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- Tasks: Lead financial operations and support the Head of Accounting in a major nuclear project.
- Company: Join Laing O'Rourke, a leader in engineering and construction with over 150 years of experience.
- Benefits: Be part of an innovative team with a focus on safety, sustainability, and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the UK's energy future while developing your accounting skills.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills, ERP experience, and a collaborative mindset are essential.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for personal and professional development.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Overview
Main Accountant — 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
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Main Accountant employer: Laing O'Rourke
Contact Detail:
Laing O'Rourke Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Main Accountant
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance and accounting sectors. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their values and how they align with your skills. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! Since strong communication is key for this role, consider doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms. This will help you articulate your experience and financial knowledge clearly.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Main Accountant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Main Accountant role. Highlight your experience with financial controls, reporting, and team management. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how you can contribute to our finance team. Keep it concise but impactful—show us your personality!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since strong communication is key for this role, make sure your written application reflects that. Use clear language and structure your thoughts well. We want to see how you convey financial information effectively.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team at Laing O'Rourke!
How to prepare for a job interview at Laing O'Rourke
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Main Accountant, you'll be dealing with financial data daily. Brush up on key accounting principles and be ready to discuss your experience with monthly close activities, balance sheet revaluations, and tax compliance. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the numbers but can also handle them confidently.
✨Showcase Your Team Spirit
Collaboration is key in this role, so be prepared to share examples of how you've worked with diverse teams in the past. Highlight your ability to build trusted relationships across departments like Production and Commercial, as this will demonstrate your collaborative mindset and fit for the team.
✨Be Deadline-Driven
This position requires someone who is well-organised and dependable. Come equipped with examples of how you've successfully met strict reporting timelines in previous roles. This will illustrate your commitment to deadlines and your ability to thrive under pressure.
✨Familiarise Yourself with ERP Systems
If you have experience with SAP or similar ERP systems, make sure to mention it during the interview. If not, do a bit of research on how these systems work and be ready to discuss how you would adapt to using them. This shows your willingness to learn and adapt to the tools that support the finance function.
