feminist leadership principles
Willingness to respond positively and constructively to organisational change and to contribute actively to the delivery of Plan International Ireland's programme strategy
Salary and benefits
Plan International Ireland operates a salary scale, as well as a broad range of employee benefits.
This role is graded as a Level 4 within our salary scale which starts at €43,285.
Placement on the scale will be dependent on level of experience and fit within the role.
In addition to salary, Plan International Ireland provides a number of employee benefits, some of which include:
Private Health Insurance for all employees (from commencement date)
Matching company pension contributions up to 5%
Flexible working hours (core hours of 10am to 4pm daily, minimum of 37 hours per week)
Commitment to training and development
25 days annual leave, increasing with length of service up to 30 days
Location
The Plan International Ireland office is located on Harrington Street, Dublin 8.
We are just a stone's throw away from the bustling Camden Street area.
Our nearest LUAS stop is Harcourt Street.
Employees may also sign up to the Bike-to-Work scheme, or the TaxSaver scheme for DART, LUAS, and Dublin bus users.
To apply
Please submit your CV along with a letter outlining why you feel you're the right person for the role by 17th December ****.
Applicants must have a valid work permit at the time of applying to enable them to work in Ireland.
Safeguarding
Plan International is committed to safeguarding people within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and has specific policies on this commitment.
Any candidate offered a job with us will be expected to sign our Safeguarding Policies and Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.
Specific roles may require police/Garda vetting.
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