Project Accountant in Portsmouth

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Project Accountant to work with a global defence company at their Broad Oak site. This role sits in the FP&A Project Performance job family and the jobholder will deliver ongoing support across Project Finance, as well as the wider Finance function.

Duties will involve:

• Delivering customer focused Project Finance support as part of the Capability Centre, aiding the Business Unit in the effective and profitable delivery of customer projects by owning all Finance aspects of the project life cycle.
• Delivering best-in-class financial planning, analysis and insights, to all internal and external customers, to drive growth and deliver superior performance.
• Contributing to the implementation of common and consistent Project Finance processes, a culture of performance excellence and “right first time”, and optimising key financial controls.
• Ensuring that the financial performance of projects is reported accurately and on time, producing forward forecasts so that stakeholders have the information required for effective decision-making.
• Contributing to the modernisation of Project Finance and delivery of continuous improvement.
• Contributing to a data focused and digital culture whilst digitising ways of working through the support of implementation of digital project management, reporting and financial toolsets.
• Using dashboards to provide insights and improve performance.

You will act as a trusted advisor to business on all project finance related outputs and deliverables, providing effective financial challenge, governance and support to the programme teams.

Key duties will involve:

• Driving Business Performance: Production of timely insights, analysis and business intelligence to drive performance. Ensure synchronisation between evolving business performance and forecasting, proactively identifying and managing risks and opportunities. Ensure timely working capital cycle for projects and supporting decision makers in delivering strong project financial performance.
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Production of quarterly forecasts and Annual Budgets (IBP) in conjunction with the Finance Business Partners. Support IPTs in forecasting financial estimates of costs to deliver projects and manage risks and opportunities, highlighting key information to the relevant FBPs.
• Reporting: Deliver accurate month end management reporting, on time, including Project reporting outputs (Summary Status Report and Contract Status Reports) Monthly management reporting with expert analysis and insights analysing in-year financial performance Balance sheet review parks Working Capital Reporting Orderbook Reporting.
• Project lifecycle support: Support project teams on whole life of projects, including initial setup, forecasting, trading, reporting and analysis, and closure.
• Bid Support: Working alongside the relevant FBPs, provide a key bid support capability, to plan, coordinate and model financial inputs, ensuring quality inputs are provided to the FBPs / bid team.
• Financial control: Operate robust and effective financial controls in line with Financial Control Framework and Finance Policies manual, collaborating with the Project Finance Process Owners, Finance Control and Governance. Support external and internal audit as required.
• Process improvement: Contribute towards identifying and delivering improvements to processes within Project Finance. Support ongoing Finance Modernisation activity, in particular digital reporting improvements.
• Systems improvement: Contribute towards system improvements and help support adoption of a data-centric and digital culture. Contribute to the wider UK finance systems strategy to ensure Project Finance requirements are captured and support programmes of work to deploy new systems and technology.
• People Development: Support, develop and coach a team, ensuring collaborative working relationships with stakeholders and consistently ensure skills and experience are matched with business demands.

Accountable for:

• Continual improvement of procedures and working practices.
• Act as Process champion for relevant Project Finance Processes.
• Provide support and coaching for non-finance employees on related matters.
• To recruit, train and develop employees to ensure responsibilities are discharged in a professional manner.

Knowledge:

• Experience of working in MOD contracts would be an advantage.
• Experience of Project Finance and strong understanding of financial forecasting and reporting processes.
• Knowledge of relevant accounting standards (IFRS / GAAP), incl. IFRS15 trading principles.
• Proficient in use of Microsoft Office packages, including Excel.
• Recognises best practice in applying financial controls.
• Experience of using MRPs or ERPs (e.g. SAP) and financial reporting, forecasting and analytical tools (e.g. SAP BPC).

The jobholder will be able to build a good rapport with stakeholders, be pro-active, a self-starter and have excellent communication skills. Contracting experience would be ideal. This role is full time and working 1-2 days per week on site.