Project Accountant in Edinburgh

Gunn Financial Appointments are delighted to be retained by Kids Operating Room on the appointment of a Project Accountant.

The Organisation

Kids Operating Room is a Scottish charity dedicated to transforming global healthcare by ensuring children worldwide have access to life‑saving surgical care. They install fully equipped paediatric operating rooms across Africa, Latin America and Asia, addressing the critical gap in surgical services for children. Since its founding, Kids Operating Room has shipped and installed operating theatres in over 20 countries, improving the lives of thousands of children. The charity also invests in training local surgeons and anaesthetists, ensuring sustainable healthcare solutions rather than temporary fixes.

The Role

Kids Operating Room are seeking a detail‑oriented and proactive Project Accountant to provide financial oversight and support across a portfolio of key projects. This pivotal role will ensure robust financial control and reporting for the projects, supporting effective delivery and compliance with internal and external requirements, including reporting to relevant project funders. Reporting directly to the Financial Controller, you will play a key role in maximising value and insight, drawn from financial data within their financial reporting systems – most notably Sage Intacct.

Key responsibilities:

• Partner with project managers and budget holders to monitor financial performance across multiple ongoing and new projects
• Prepare accurate and timely financial reports for internal stakeholders, funders, and external partners
• Provide financial challenge to the prepared project budgets, forecasts and financial models
• Monitor the incurred costs of ongoing projects from a budget versus actual position and investigate deviations
• Support the preparation and monitoring of project budgets, forecasts, and financial models
• Ensure compliance with donor/funder financial guidelines, including tracking restricted/unrestricted funds and managing grant claims
• Maintain robust project records in Sage Intacct, including accurate coding, budget tracking, and financial reconciliation
• Work with stakeholders to generate reports and dashboards from Sage Intacct to provide insight and support decision‑making
• Be the Finance representative working with the fundraising team in developing financial aspects of funding proposals and applications
• Support with project audits and annual statutory audits, liaising with external auditors as required
• Support the Financial Controller and wider team by contributing to the development and refinement of financial processes, with a focus on leveraging Sage Intacct functionality for improved financial management
• Provide high‑level financial training and guidance to project staff and budget holders to enhance financial understanding and accountability
• Develop effective, collaborative and supportive working relationships within the Finance team and across the Kids Operating Room organisation
• Contribute to additional Charity wide projects when required on behalf of the Finance Director

The ideal candidate

The ideal candidate for the role will be Part‑Qualified or Qualified by Experience (QBE). In determining the ideal candidate for the role, the focus is more centered around having previous experience in certain key areas as listed below.

• Considerable experience in a project accounting or financial management role
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and communicate financial data to non‑financial audiences
• Advanced Excel skills and familiarity with financial reporting tools
• Strong attention to detail, with a proactive and solution‑oriented approach
• Excellent communication skills, demonstrating the ability to interact professionally with internal and external stakeholders
• Strong organisational skills, showing proficiency in time management and task prioritisation
• Identifying opportunities for improvements and challenging established practices
• Inquisitive and willingness to learn and in turn share knowledge with other members of the team
• Solid understanding of charity sector financial principles, including restricted funding and fund accounting
• Knowledge of UK Charity SORP and financial reporting requirements
• Previous experience of Sage Intacct

This role can be based in Edinburgh or Dundee.

All applications should be sent to Ross Gunn at Gunn Financial Appointments. All third‑party applications, enquiries and direct approaches to Kids Operating Room will be referred to Gunn Financial Appointments.