The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is a postgraduate medical training college dedicated to ensuring that doctors have the skills to provide patients with the best possible care. Founded in 1654, the college supports doctors to enhance their skills, competencies, and professionalism throughout their working lives.
Through its Faculties and Institutes, The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, offers medical training programmes, examinations, diplomas, and educational courses to equip doctors with the skills and knowledge they need to care for patients and run safe and efficient healthcare systems. It also offers a range of educational diplomas and courses for learners in the wider healthcare sector.
RCPI's newly launched Strategic Plan 2025–2029 focuses on engagement and growth, people development, education design, postgraduate training, clinical leadership, public engagement, trainer development, and technology advancement—underpinned by corporate priorities in collaboration, transformation, regional alignment, professional excellence and ESG. RCPI is governed by a Council, with an Executive Committee responsible for legal, financial and statutory duties and oversight of resource allocation and risks; as a registered charity, RCPI complies with the Charities Governance Code. RCPI's most recent Annual Reports highlight continued growth in membership, training, examinations and advocacy impact.
Position:
Role: Senior Financial Accountant
Contract: Permanent
Department: Finance
Reports to: Head of Finance
Direct Reports
* Accounts Payable (AP)
* Accounts Receivable (AR)
* Trainee Accountant
Salary & Benefits: €77,000 + benefits
Closing date: 16 January 2026 at 17:00
Role Purpose
Drive high-quality, timely and insightful financial stewardship across RCPI's commercial activities and core operations. The Senior Financial Accountant will lead transactional finance (AP/AR), own monthly close and statutory reporting, strengthen controls aligned to RCPI's governance framework, and provide challenge and clarity to stakeholders across training, examinations, events, faculties/institutes and advocacy work—supporting delivery of RCPI's Strategic Plan 2025–2029 and its corporate priorities
Key Responsibilities
Financial Reporting & Control
* Lead month-end close: journals, accruals/prepayments, balance sheet reconciliations, intercompany and fund accounting (where applicable), ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
* Produce management accounts with variance analysis and commentary, linking to RCPI strategic initiatives and operational KPIs (e.g., training enrolments, exam sittings, event revenues).
* Own statutory accounts preparation and audit pack; coordinate with external auditors; ensure compliance with Irish GAAP/FRS 102 and charity reporting obligations.
* Maintain and continuously improve internal control environment, segregation of duties and finance policies consistent with RCPI governance.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Commercial Insight
* Run annual budget cycle and rolling forecasts with budget holders across RCPI and its Faculties/Institutes (e.g., Institute of Medicine, Faculties of Paediatrics, Pathology, Public Health Medicine, Occupational Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology), translating strategic plans into financial targets.
* Provide commercial analysis as required for the organisation; model scenarios and sensitivities; challenge assumptions and ask "hard questions" to ensure robust decisions.
* Track performance versus strategy milestones (engagement, technology advancement, regional alignment) with dashboards and concise narratives for relevant stakeholders.
Transactional Finance Leadership (AP/AR)
* Lead AP/AR operations: supplier onboarding, PO compliance, invoice processing, payment runs, verification of payee, credit control, revenue recognition, debt management, refunds and chargebacks; set SLA/quality standards.
* Monthly and rolling cash flow forecasts are prepared and reviewed.
* Ensure strong tax compliance (VAT, PAYE/PRSI, CT), accurate coding across cost centres, projects and funds consistent with governance policies.
Stakeholder Management & Business Partnering
* Partner with leaders across all departments in RCPI to align financial outcomes with RCPI goals; distil complex issues into actionable recommendations.
* Work closely with Payroll and HR to ensure cost allocations, reconciliations etc. are accurate and timely.
* Represent Finance in cross-functional projects ensuring financial viability and control.
Systems, Process & Data
* Champion finance systems improvements (ERP, AP automation, AR/CRM integration, reporting tools), supporting RCPI's technology advancement initiative.
* Design practical SOPs and control checklists; drive continuous improvement and Lean practices in finance operations ensuring internal financial controls are always in place.
* Establish robust data governance for financial and KPI reporting, ensuring single sources of truth for all reporting.
Compliance & Risk
* Ensure adherence to RCPI's governance framework, Charities Governance Code principles, and internal policies (procurement, expenses, conflicts of interest, reserves).
* Maintain risk registers for finance operations; propose and implement mitigations (cyber fraud in payments, credit risk, FX where relevant).
* Support grant/funded project reporting (if applicable) and ensure transparency in public or member-facing financial communications aligned to best practice.
People Leadership
* Coach and manage AP, AR and Trainee Accountant: set objectives, review performance, mentor development, and build a high-trust, high-accountability culture aligned to RCPI's core values (welcoming, trustworthy, respectful, responsive, connecting, challenging).
Foster analytical curiosity and psychological safety—encouraging the team to surface issues early and ask challenging questions of stakeholders.
Requirements:
Essential Qualifications & Experience
* Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).
* 5–8+ years' PQE with strong month-end close, statutory reporting and audit coordination.
* Proven team leadership across AP/AR and mentoring of junior staff.
* Demonstrated commercial partnering experience in a complex, multi-stakeholder, service-led organisation (education, membership body, charity/NGO, events or healthcare).
* Excellent Excel/ERP skills; experience driving systems/process optimisation.
Desirable
* Experience within a registered charity environment and/or knowledge of the Charities Governance Code.
* Sector exposure to training/examinations/events revenue models and international customers or candidates.
Familiarity with ESG reporting and public procurement considerations relevant to RCPI's advocacy and policy engagement.
Competencies
* Finance Management
* Strategic Planning
* Stakeholder Collaboration & Influence
* Leadership
Why this role:
* Opportunity to influence finance and decision-making at a historic, mission-driven organisation with global reach and a forward-looking strategy (2025–2029).
* Engage with diverse workstreams—training, examinations, events and advocacy—experiencing measurable growth and international expansion.
Work within a transparent governance environment that values professionalism, quality and continuous improvement.
Other information:
Why work with us
At the RCPI we value our employees and believe our talented team is the foundation of the Colleges success. That is why we aim to provide them with support and a range of benefits and services to create a work-life balance that suits you.:
Leave: We offer 21 days annual leave with an additional 3-4 college days as well as long service leave to all employees. We also provide support for staff with Maternity, Sick, Parents, and Parental leave.
Wellbeing: AnEmployee Assistance Programme with Spectrum Life is available to all staff members as well as annual flu vaccine.
Flexible Hybrid working model: The RCPI offer a flexible 35-hour-a-week hybrid working model for all employees from their start date, giving staff the autonomy to work from home combined with time spent onsite.
Pension: A defined contribution pension scheme of 3.33% Employee contribution and 6.66% RCPI contribution is offered to every employee upon completion of probationary period.
Flexible Benefit: Pro-rata €1,000 annual flexible benefit upon completion of a successful probatory period.
Life Assurance: 4 times your annual salary.
Learning & Development: We offer CPD options including study leave and unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning.
Diversity and Inclusion: RCPI recognises the importance of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We were recently awarded a Silver accreditation from Investors in Diversity. We are an open and inclusive organisation that celebrates and welcomes diversity. We lead initiatives that support, promote and demonstrate a culture of mutual respect, inclusivity, and diversity, as outlined in our Diversity and Inclusion policy.
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is an inclusive employer and in line with our policies you are invited to disclose any reasonable accommodations you require for applying, interviewing or working with RCPI. Please be assured this information will be treated as confidential and not used for the purpose of selection. If you have any queries, please contact Suzann Donnelly