Main Accountant

Main Accountant

Leiston Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead financial operations and support the Head of Accounting in a dynamic nuclear project.
  • Company: Join Laing O'Rourke, a leading international engineering and construction company with over 150 years of experience.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a supportive work environment, opportunities for growth, and the chance to shape the future of energy.
  • Why this job: Be part of a major infrastructure project that values innovation, safety, and sustainability.
  • Qualifications: Strong communication skills, collaborative mindset, deadline-driven, and ERP experience preferred.
  • Other info: We support candidates with disabilities through our 'Offer an interview scheme'.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

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Location: Ipswich Project Office / Sizewell C Project Site

Join the exciting journey of one of the UK\’s largest nuclear projects at Sizewell C!

The Civil Works Alliance (CWA) is seeking a capable and experienced Main Accountant to support the Head of Accounting and help oversee core financial operations.

In this role, you will act as deputy to the Head of Accounting, with direct responsibility for supervising the Accounts Payable and General Ledger teams. Your focus will be on maintaining strong financial controls, supporting timely and accurate reporting, and ensuring the smooth day-to-day functioning of the accounting team.

A key part of your responsibility will be to help build and sustain a reliable, high-performing, and service-oriented finance function—supporting both CWA and the broader Civil Works Programme (CWP).

If you\’re looking to step into a role with responsibility, visibility, and the opportunity to influence how finance supports a major infrastructure programme, this position offers a meaningful next step.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead monthly close activities including account reviews, manual accruals, income adjustments, balance sheet revaluations, bank reconciliations, and partner reporting—ensuring accuracy and timeliness across the board.
  • Manage subcontractor financials, from reviewing and posting monthly valuations to coordinating payments and validating monthly accruals.
  • Oversee tax compliance, including VAT and CIS returns, and manage accounting operations related to Brexit (e.g., import duties, postponed VAT). Ensure correct application of the Domestic Reverse Charge for new subcontractors and suppliers.
  • Support audit readiness, coordinating both internal audits with the client and external audits with partners, while maintaining an up-to-date asset register and continuously improving accounting procedures.
  • Contribute to a high-performing finance team by driving process consistency, maintaining strong financial controls, and supporting the Head of Accounting as deputy.

What skills & experience are we looking for?

  • Strong communication skills – Confident in both spoken and written English, with the ability to clearly convey financial information to a wide range of stakeholders.
  • Collaborative mindset – Comfortable working across diverse teams, including Production, Commercial, Finance, and Cost Control, building trusted relationships to support project success.
  • Deadline-driven – Well-organised and dependable, with a commitment to meeting strict reporting timelines.
  • ERP experience – Previous experience with SAP or similar systems is a strong advantage.Experience of managing people / direct reports

Why SZC?

This is your chance to contribute to one of the UK\’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, shaping the future of energy while working in a supportive, dynamic environment. Be part of a team that values innovation, safety, and sustainability at every stage of the journey—from investment to construction and beyond.

About Laing O\’Rourke

We are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O\’Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O\’Rourke\’s story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term health conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme\’. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know prior to interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.

We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email resourcingteam@laingorourke.com

Seniority level

  • Seniority level

    Mid-Senior level

Employment type

  • Employment type

    Full-time

Job function

  • Job function

    Accounting/Auditing and Finance

  • Industries

    Construction and Engineering Services

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Main Accountant employer: Laing O'Rourke

At Laing O'Rourke, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic and supportive work environment at the Sizewell C Project Site in Ipswich. Our culture fosters innovation and collaboration, providing employees with meaningful opportunities for growth and development while contributing to one of the UK's most ambitious infrastructure projects. Join us to be part of a team that values safety, sustainability, and excellence in every aspect of our work.
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Contact Detail:

Laing O'Rourke Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Main Accountant

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the specific financial regulations and compliance requirements related to the construction and nuclear sectors. This knowledge will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to understanding the unique challenges of the role.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the finance and construction industries, especially those who have experience with large infrastructure projects. Attend relevant industry events or join online forums to build connections that could provide insights or referrals for the position.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss your experience with ERP systems, particularly SAP, as this is a strong advantage for the role. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've used such systems to improve financial processes or reporting accuracy in previous positions.

✨Tip Number 4

Highlight your collaborative skills by preparing examples of how you've successfully worked with diverse teams in past roles. Emphasising your ability to build trusted relationships across departments will resonate well with the hiring team.

We think you need these skills to ace Main Accountant

Strong Communication Skills
Collaborative Mindset
Deadline-Driven
ERP Experience (SAP or similar)
Financial Reporting
Accounts Payable Management
General Ledger Oversight
Tax Compliance Knowledge (VAT, CIS)
Audit Coordination
Process Improvement
Team Leadership
Attention to Detail
Organisational Skills
Problem-Solving Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in accounting, particularly in areas like financial controls, reporting, and team management. Use specific examples that demonstrate your skills in leading financial operations.

Craft a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the Sizewell C project. Mention how your background aligns with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, such as managing subcontractor financials and supporting audit readiness.

Highlight Communication Skills: Given the importance of strong communication in this role, provide examples of how you've effectively conveyed financial information to various stakeholders in previous positions. This could include presentations, reports, or team collaborations.

Showcase ERP Experience: If you have experience with SAP or similar ERP systems, make sure to highlight this in both your CV and cover letter. Detail how this experience has equipped you to manage financial operations efficiently.

How to prepare for a job interview at Laing O'Rourke

✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen

Be prepared to discuss your experience with financial operations, particularly in areas like account reviews, accruals, and reconciliations. Highlight specific examples where you've ensured accuracy and timeliness in reporting.

✨Demonstrate Strong Communication Skills

Since the role requires conveying financial information to various stakeholders, practice articulating complex financial concepts in simple terms. Be ready to provide examples of how you've effectively communicated with different teams.

✨Emphasise Your Collaborative Mindset

The position involves working across diverse teams, so share instances where you've successfully collaborated with others. Discuss how you build trusted relationships and contribute to project success through teamwork.

✨Prepare for ERP Discussions

If you have experience with SAP or similar ERP systems, be ready to discuss it in detail. Explain how you've used these systems to manage financial data and improve accounting processes in your previous roles.

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