Project Accountant in Chippenham

ebblo International, a leading provider of intelligent transport systems, is seeking an experienced Project Accountant to join the team in a newly created role driven by continued organic growth and recent project wins. This position will take ownership of the financial management of large, complex hardware and software projects from bid stage through to completion, ensuring robust financial control, accurate reporting, and effective cost and working capital management. Reporting to the Financial Controller and partnering closely with Project Managers and Engineering teams across an international environment, you will play a key role in providing commercially focused insights that support decision‑making and drive improved project performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Control & Reporting
  • Manage the financial performance of multiple hardware and software projects, ensuring accurate reporting of costs, revenues, and margins over the contract term.
  • Maintain project P&Ls, balance sheets, and cash flow forecasts.
  • Prepare monthly project reviews, variance analysis, and risk/opportunity assessments.
  • Monitor project progress against budget and forecast including working capital; highlight deviations early and propose corrective actions.
  • Ensure project accounting aligns with IFRS and internal accounting policies (e.g., percentage of completion, revenue recognition).
  • Support the month‑end and year‑end closing processes, including journal entries and reconciliations.
  • Assist with posting and allocation of project costs.
  • Identify and contribute towards ways of streamlining the time and materials process.
  • Reconcile and control costs at legal entity and management reporting levels and ensure these are accurately consolidated for project reporting and revenue recognition purposes.
• Project Support & Business Partnering
  • Partner with Project Managers to provide financial insights and support decision‑making.
  • Participate in project review meetings, providing financial commentary and performance metrics.
  • Support commercial negotiations, contract reviews, and change order management.
  • Contribute to project bid/pricing models and financial validation of new proposals including working capital projections.
• Forecasting & Budgeting
  • Lead project‑level forecasting (cost, revenue, margin, cash and working capital) and integrate into overall business forecasts.
  • Support quarterly budget cycles and long‑term financial planning.
• Governance & Compliance
  • Ensure adherence to internal controls, audit requirements, and corporate governance standards.
  • Maintain financial documentation and support internal/external audits.
  • Monitor and manage project risks, ensuring financial implications are identified and managed.
• Additional Activities
  • Take on company‑wide finance tasks as allocated from time to time.
  • Support financial team providing day‑to‑day assistance as required.
  • Assist in monthly and year end management/financial accounts and audit.
  • Ad‑hoc financial analysis in support of the preparation of management accounts.

Knowledge and Skills required

• Professionally‑qualified (ACA, ACCA, ACMA) with at least 2 years post‑qualification experience.
• Proven experience as a Project Controller or Project Accountant within an engineering, manufacturing, or hardware/software‑based business.
• Strong understanding of long‑term project accounting (PoC, WIP, revenue recognition).
• Strong organisational abilities, experience of working to tight deadlines and a hands‑on approach to finance.
• High computer literacy, with particular reference to accounting and management software/ERP systems and their application in a software/project environment.
• Advanced Excel including Pivot tables, Look‑up functions & similar is essential for all analysis and reporting duties.
• Deep knowledge of accounting principles, good understanding of financial/management information systems.
• Technically competent with finance and accounting knowledge and skills.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to adapt to and implement change.
• High level of numeracy (Accounting/Maths/Statistics) and the ability to interpret management information.
• Keenness to make use of AI applications (e.g. Claude) and automating reporting and forecasting models and financial processes to improve efficiency.

Personal Qualities

• Approachable, honest and professional, high-level of integrity.
• Strong analytical mindset.
• Ability to work flexible hours under pressure to tight time‑scales.
• Passionate and driven.
• Self‑motivated and dynamic.
• Flexible and adaptable – We believe in leading through learning.
• Good sense of humour, with the ability to create and maintain excellent communication between different stakeholders at all levels across the organisation.

In return we will offer a competitive salary along with a comprehensive benefits package including internal training and development opportunities, a discretionary bonus, healthcare cash back scheme, private pension scheme, life assurance and income protection as well as many initiatives to support a healthy lifestyle.