Assistant Accountant / Part-Qualified Accountant (Ireland)

The Rivers Trust is a leading environmental charity and the umbrella body of The Rivers Trust movement, comprising over 60 independent local charities. 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 Manager (Ireland)
Travel Requirement: Very occasional travel to team meetings.

Role summary

We are looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Assistant Accountant to join our finance team. Based in the Republic of Ireland, this is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong accounting experience who enjoys working collaboratively while maintaining high standards of financial accuracy and control.

This role will allow you to work within a dynamic and rewarding environment and will offer support relating to any professional accountancy qualifications that you pursue.

Reporting to the Finance Manager (Ireland), you will support both the Ireland and UK Finance teams, helping to ensure effective financial accounting, compliance, and reporting. You’ll play a key role in ensuring our financial records are accurate, compliant, and up to date, while working closely with colleagues across the organisation.

The main duties and responsibilities are:

Monthly financial responsibilities

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial ledgers in accordance with accounting standards and organisational procedures.
• Process any required AP / AR transactions and reconcile bank accounts accurately and efficiently.
• Create and process purchase orders, ensuring they are completed accurately, authorised appropriately, and processed in a timely manner.
• Lead month-end and year-end financial processes, including audit preparation.
• Manage and maintain control account reconciliations ensuring clarity and accuracy.

Project support responsibilities

• Support project accounting, ensuring compliance with Charity Regulator’s accounting principles.
• When necessary, represent the finance team in Project meetings providing precise data and sound advice to non-finance team members.
• Coordinate and advise the preparation of budgets, forecasts, and cash flow information for all active projects, as required.

Organisational responsibilities

• Liaise with non-finance team members on finance related queries and create positive working relationships with the wider River’s Trust community.
• Actively engage in process and system improvements that would benefit the organisation as a whole.
• Provide reliable cover for other members in the Ireland & UK finance teams when required.

Knowledge, skills, experience, and personal qualities:

Essential

• Minimum 2 years experience in the finance function of a medium-sized organisation, ideally with an accounting qualification or working towards an accounting qualification.
• Significant financial experience with reconciliations, month end deadlines, financial reporting requirements, taxation and management accounting processes.
• Ability to work within strict deadlines and create positive working relationships with team members in other departments.
• Proficient Microsoft Office skills, including experience using integrated IT systems
• The ability to identify opportunities to improve systems and processes.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence in working remotely and managing your workload effectively.

Desirable

• Experience working within the charity sector.
• Experience in legal and tax requirements in ROI.
• Experience with Sage Intacct

Qualifications/ Education

Minimum 2 years’ experience in the finance function of a medium sized organisation, ideally with an accounting qualification or working towards an accounting qualification.

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

If you have questions not answered in the advert or Recruitment FAQ, please contact [email protected] (please do not use this email address to apply).

Closing date: 3rd August 2026

Please apply early; we may close the vacancy once we have enough suitable candidates.

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 Equality Act 2010/ 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.