At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage finance activities across exciting international projects and ensure accurate financial reporting.
- Company: Join a dynamic, privately owned business with a global project portfolio.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, healthcare, and a discretionary bonus scheme.
- Other info: Work closely with senior stakeholders in an entrepreneurial environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a growing company and make a real impact on high-value projects.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant or finalist with strong project finance experience.
Howett Thorpe is partnering with a privately owned international project delivery business that is entering an exciting phase of growth. The business operates across complex, high-value infrastructure projects and is continuing to build momentum across a significant global project portfolio. This is an excellent opportunity to join an organisation where finance plays a central role in supporting project delivery, commercial decision-making and long-term growth. The UK office is based in London and supports a number of major international programmes, with further expansion expected as the project portfolio continues to develop.
This is a broad, hands-on project finance role with responsibility for managing finance activity across project expenditure. The successful candidate will be involved in all financial aspects of live international projects, ensuring accurate visibility of spend, committed costs, project profitability, cash flow, forecasting and financial performance. This is not a narrow reporting role. The position requires someone who is comfortable taking ownership across the full finance cycle of project expenditure, from understanding budgets and tracking costs through to reporting actuals, analysing variances, supporting forecasts and providing meaningful commercial insight.
Working closely with senior stakeholders, project teams, operations and overseas offices, you will play a key role in ensuring project costs are accurately captured, controlled and reported. The role will suit someone who enjoys working close to operational delivery and can bring structure, accuracy and commercial insight to complex project environments. The role offers hybrid working, with an expectation of 2–3 days per week in the London office.
Key Responsibilities- Taking ownership of finance activity across project expenditure
- Preparing and reviewing project P&L reporting across live international projects
- Tracking project spend, committed costs, accruals, margins, budgets and forecasts
- Ensuring project costs are accurately recorded, analysed and reported
- Monitoring project profitability and providing commentary on financial performance
- Supporting cost control, cash flow forecasting and working capital visibility across projects
- Reviewing actual spend against budget and identifying key variances, risks and opportunities
- Working closely with project teams to understand cost drivers and operational activity
- Liaising with international offices in relation to procurement, logistics and project financials
- Supporting senior management with commercial analysis and decision-making
- Helping to improve reporting processes, financial controls and project finance visibility as the portfolio grows
- Supporting wider finance and commercial reporting requirements as required
- A qualified accountant, or finalist, with experience gained in a project-led, contract-led or commercially complex environment.
- Confidence working across the full finance cycle of project expenditure and comfortable taking ownership of cost reporting, project P&L, forecasting, variance analysis and commercial insight.
- Strong Excel skills and the ability to interpret financial information in a commercial context.
- Hands-on, proactive and comfortable working in a growing business where finance plays a key role in supporting project delivery.
- Experience gained within construction, infrastructure, engineering, international projects, manufacturing, logistics or a similar project-based environment would be particularly relevant.
- Qualified accountant, or finalist with strong project finance experience
- Strong project accounting, management accounting or commercial finance experience
- Experience managing project costs, expenditure, budgets, forecasts and P&L reporting
- Comfortable working across the full finance cycle of project spend
- Confident reviewing actuals, committed costs, accruals, margins and variances
- Strong Excel and reporting skills
- Excellent attention to detail with a commercial mindset
- Able to build relationships with finance and non-finance stakeholders
- Proactive, hands-on and comfortable working in a growing business
This is an excellent opportunity to join a privately owned business as it gains momentum across a significant international project portfolio. The role offers genuine exposure to complex, high-value projects with global reach, alongside the chance to work closely with senior decision-makers in an entrepreneurial environment. For a finance professional who enjoys taking ownership, working close to the detail and providing financial clarity across project expenditure, this is a highly engaging opportunity within a business that is expected to see continued growth across its project base.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Financial Controller
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Howett Thorpe. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Financial Controller
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Howett Thorpe.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Howett Thorpe's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Howett Thorpe
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Howett Thorpe.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Howett Thorpe will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Howett Thorpe employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
