The Rivers Trust is a leading environmental charity and the umbrella body of the rivers trust movement, comprising over 65 independent charities across the UK and Ireland. Our vision is for wild, healthy, natural rivers, valued by all. We are at a critical point in our history as we expand to deliver projects to protect and replenish this critical part of the natural environment, and our research and expertise is now needed more urgently than ever as water supply and quality move up the public agenda.

The Role

· Reports to: Finance Director

· Contract: Full-time, permanent

· Salary: €58.5k - €67.5k

· Location: Home-based (required to live and work in Republic of Ireland as part of an EU-funding requirement)

· Travel Requirement: Occasional travel nationally and very occasionally internationally (to UK).

Role summary

Reporting to the Finance Director and with direct line management of one member of staff but with close working relationships with the UK team we are looking for a hard-working, reliable, and enthusiastic individual who will work well within a small and welcoming team, including the ability to liaise regularly with colleagues in order to share and collect information.

The post holder will be part of a growing Ireland-wide team overseen by our All-Ireland Director based in Northern Ireland and supported by our core finance team based in England.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a friendly team working within a thriving movement, and to make a meaningful personal contribution to environmental protection and improvement.

The successful candidate will have proven experience in a book-keeping and accounting role in Ireland and be able to demonstrate proficiency in processing transactions in an efficient and timely manner, have experience in management accounting and be pro-active, showing confidence and initiative, enabling them to ensure that accounting records are accurate and up to date.

They will also be able to demonstrate proven experience in a project finance role and be able to demonstrate proficiency in reporting transactions and forecasting future cost and revenue streams to ensure that project reports are accurate and up to date.

Key responsibilities

Monthly and Year-end Accounts

• Maintain the accounting system and prepare the monthly management accounts and Year-end audit file to ensure that all information is ready and available in time for the statutory audit.

• Produce monthly reconciliations of the balance sheet control accounts for the Purchase Ledger, Sales Ledger, Bank and any other accounts as directed by the Finance Director.

• Work with the Finance Director to prepare and submit the Annual Report to the Charities Regulator and annual returns to the Companies Registration Office.

• Prepare financial reporting for the Board of Directors.

Payments and Treasury

• Record receipts and payments and reconcile the bank accounts regularly.

• Generate payments to suppliers based on invoices approved for payment, for review by the Finance Manager.

Tax

· Ensure compliance with and complete returns for all required tax regimes, including VAT, Relevant Contracts Tax, Corporation Tax and Payroll taxes

Timesheets, Payroll & HR

• Record and analyse time costs for project funding requirements

• Administer the payment of staff salaries, based on bureau-calculated reports.

• Work with UK team to administer staff expenses including checking supporting documentation, entering into Sage and obtaining approvals before payment.

• Act as a sounding board for the HR team on employment practices and norms in the Republic of Ireland, helping to ensure policies and procedures reflect local requirements

• Ensure pensions are administered correctly.

• Ensure life assurance policy requirements are administered accurately.

Project Budgets and Reporting

• Work with Project Managers to prepare budgets, forecasts and actual spend, including detailed transactional analysis.

• Work with Project Managers to liaise with grant funders.

• Complete monthly management accounts for reporting to the Senior Management Team.

Project claims

• Compile and maintain project records and prepare project claims.

• Liaise with auditors over project claims.

Sales and Purchase Ledger

• Ensure sales invoices are raised and posted accurately and in a timely manner.

• Work alongside the UK team to ensure purchase orders and invoices are processed accurately, including ensuring correct project coding.

Credit Control

• Regularly review debtors for both the Trust and its trading subsidiary and liaise with the Finance Manager to ensure credit control procedures are implemented.

Line Management

· Direct line management of one Finance Team Member to assist with the tasks described in this job description.

Other tasks

• Support administrative tasks on an ad-hoc basis for the senior management team.

• Record transactions and prepare financial reports for our trading subsidiary company.

• Maintain the Fixed Asset register.

About You

Knowledge, skills, experience and personal qualities:

Essential

• Ability to be able to work at all levels within the Finance function.

• Experience of line managing staff and working closely with other members of a team.

• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive working relationships.

• Experience in developing and producing statutory and management financial reports

• Experience in financial reconciliations and variance analysis

• Experience in collaborating with internal and external stakeholders on the budget and forecast process

• Adept at explaining financial matters to non-finance staff.

• Hard-working, enthusiastic and can work well within a small, friendly finance and administration team.

• Reliable with good attendance and work performance.

• A fast learner able to familiarise themselves quickly with the many projects run by the Trust and its trading subsidiary.

• Attention to detail and accuracy whilst working to tight deadlines.

• Knowledge and competence in Sage accounting software and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.

• The ability to undertake occasional travel both nationally and internationally.

• Valid driving licence and own car personally insured for business use

Desirable

• Recognised CAB qualification

• Experience of working in a not-for-profit environment.

• Knowledge of charity accounts and their unique nature.

• Advanced level Excel skills.

Qualifications / Education

• Professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ACA) or equivalent experience.

Benefits

• 9% employer pension contribution (or local equivalent)

• 25 days annual leave (rising with service) plus statutory public holidays

• Flexible working hours and hybrid working

• Access to training and professional development

• Supportive and inclusive working culture

• Travel expenses for approved work travel

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through this site. We are unable to accept applications by email or other methods.

If you have questions not answered in the advert or Recruitment FAQ, please contact recruitment@theriverstrust.org (please do not use this email address to apply).

Closing date: Midday, 30 March 2026

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are particularly keen to improve the diversity of our Trust. As part of our commitment to positive action under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015, we strongly encourage applications from people from ethnically diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are committed to making our recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know — we will be happy to support you.