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 2026
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 organizational integrity and ensuring effective stewardship of financial resources.
About Plan International Ireland
Founded in 1937, 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 2003, 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 (ECW), 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
Leading 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 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.
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.
Monitor and analyse finance and compliance risks across the grants portfolio, providing insights to strengthen oversight and mitigate potential issues.
Work closely with the Finance Department to ensure accurate project cost recovery, match funding liabilities, income forecasting, and proper processing within financial systems.
Monitor and optimise workflows, embed best practices, and support consistent application of financial and compliance standards across programmes.
Contribute to internal process optimisation to strengthen robust systems, processes, and standards for financial and compliance management, ensuring their effective implementation across the organisation.
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.
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.
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.
Work closely with the Finance Department to ensure accurate project cost recovery, match funding liabilities, income forecasting, and proper processing within financial systems.
Monitor and optimise workflows, embed best practices, and support consistent application of financial and compliance standards across programmes.
Contribute to internal process optimisation to strengthen robust systems, processes, and standards for financial and compliance management, ensuring their effective implementation across the organisation.
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 (ECHO & INTPA), Education Cannot Wait, multilateral donors such as UNICEF, UNOCHA, UNHCR, as well as 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.
Ability to work collaboratively with Finance, Programmes, Business Development, Country Offices and partner organisations to strengthen financial oversight and compliance.
Willingness and ability to travel to Country Offices as required.
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.
Compassionate 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% (once probation is complete)
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 (across from Brother Hubbard’s). We are just a stone’s throw away from the bustling and busy Camden Street area, with its many coffee shops, bars, restaurants, and much more! Our nearest LUAS stop is Harcourt Street.
As an employee you will also be able to sign up to the Bike-to-Workscheme, 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 2025.
Please note that 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 (including a Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff, consultants, and other organisational representatives.
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.