Trainee Project Accountant Manchester

The Trainee Project Accountant will assist and report into the Senior Project Financial Controls Manager. The role will initially support the Senior Project Financial Controls Manager in taking responsibility for all contracts where the SCM is the nominated commercial lead. This will eventually lead to sole assignment of commercial elements on projects, working collaboratively with various Project Managers (PMs) to ensure commercial information is accurate and available.

Key objectives

• Build strong relationships and credibility with PMs for all contracts to enable accurate project reporting and appropriate contract administration.
• Work with and assist the SCM with all Commercial team activities including process improvements.
• Work closely with the Business Sector & Discipline directors as well as the finance team.

Principal responsibilities and accountabilities

Commercial Management

• Provide assistance in Cost Value Reconciliation (CVR) production, as well as interrogation of costs incurred to date and to complete.
• Assist in contract variation/change management process with input from the PM, including maintenance of change register.
• Generating applications for payment and invoices together with all necessary back up and ensuring timely cash collection.
• Assisting PMs with the company procurement process & in the appointment of sub-consultants (Outworkers) on appropriate terms.
• Working with discipline leads to challenge forecasted cost to complete.
• Liaising with client commercial staff to build strong working relationships.
• Assistance at the year end finance audit for the SCM owned contracts.
• Advising and assisting PMs on Commercial issues.
• Assistance in process improvement activities.
• Other ad hoc and routine work as required.

Commercial Administration

• Administration of Vantagepoint for UK and European regions.
• Setting up new staff & contractors.
• Overall management of enquiries/contract in Vantagepoint & liaising with finance to ensure contract set up in COINS (general ledger).
• Provision of both regular and adhoc reports.
• Identifying and providing coaching/training needs of Vantagepoint users.
• Database administration in accordance with reporting timetable.
• Administration, ownership and correction of incorrectly posted timesheets.

About You

Qualifications and training

• Analytical skills advantageous.
• Administration and customer service skills advantageous.
• Accounting/Finance/Business Administration background advantageous.

Technical skills and experience

• Demonstrable competent excel skills.
• Sound analytical ability.
• Organised, ability to multi-task.
• Proactive, actively pursues improvement.
• Confidence and willing to interact across all levels.
• Credible and highly motivated.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to security clearance or security assurance levels. The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance or assurance level for this role, in line with client and sector requirements. In some cases, additional nationality or residency criteria may also apply due to specific client or national security obligations.

Benefits

• Company car or cash allowance.
• Up to 6% matched contributory pension plan.
• 25 days annual leave plus ability to buy additional leave.
• Discount scheme (including gym membership, mobile phones etc).
• Family friendly policies.
• Employee assistance.

BakerHicks is an equal opportunity employer. We care about creating an inclusive atmosphere and are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion throughout. BakerHicks is an inclusive organisation welcoming talent from all backgrounds. Applicants are assessed on the basis of personal merit and qualifications.