Chief Information Officer

About The Institute

The world of professional accountancy is changing at an unprecedented pace, adapting to its crucial role in climate reporting, AI and emerging technologies, increasingly sophisticated regulation, and evolving ways of working. This pace of change ensures that the non-stop demand for professional accountants and their services will continue to grow and expand to 2030 and beyond.

Chartered Accountants Ireland, the longest established and fastest growing professional accountancy body on the island of Ireland, is changing rapidly too, drawing on best-in-class organisational design and state-of-art digital solutions to provide forward-looking education, support, and regulation to members, firms, and students in the years ahead. We are embarking on a business transformation programme, the most exciting and ambitious in our 135-year history.

Institute Values

The Institute seeks to ensure an environment based on its values of Innovation with Ambition, Collaboration for Impact, Speed and Simplicity, Trust, Inclusion, and For Tomorrow, For Good. Candidates should be able to demonstrate how these may apply to them in the role for which they are applying and how their previous experience is relevant to them.

The role:

The Chief Information Officer has organizational responsibility for customer digital experience, transformation, IT infrastructure, data strategy, and systems implementation. The Chief Information Officer is a strategic leadership role focused on leading and driving digital initiatives to enhance overall customer experience, drive organizational and business processes transformation, and optimize digital and IT systems implementation within the organization.

You will be responsible for developing and executing strategies that align with the Institute's vision and goals, leveraging digital technologies to improve customer engagement and operational efficiency.

This role requires a deep understanding and implementation experience of digital technologies, customer-centric thinking, change management skills, and expertise in IT systems and process implementation.

Reports to - the Chief Executive

Reporting – Information Technology, Digital (including Web), Data, Programme Management, Customer Support Level 1 (the latter to be constituted) Teams.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategy Development: Develop and implement a comprehensive digital strategy to support the achievement of the organization’s goals and objectives, focusing on customer digital experience, business transformation, data management, and IT systems implementation. This includes the requirement to:
   
   
   • Develop and implement the digital transformation roadmap aligned with the organization's strategic objectives.
   • Identify emerging digital trends and technologies that can drive innovation and transformation within the organization.
     
     
2. Customer Experience: Lead the development and execution of customer-centric digital initiatives, ensuring a seamless and engaging customer journey across multiple digital touchpoints across all channels.
   
   
   • Define and execute a customer-centric digital strategy to enhance the overall customer experience across various digital touchpoints.
   • Lead and manage the tier one transactional customer interactions with students and members, delivering efficiencies through automation, process innovation, and data integrity.
   • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, members, education, product development, professional standards, advocacy, customer service, to identify customer pain points and develop innovative solutions to address them.
   • Drive the adoption of digital channels and tools to deliver personalized and seamless customer experiences.
   • Analyse customer data and feedback to continuously optimize and improve the digital customer journey.
     
     
3. Transformation Management: Drive organizational transformation aligned to our new Target Operating Model, by identifying areas for improvement, developing, and implementing transformation roadmaps, utilising digital, process efficiencies and organisational improvement strategies, and fostering a culture of innovation and digital agility within the organization.
   
   
   • Collaborate positively with internal stakeholders including Council, the TOM Oversight Committee, and the TOM SteerCo to gain buy-in, secure necessary resources, and drive cultural change to support the transformation objectives.
   • Monitor and report on the progress of digital transformation projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and realise benefits required.
   • Identify and optimize business processes by leveraging digital technologies, streamlining workflows, and implementing automation solutions to improve efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
     
     
4. IT Systems Implementation: Oversee the implementation of new IT systems, platforms, and technologies, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure successful deployment, integration, and adoption of these solutions. This includes areas such as CRM systems, ERP systems, data analytics tools, security, and other relevant IT systems. This includes the following:
   
   
   • Leading the evaluation, selection, and implementation of digital and IT systems and technologies that enable the organization to meet its digital objectives.
   • Collaborating with vendors, and external partners to ensure successful implementation and integration of digital systems.
   • Develop and manage project plans, budgets, and resources for systems implementation projects.
   • Ensure data privacy and security standards are met throughout the implementation process.
     
     
5. Data Management: Lead Data Management in the organisation by optimising and managing data related process, systems, and strategies to include the following:
   
   
   • Develop and implement data governance frameworks, policies, and procedures to ensure data quality, integrity, and compliance with relevant regulations (e.g., data privacy, security) and industry best practices.
   • Collaborate with senior leadership and stakeholders to define the organization's data strategy, including data collection, storage, analysis, and utilization, aligning it with business goals and digital initiatives.
   • Leverage data analytics and customer insights to drive data-driven decision-making, identify trends, and develop personalized digital experiences that meet customer needs and enhance engagement.
     
     
6. Team Leadership: Build and lead a high-performing team of digital professionals, IT experts, and process improvement specialists. Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external vendors to manage relationships and ensure successful project delivery.
   • Build and lead a high-performing digital IT change team, providing guidance, coaching, and mentorship to develop their skills and expertise.
   • Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the digital team and across the organization.
     
     
7. Collaboration and Stakeholder Management: Collaborate with key stakeholders across departments, to align digital initiatives with broader organizational goals and ensure effective cross-functional collaboration.
   • Collaborate with stakeholders at all levels of the organization to gather requirements, align priorities, and ensure successful project execution.
   • Establish and maintain relationships with external partners, industry experts, and vendors to stay abreast of the latest digital trends and best practices.
     
     
8. Performance Measurement: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the effectiveness and impact of digital initiatives, IT systems implementation, and process improvements.
   • Regularly report on progress and make data-driven recommendations for continuous improvement.
   • Report to key stakeholders across the governance structure on progress for relevant programmes.
     
     
9. Information Security and Compliance: Ensure the implementation of robust information security measures and compliance with relevant regulations and standards in relation to digital systems, customer data privacy, and data protection.
   
   
10. Programme Management: Drive the execution of the Institute’s Strategic Programmes through the management of key organisation wide capabilities including:
    
    
    • Organisation wide programme management and delivery organised through the establishment as required of programme structures; management of the organisation’s Project Management Office (PMO).
    • Business analysis to drive key innovations across technology and platforms.
    • Programme governance and reporting to key stakeholders.

The candidate

Qualifications and Skills:

• The Chief Information Officer will be an exceptionally strong leader with a sound technical background combined with solid change management experience. She/He will be able to demonstrate performance that earns respect at different levels in the organisation and as a result she/he is a strong influencer. The individual will be a recognised change agent whose track record is characterized by leading a significant transformational change within an organisation, while understanding the existing culture.
• Ideally master’s degree qualified with focus on Technology, Digital integration, Programme Management and Transformation or related areas, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of in-depth experience in global organisation and/or top-tier consulting firm in technology transformation, customer centric operations and change/culture management. Prior experience of leading enterprise-wide transformation programmes is required.
• Demonstrated success in driving digital transformation initiatives, managing complex IT projects, and implementing IT systems and processes.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams to achieve organizational goals.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Proven track record of delivering results, meeting targets, and driving business growth through digital initiatives and IT systems implementation.
• Knowledge of information security and compliance requirements related to digital systems and customer data privacy.

Flexible work arrangements

The Institute is seeking and encourages applications from experienced candidates who may be looking for flexible work arrangements. If such arrangements are being sought please bring these to the attention of your interviewer.

The Institute will use the information which you have provided in this form to respond to your request or process your application and will hold and protect it in accordance with the Institute's privacy statement, which explains your rights in relation to your personal data.  By submitting this application acknowledge you have read our privacy statement.

Chartered Accountants Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.

How to apply:

Please contact for further details and to send your details, Susan Nix (snix@morganmckinley.com) with our selection partner, Morgan McKinley.