Head of Public Policy

About Chartered Accountants Ireland

Chartered Accountants Ireland is Ireland’s leading professional accountancy body, representing over 39,000 members in over 100 countries and educating 8,600 students. Its members provide leadership across both the public and private sector, bringing experience, trusted expertise, and strict standards to all aspects of their work. As the largest professional body on the island of Ireland, Chartered Accountants Ireland engages with several stakeholders including governments, policy makers, regulators, and business groups on key issues affecting the profession and the wider economy. Chartered Accountants Ireland supports members at every stage of their career from education to qualification to continuing professional development. 

Public Policy Team

The Public Policy team sits within the wider Public Affairs team (approx. 15 people) and is responsible for the public policy agenda of Chartered Accountants Ireland.  We work with expert colleagues drawn from practice and industry, developing and advocating policy on matters relating to financial reporting, audit and assurance, tax, business law, and wider socio-economic issues impacting businesses on the island of Ireland today.

This Spring, the Institute launched Strategy27, the organisation’s new three-year strategy that will direct all our work in the coming months. At the heart of the strategy is an ambition to build our voice as the largest professional body on the island of Ireland. The Public Policy team, led by an ambitious and self-starting Head of Public Policy, will play a critical role in bringing this ambition to life.

As a senior figure in the team, the Head of Public Policy will be centrally involved in formulating Institute policy as regards public affairs.  The role also involves representing the Institute with the membership, various government departments, regulatory agencies, the media and other professional bodies in Ireland, the UK and elsewhere. 

The position will interest those who enjoy the challenge of a rapidly changing environment and are interested in leading a team which is at the centre of the development of the accountancy profession on the island of Ireland.

Key Responsibilities

The role is diverse and includes:

• Identifying policy areas that will impact upon our 40,000-strong membership and formulating a corresponding policy strategy.

• Developing, implementing and managing an annual plan with a supporting budget and income plan (where applicable).

• Ensuring appropriate allocation of responsibilities, delivery of agreed goals, and ongoing management of the Institute’s public policy agenda while ensuring efficient management of financial resources.

• Liaising with a wide range of stakeholders including various Irish and UK government authorities, and other accounting bodies in Ireland, the UK and Europe on public policy and other legislation impacting on the work of accountants in industry and in practice.

• Supporting the Executive Head of Public Affairs in driving the transformation of the Institute’s public affairs programme across the island of Ireland, enhancing the voice of Chartered Accountants Ireland and ultimately its brand.

• Working closely with the Institute President, the CEO and the Director of Members and Advocacy in developing policy themes/agendas/positions.

• Researching and drafting of technical submissions (including public consultation responses) to Governments and managing the review and consultation process both before and after the submission is made.  Devising approaches and strategies to maximise the impact of the submissions and identifying, in consultation with Institute Committees, matters for inclusion.

• Drafting technical and opinion articles for publication on internal Institute channels and in media across the island of Ireland.

• Attending at, participating or otherwise contributing to conferences, seminars and other events on the Institute’s behalf, whether Institute arranged or otherwise.

• Working with other divisions of the Institute on policy matters including across the wider Members and Advocacy Team. 

• Implementing Chartered Accountants Ireland policies, standards and initiatives locally including but not exclusively in relation to performance management, relevant codes of conduct, data protection, IT policies, etc

• Managing a team and/or projects directly or indirectly. Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of their team and ensuring that team members adhere to relevant policies in this area.

Required competencies for the candidate

The successful candidate will ideally have a degree in Accounting, Finance or Economics, public policy, government relations or related areas, or equivalent combination of education and experience and be able to demonstrate:

• A strong interest and understanding of the public policy agenda across the island of Ireland and the contribution the accountancy profession can make, as part of the wider economy.

• A keen understanding of the effects of the Institute’s position on economics, behaviours, valuations, regulatory decisions, and investment decisions.

• An understanding of the limits and boundaries of lobbying public representatives and agencies of government.

• A good understanding of the policy framework and general compliance requirements faced by accountants.

• The candidate should be able to demonstrate ability/evidence of communicating effectively on complex policy matters with credibility at all levels.

• Strong project management skills and the necessary drive and determination to develop projects and see them through to conclusion.

• Experience of management of multiple deadlines while demonstrating a high degree of resilience.

• Experience of managing a team of professionals on projects of substantial benefit to an organisation.

Personal Attributes

• The candidate must be highly motivated and capable of working on their own initiative, demonstrating agility in a fast-moving environment. 

• They must be able to take ownership of the role and be capable of making key decisions and exercising careful judgement while also collaborating within a team focused on results and targets.

• Strong networking, influencing and relationship management skills in a large, multi-layered stakeholder environment.

• Excellent organisational, presentation, written and oral communication skills, with a focus on quality and attention to detail.

• A good understanding of the potential for synergies and sharing of resources across the accountancy profession

  
  

Flexible work arrangements

The Institute is seeking and encourages applications from experienced candidates who may be looking for flexible work arrangements. If such arrangements are being sought please bring these to the attention of your interviewer.

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