Nice CEO offered Israel Fin Min head role -paper

TEL AVIV, July 2 (Reuters) - Nice Systems (NICE.O)(NICE.TA) Chief Executive Haim Shani has been offered the chance to become the Finance Ministry's next director general, the Calcalist financial newspaper reported on Thursday.

Israel Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz approached Shani three weeks ago with the offer but Shani has not yet responded formally, the report said.

However, Calcalist quoted sources in the ministry as saying that Shani is leaning towards accepting.

A spokeswoman for Nice said the company does not comment on rumours.

A spokeswoman for Steinitz declined to confirm the offer to Shani.

"The minister has a number of candidates in mind for the job. When he picks one, we'll announce it," she said.

Shani would replace Yarom Ariav, who has announced plans to step down soon.

Shani is considered one of the country's most respected managers.

(Reporting by Tova Cohen and Steven Scheer; editing by Simon Jessop)