Chief Executive Officer

MCS Group are delighted to be recruiting for a permanent Chief Executive Office for the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression

As the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer (CEO) serves as the Office's most senior executive and its
chief steward of financial integrity. This role will provide the strategic vision to advance identity, inclusion, and cultural expression across our community while ensuring rigorous financial management, transparent reporting, and compliant operations. The CEO partners with the Director the Board to deliver on its strategic objectives, longterm sustainability, and an inclusive organisational culture.

Key Responsibilities

1) Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a multiyear strategy that advances identity, belonging, and cultural expression while meeting measurable impact, equity, and growth goals.
• Translate strategy into annual business plans, budgets, and KPIs; regularly report progress to the Board, the Executive Office and stakeholders.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the Office; cultivate partnerships with key stakeholders, community organisations, cultural institutions, public authorities and other relevant government bodies.

2) Governance, Risk & Compliance (Accounting Officer Duties)

• Act as the Accounting Officer with ultimate responsibility for the integrity of financial statements, internal controls, and compliance with applicable standards (e.g., GAAP/IFRS), Managing Public Money NI and Audit requirements.
• Oversee internal control frameworks, risk registers, and policies (procurement, expense, conflicts of interest, data privacy - not exhaustive).
• Lead the annual external audit (NIAO); coordinate with Audit and Risk Committee and ensure timely and accurate completion with relevant disclosures.

3) Financial Stewardship

• Deliver the full finance cycle: budgeting, forecasting, cash management, capital planning, and scenario modelling.
• Produce monthly management accounts and dashboards; provide insights on variances where applicable.
• Maximise resource allocation c£1m per annum to achieve KPIs and ensure sustainability; drive cost discipline without compromising program quality.

4) Program & Operational Excellence

• Oversee program design and delivery across cultural programming, events, education, and community engagement; ensure activities align with strategic priorities and are evaluated for outcomes and inclusion.
• Lead Operations/HR to attract, develop, and retain a diverse, high performing team; foster a psychologically safe workplace and coach leaders.
• Establish data, technology, and knowledge management practices that improve accessibility, efficiency, and decision making whilst complying with all relevant legislation.

5) Stakeholder Management

• Build strategic partnerships with academic departments, student groups, and external cultural organisations to extend reach and cocreate programs.
• Represent the Office at convenings, media opportunities, and stakeholder forums.

6) Culture, Equity & Community

• Model inclusive leadership; embed equity principles in strategy, recruitment, procurement, communications, and program evaluation.
• Promote community voice in all of the Office's work programme and in planning and evaluations.

7) Policy Advice and Delivery

• Ensure the Director of the Office has access to timely, high quality advice, evidence and analysis to inform decision making.
• Oversee engagement, research, policy review, advice and communications to meet statutory duties and organisational outcomes.
• Lead the development of evidence based policy advice and formal recommendations to Ministers and senior officials.
• Support formal representations, scrutiny appearances and provision of evidence to Assembly and parliamentary committees.
• Ensure policies reflect national and cultural identity principles, promoting reconciliation, tolerance and meaningful dialogue.

Person Specification

To be considered for the role, candidates must be able to demonstrate, by the closing date for applications, experience in the following criteria.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must, by the closing date for applications have:A minimum of 5 years' senior management* experience in the private, public or voluntary sectors requiring the management of resources, both human and financial, together with the application of current best practice in relation to governance, accountability, business planning, risk management, audit and financial management.
• A minimum of 5 years' senior management* experience in the private, public or voluntary sector providing detailed policy advice and/or proposals on strategic issues concerning the sector with which an individual is working.
• Significant experience working within the arts, culture, heritage, creative industries or cultural policy sectors with a demonstrated understanding of cultural programming, identity work and community engagement.
• Demonstrable evidence of having developed and managed programmes and projects to support the achievement of strategic objectives.
• Demonstrable evidence of leading and developing a range of professional, highly-skilled, high-performance teams to deliver effective outcomes and performance improvements.Demonstrable evidence of having provided effective and timely advice and information to Board or Director level, in a public, private or community and voluntary sector organisation, in order to provide a rationale for policy development and account for organisational achievement.

Desirable Criteria

Applicants must, by the closing date, have successfully completed the professional examinations and be a full, current member of one of the bodies listed below:

• Chartered Accountants Ireland
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
• The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
• The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
• The Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountancy
• CIPD Chartered Membership

To request an Candidate Information pack please contact Grace Fleming @ MCS Group on 028 9049 0906 or email g.fleming@mcsgroup.jobs

We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know and we will endeavour to facilitate your request.

Even if this position isn't right for you, we may have others that are. Get in touch to find out more about current opportunities.