Download Candidate Information Booklet - Director of Adjudications (PO) HERE.pdf
The Director of Adjudications, operating at Principal Officer level, is a senior leadership role and member of the Senior Management Team with responsibility for leading the FSPO’s Adjudication Unit. The role involves overseeing the end-to-end adjudication of complaints, ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality, legally robust decisions in line with relevant legislation and fair procedures. The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership, manage team performance, governance and resources, and drive continuous improvement in decision-making capacity and processes. With a strong emphasis on analytical and drafting excellence, the role also contributes to organisational strategy and supports the effective resolution of complex financial services and pensions complaints in a dynamic regulatory environment.
The Director of Adjudications will have strategic and operational responsibilities:
• Ensuring that files are ready for the issuing of Decisions and assisting the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman and the Deputy Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsmen at all stages of cases referred for adjudication.
• Finalising and issuing decisions of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, in accordance with Ombudsman delegations.
• Analysing and summarising facts, submissions, relevant material, applicable legislation, and case law and researching any relevant matters, including of law, which arise in the conduct complained of in files in the adjudication process for inclusion in Decisions and furnishing clear and comprehensive written and/or oral reports to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman and/or Deputy Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsmen.
• Interpreting and applying the provisions of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017 (as amended).
• Taking responsibility for the governance and day to day management of the Adjudication Unit operations including managing internal staff and liaising with external service providers as required.
• Managing all casework duties involved in handling all cases effectively and in accordance with legal requirements and agreed procedures, including in coordinating correspondence and communications between the FSPO and all relevant parties.
• Devise, develop and implement effective operational complaint management strategies to maximise efficient and effective delivery of service and use of available resources
• Managing the performance of the teams and individual team members including the management of Probation and PMDS processes.
• Taking responsibility for budget, resource, risk assessment and planning for the Adjudication Unit’s work.
• Oversight and management of critical key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Promoting the Mission, Vision and Values of the FSPO.
• Representing the FSPO at relevant Government networks and stakeholder fora.
• Keeping abreast of current legislation and other developments relevant to the area, including through stakeholder engagement and personal learning. • Engaging in regular audits of the Directorate’s operational procedures and systems, ensuring they meet best practice and standards.
• Engaging and collaborating with other areas as required and overseeing the preparation and presentation of relevant reports and analysis to the Senior Management Team.
• Deliver the strategy and workplan of the Adjudication Unit and provide strategic leadership to the Adjudication Unit.
• Ensuring robust and effective procedures and processes for the Adjudication Unit to assist the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman and the Deputy Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsmen to discharge their functions effectively ensuring they are in line with the statutory functions of the FSPO and underpinning legislation.
• As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Director will contribute to the overall leadership and strategy of the Organisation. 
• Assist in the effective management of the FSPO and contribute to the overall strategic management and leadership of the FSPO including contributing to the delivery of the overall FSPO Strategic Plan 2025 – 2027.
To be effective in the role of Director of Adjudications in the FSPO, the successful candidate will demonstrate:
• High levels of personal organisation and accountability, with the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure and deliver to multiple, strict deadlines in a complex environment.
• Strong drafting and analytical skills; attention to detail; good, fact-based judgement; and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to take a strategic approach in the delivery of key objectives.
• The ability to foster a positive working relationship with colleagues and to lead and work on teams
• Strong leadership judgement and integrity, with a strong sense of fairness and a proven commitment to high professional and ethical standards.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly and produce high-quality decisions with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including the confidence to influence, challenge constructively and build alignment across diverse internal and external stakeholders. A commitment to the delivery of quality public service.
Candidates must, on or before Friday 10th April 2026 , meet EITHER 1 OR 2, AND 3 (i, ii, iii, iv).
1. a) Have been called to the Bar and be enrolled as a Barrister in the State or have been admitted and be enrolled as a Solicitor in the State; and
b) Have practiced as a Barrister or Solicitor in the State for not less than 6 years.
2. a) Hold a qualification at Level 8 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) OR an equivalent professional qualification; and
b) Have a minimum of 8 years demonstrable professional experience relevant to the role.
3. Candidates must also have the necessary experience, with a strong record of achievement that demonstrates their ability in the areas below:
(i) Drafting and communication skills : Excellent writing, drafting and communication skills demonstrating the ability to draft documents using a logical structure and to communicate complex and technical information clearly and concisely, including as evidenced in their cover letter and/or written exercise/presentation.
(ii) Analysis : Strong experience in assimilating large quantities of detailed information and analysing, understanding and assessing arguments by reference to the evidence, making evidence-based decisions and fair judgements and providing cogent reasoning for same, as evidenced by examples.
(iii) Management and Delivery : Effective prioritisation of workloads, and the ability to increase capacity to meet tight deadlines, while producing quality output, both individually and as part of a team, as evidenced by KPIs or data. Proactive approach to improving processes and practices, with the capacity and drive to innovate new and effective ways of working.
• Relevant experience in the financial services or pensions sectors.
• Knowledge of the regulatory, and/or Ombudsman and/or consumer protection landscape.
• Experience of working within a judicial / quasi-judicial environment or similar with experience of adherence to the principles of fair procedure and the ability to make evidence-based decisions.
• Familiarity with financial services and pensions legislative and regulatory provisions and case law, or a demonstrated ability to quickly develop this and a desire and ability to keep up to date with developments in these areas.
• High ICT literacy, including strong working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite of products including Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook and MS Teams, and the ability to work confidently with data and reporting tools.
A comprehensive CV and a short cover letter outlining why you wish to be considered for the post and how you believe your skills, experience and values meet the requirements for the position must be uploaded via the portal at https://www.consciatalent.com/fspo no later than 5pm (Irish time) on Friday 10th April 2026.
Applications will not be accepted by any other method, nor if received after the closing date.
When outlining your application, accuracy is essential. The information you supply in your application will play a central part of the selection process.
If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application within 24 hours, please check your junk/spam folders as email notifications may be filtered here.
The onus is on each applicant to ensure that they are in receipt of all communication from Conscia Limited. Conscia Limited accept no responsibility for communication not accessed or received by an applicant.
If you have any queries about the role, please contact us at fspo@consciatalent.com
Download Candidate Information Booklet - Director of Adjudications (PO) HERE.pdf
