Enterprise Shared Services (ESS) brings together responsibility for Human Resource (HR), Information Technology (IT), Finance and Digital Services along with the management of Properties into a single directorate within the Department of Finance (DOF).
Overview of ESS
The primary function of ESS is to deliver efficient and effective customer focused services primarily to the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS). Its mission statement is "to make a positive difference to the delivery of public services through being customer-focused, high performing and innovative."
ESS Vision, Purpose and Mission
The Vision of Enterprise Shared Services is “better together”, which reflects the fact that there are synergies and opportunities to deliver our shared services from a single organisation to create additional efficiencies and greater effectiveness.
This is supported by our Purpose which is “providing shared services which enable our customers to focus on delivering their core business”.
Mission Statement
"To make a positive difference to the delivery of public services through being customer-focused, high performing and innovative."
ESS Annual Updates provide information on ESS achievements throughout the financial year.
Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Memorandum of Understanding are offered within ESS Service Areas.
Finance Shared Services
Finance Shared Services are provided by Account NI.
Account NI is the financial processing centre for Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments and provides one streamlined service from purchasing through to payment of invoice. Staff in NICS departments have access to easy ordering through a web-based purchasing system that generates and issues purchase orders.
Memorandum between Account NI and NICS Departments 2018 - 2020
HR Shared Services
HR Shared Services are provided by HRConnect.
HRConnect
HRConnect is the transactional Human Resource service for the NICS Departments, the NIO and other participating organisations. HRConnect comprises seven HR services:
- external NICS recruitment
- internal vacancy management
- employee relations
- non-industrial payroll
- industrial payroll
- learning and development
- performance management
HRConnect enables staff to access HR-related information quickly and easily from their desktops and to perform many functions on a self-service basis. HRConnect provides administrative support and HR advice from the Shared Service Centre (SSC) at the Metro Building in Belfast.
Digital Shared Services
Digital Shared Services (DSS) has five main business areas
- Service and Operations
- Digital Transformation
- Policy and Strategy
- Enterprise Digital development
- Digital NI Enabling Programme
For more information please visit the Digital Shared Services section of this website.
Pensions Division
Pensions Division is responsible for the policy and primary legislation for all public service pension schemes in Northern Ireland. In addition, it has legislative and operational responsibility for the Northern Ireland Civil Service Pension Schemes which have over 70,000 members and pays out around £350m per year.
Pensions Division has a long history of providing staff with a pension when they retire from work. Your pension is a valuable part of your pay package. In addition, the NICS Pension Schemes provide a wide range of benefits for you and your family both whilst you are working and when you leave.
Further information can be found on the CSP(NI) website.
The division consists of five branches:
- Civil Service Pensions Operations
- Civil Service Pensions McCloud Implementation
- Civil Service Pensions Policy, Legislation and Communications
- Civil Service Pensions Systems Project 2025
- Public Service Pensions Policy and Legislation
Public Sector Shared Services
The Public Sector Shared Services website is the latest development by the Public Sector Shared Services Programme (PSSSP); a collaboration between the health, education and central government sectors (including all Non-Departmental Public Bodies) in Northern Ireland that is overseen by a cross sectoral programme board led by the Head of the Civil Service.
The website is collectively owned by these participating sectors and managed by the cross sectoral PSSSP team, and can be viewed using the below link.
Properties Division
Properties Division is responsible for the provision of government office accommodation and services throughout Northern Ireland, including new and refurbished accommodation, building maintenance and management and the Stormont Estate grounds.
It has responsibility for promoting energy efficiency in the public sector, through both the Public Sector Energy Campaign (PSEC) and the implementation of policies stemming from EU Directives, as well as advancing sustainability.
It also has responsibility for Building Regulations legislation in Northern Ireland, and manages the NICS Art Collection.