Former Prison Service head Ronnie Armour has been appointed interim accounting officer at the Department of Education (DE).
The role of accounting officer is normally reserved for the department’s permanent secretary.
However, it is understood DE permanent secretary Mark Browne has not been at his desk in Bangor’s Rathgael House for several weeks.
DE has made no official announcement about the personnel change but Mr Browne is not listed on its website as permanent secretary.
DE declined to say whether or not Mr Browne is on leave.
Mr Armour joined DE, which is led by DUP minister Paul Givan, as a deputy secretary 18 months ago from the Northern Ireland Prison Service.
He was appointed interim accounting officer within the past fortnight.
Mr Browne was appointed permanent secretary at DE in March 2021, succeeding Derek Baker, having previously worked in the Office of First and Deputy First Minister.
Aged in his mid-sixties, the career civil servant is a former pupil of St Malachy’s and a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast.
