A DUP special adviser is in line to receive a 'golden handshake' pay-out worth up to £45,000 after resigning amid the renewable heat scandal.
Andrew Crawford quit his role at Stormont following claims he exerted influence over the botched RHI scheme.
The former adviser to DUP leader Arlene Foster was employed as special adviser (Spad) to agriculture minister Michelle McIlveen.
Spads can each earn annual salaries stretching to more than £90,000.
In 2015, the executive said Mr Crawford was within a wage band ranging from £59,037 to £91,809.
But according to the rules on the appointment of special advisers, he is also entitled to a taxpayer-funded severance package.
Mr Crawford was Mrs Foster's special adviser at the enterprise department when it introduced the RHI scheme, which is now facing a £490m potential overspend.
The senior party adviser, from Beragh in Co Tyrone, has a brother who is a poultry farmer and recipient of RHI payments.
At a hearing of the assembly's Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday, senior civil servant Andrew McCormick said he understood that influence was being exerted by Mr Crawford to keep the scheme running at a high tariff level.
Mr Crawford, a former employee of the Ulster Farmers' Union, denies the allegation and any wrongdoing.
Announcing his resignation on Thursday, he said he did not want to be a "distraction" during the upcoming assembly election campaign.
"I want to see a full and independent inquiry set up immediately so that it will become clear that at all times I acted with complete integrity in all that I did," he said.
According to the special advisers' code, Spads are entitled to a severance package worth up to six months of their annual salary if they quit to stand for election or take part in a party's election campaign.
DUP MLA Emma Little Pengelly was entitled to the pay-out when she quit her role as a Spad to be co-opted into the assembly ahead of standing for election last year.
In his statement, Mr Crawford said he intends to "campaign for the election of the strongest DUP representation in the next assembly".
A DUP spokesman declined to say if Mr Crawford would receive severance pay, saying that it was a matter for the agriculture department.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs did not respond to requests for a comment.
Politically appointed but paid from the public purse like civil servants, Spads have been a source of controversy in the past over wages and accountability.
The Stormont executive can employ 16 special advisers in total, compared to 11 in the Scottish government and eight in the Welsh government.
All of the executive's Spads may eventually receive severance pay due to the collapse of Stormont.
Under the rules they are entitled to up to six months' wages if they lose their jobs because of their respective ministers leaving office.
However, if the advisers are reappointed within the time the pay-out covers, they are only entitled to keep the amount covering the duration between the two periods of employment.
A Department of Finance spokeswoman said: "It is up to each individual department to implement the policy with respect to their special advisers.
"In the Department of Finance, the special adviser's appointment will be terminated on the same date on which the current minister's appointment ceases.
"At that point, any severance due will be considered in accordance with the terms and conditions of the special adviser's contract."