Senior Project Accountant in London

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. Our diverse service lines, including Water, Architecture, Building Engineering Services, Field Services, Power, Waste, Industrial, and Transportation reflect our commitment to shaping resilient, sustainable, and forward-thinking communities around the world.

The primary duty of the Senior Project Accountant is to be accountable for all financial aspects related to the projects that are assigned to them. This includes taking ownership of project setups, billing, project costs, purchase orders and requisitions, and ensuring timesheet completion. This role is expected to work autonomously on project accounting duties, handling complex issues and coaching colleagues where required. The Senior Project Accountant will be required to provide oversight and guidance of the finance activities for a Managed Cost Centre (MCC), paying close attention to the metrics that drive financial performance and seeking to influence them positively.

We are looking for someone who is commercially minded and a detail-oriented finance professional with extensive experience in project accounting, ideally gained within the engineering, construction or infrastructure sectors. You thrive in complex, project-driven environments and have a strong understanding of project financial management, cost control, forecasting, and contract accounting. You are confident partnering with project managers and operational stakeholders, providing clear financial insight that supports decision-making and drives project performance.

Responsibilities

• Act as an ambassador/champion for a Managed Cost Centre (MCC) with responsibilities including supporting Operations Leadership by reviewing monthly results, conducting analysis of the metrics that drive performance and making recommendations where appropriate.
• Act as the main point of contact for key stakeholders, providing guidance and education to support the adoption of best practices.
• Maintain, review and manage the risk register, escalating issues as required.
• Attend project reviews and business reviews for all projects within the MCC.
• Provide cover for Project Accountants who support other projects within the managed cost centre when they are on leave.
• Be a subject matter expert for designated finance activities, which may include one or more of the following examples: Forecasting, Pricing & RFPs, Cross Border, Risk, Audit & Compliance, Systems, Billing, Timecards & Utilisation.
• Act as a champion for internal policy and process within the finance team and across the wider business.
• Provide training, guidance and supervision to Project Accountants.
• Lead special projects and initiatives as required.
• Be responsible for analysis, developing and reporting associated with various project controls job duties, such as project baseline, work package agreements, cost control, cost estimation, earned value management (EVM), projections, variance analysis, schedules, project/program/portfolio integration or technical project reviews.
• Partner with internal teams (technical/project managers etc.) to identify control risks and make recommendations to influence key decision-makers within the business.
• Play a leading role in monthly internal business reviews with Project Managers, challenging the data and determining necessary actions.
• Work with Project Managers to ensure that risks and opportunities are integrated for projects are captured and reported to leadership.
• Managing the weekly/monthly reporting needs in line with the reporting calendar, actively filling gaps in responsibility that are identified.
• Serve as a centralised point of contact to internal and external business.
• Work autonomously on client invoicing and client budgeting. Process PIFs and set-up all new projects within EBS in line within agreed timeframes.
• Raising of project related purchase requisitions and tracking purchase orders.
• Confirm Accounts Payable functions are performed relative to HDR procedures.
• Ensure all timesheets are completed accurately and in a timely fashion.
• Provide training to the wider business community where required.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

Skills and Experience

• Educational qualifications to a degree level or equivalent Part Qualified Chartered Accountant.
• Experience of operating in a fast paced and dynamic international consulting business preferably in the engineering or construction sector.
• Advanced experience of WIP and project accounting.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a range of financial and non-financial people.
• A strong customer service ethic applied internally and externally.
• Highly analytical in nature with a real eye for detail.
• Structured and organised in their approach.
• Able to work as part of a team and collaboratively and co-operatively.
• Experience of working with accounting systems and ERP, ideally EBS and Oracle.
• Competency in MS Office, specifically Excel.
• Experience in dealing with projects in different currencies.

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.