Summary of the role
- Salary: €26,000 per annum
- Reports to: General Manager
- Location: Primarily remote, Ireland-based
- In-person attendance: Induction and occasional meetings when required
- Employment status: Permanent, part-time
- Application: CV and concise cover letter to [email protected] by 5pm Friday 25th of September
About FirstLight
Founded in 1976, FirstLight provides free and confidential bereavement counselling and psychotherapy for parents and families after pregnancy loss or the death of a child aged 0–18, no matter how or when the death happened. Counselling is provided by accredited counsellors and psychotherapists and can take place in person, online or by telephone.
In 2026, FirstLight marks its 50th anniversary. This milestone is an opportunity to honour five decades of service while strengthening the systems that will support families into the future.
The Opportunity
We are creating this role to bring day-to-day finance management in-house. The Finance Officer will take ownership of a broad finance remit, build clear and reliable processes, and provide timely financial information to the General Manager and appropriate governance forums.
As this is a new role, the successful candidate will have genuine scope to shape FirstLight’s finance function, establish practical ways of working and make the role their own, within agreed policies, controls and governance arrangements.
Role Purpose and Reporting
The Finance Officer will manage FirstLight’s day-to-day finance operations and help ensure that financial records, controls and reports are accurate, timely, secure, compliant and audit-ready. The role combines hands-on bookkeeping and payroll with management accounts, grant reporting, audit preparation and continuous improvement of financial processes.
The Finance Officer will report directly to the General Manager and will support the organisation’s financial reporting and accountability to the Treasurer, Finance Committee and Board.
Responsibilities of the role
Key Responsibilities
• Maintain complete and accurate bookkeeping records, ledgers and supporting documentation.
• Administer payroll and salary payments, maintain payroll records and support compliance with Revenue requirements.
• Prepare supplier payment runs, maintain supplier records and ensure payments follow approval and segregation-of-duties controls.
• Complete bank, credit card, payroll, fundraising and online donation reconciliations.
• Prepare monthly management accounts, including profit and loss, balance sheet information, budget-to-actual reporting and clear variance commentary.
• Monitor budgets, cash requirements, restricted and unrestricted funds, and grant income and expenditure.
• Prepare financial reports and evidence for statutory, philanthropic and other funders in line with grant agreements.
• Maintain audit-ready records and schedules, act as the main internal finance contact for the annual audit and respond to authorised auditor requests.
• Maintain secure, well-organised financial records in Xero or an equivalent accounting system, Microsoft 365 and SharePoint.
• Identify proportionate improvements to finance processes, controls, reporting, documentation and handover arrangements.
• Provide concise, reliable finance information to the General Manager and appropriate governance forums, while respecting delegated authority and approval limits.
• Undertake other reasonable finance-related duties consistent with the purpose and level of the role.
Requirements
Essential Experience and Qualifications
• A relevant professional accountancy qualification, part-qualification or Accounting Technician qualification, with experience appropriate to the breadth of the role. Equivalent demonstrable experience will also be considered.
• At least five years’ relevant experience across bookkeeping, payroll, reconciliations, management accounts and financial reporting. Experience gained across more than one of these areas is important.
• Practical experience preparing monthly management information and explaining material variances clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• Experience maintaining strong financial controls, complete audit trails and accurate records in a confidential environment.
• Competence using accounting software and Microsoft 365, with strong spreadsheet skills and the ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Excellent attention to detail, sound judgement and the ability to manage recurring deadlines independently in a remote role.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to colleagues, management and Board members.
• The ability to work collaboratively and respectfully as part of a small, multidisciplinary team.
• A commitment to FirstLight’s mission and values, and to handling sensitive organisational and personal information with discretion.
Desirable Experience
• Experience in an Irish charity, community, voluntary or other publicly funded organisation.
• Knowledge of Charities SORP (FRS 102), Irish charity governance expectations and funder compliance requirements.
• Experience with Xero, including bank feeds, reconciliations and management reporting.
• Experience of restricted-fund accounting, grant claims, funder reports and audit schedules.
• A recognised payroll qualification or substantial Irish payroll experience.
• Experience establishing or improving an in-house finance function, including documenting procedures and access controls.
Personal Approach
• Organised, dependable and comfortable taking ownership.
• Practical and solutions-focused, with respect for governance and proportionate controls.
• Collaborative and able to build trusted working relationships in a small national charity.
• Calm, professional and discreet when working with sensitive information.
• Committed to accuracy, transparency, inclusion and continuous improvement.
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Working Arrangements
• This is a permanent, part-time role for 18 hours per week and is primarily remote within Ireland.
• The successful candidate will attend FirstLight in person for induction, to meet colleagues and for occasional meetings where required.
• The working pattern will be agreed with the successful candidate and must support payroll, payments, management accounts, funder reporting, audit and Board reporting cycles.
• Reasonable, approved travel expenses will be reimbursed in line with FirstLight policy.
• FirstLight will provide a laptop, printer, mobile phone, access to relevant systems and any other agreed equipment needed for secure and effective remote working.
What FirstLight Offers
• A senior, varied part-time finance role with meaningful responsibility.
• The opportunity to shape a new role and help build FirstLight’s in-house finance function.
• Autonomy within clear reporting, approval and governance arrangements.
• Flexible remote working within an organisation committed to compassion, integrity, professionalism, inclusion and collaboration.
Learn more about FirstLight at www.firstlight.ie
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How to Apply
Please send your CV and a concise cover letter outlining how your experience meets the essential criteria to [email protected].
Closing date: 17:00 on Friday, 25 September 2026.
Interviews: Thursday, 15 October 2026, in person at FirstLight’s head office in the Carmichael Centre, 4 North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7, D07 RHA8.
Applicants invited to interview should keep this date available. Further practical details will be provided to shortlisted candidates.
Appointment will be subject to satisfactory references, proof of eligibility to work in Ireland and any other checks appropriate to the role. Please do not include unnecessary sensitive personal information in your application.
Equality, diversity and reasonable accommodation
FirstLight is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and make appointments on merit, based on the skills, experience and attributes required for the role. If you require a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know so that we can support your participation.