Project Accountant - HTR in Havant

We’re making a difference: Together, we can ensure that there is enough water for everyone, now and in the future. The Project Accountant will play a pivotal role in supporting the Finance Manager and driving the financial success of the Havant Thicket Reservoir project. Working across both the CRA and AWA workstreams, you’ll provide essential financial insight, control, and reporting to help ensure this major infrastructure programme delivers strong, compliant, and value-focused outcomes. This is a chance to contribute to a landmark project shaping the future of water resilience for the region.

What will you be doing?

• Develop and maintain robust financial controls for the project
• Ensure that financial controls are adequate, adhered to and are periodically reviewed
• Develop and maintain the project budget, spend and forecasting for the project through to completion
• Ensuring that supplier costs are reflected accurately in the monthly management accounts
• Liaise closely with the project team to prepare programme costs for reporting
• Produce the project’s monthly accounts and generate monthly reports for the investors, Southern Water and Portsmouth Water
• Provide ad hoc decision support reports as required, for example to aid dispute resolution or evaluate impact of change
• Support regulatory reporting and engagement with key stakeholders
• Manage the spend control processes, ensuring that invoices are paid to contractors and raised to Southern Water in accordance with contractual commitments and with appropriate cashflow reporting
• Support the year-end financial reporting procedures
• Support in producing the monthly Steerco and JPAG reports together with any additional papers
• Support in producing the Finance month end and Sub Group Pack.

What do you need?

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Good analytical skills with the ability to review cost consultant and project managers reports in order to generate meaningful financial reports and provide decision support
• Appreciation of accounting regulations, management of capital allowances and tax
• Excellent Excel skills. Proficient in the use of Powerpoint, Word and Teams
• An understanding of the construction industry and professional services
• Good knowledge of the roles and activities of project teams, encompassing quantity surveyors, project managers, programme and risk management
• Appreciation of contract management methodology, with experience of managing accounts for large construction projects
• Bachelor's degree in mathematics, accounting or a related field of study
• More than 5 years of experience of project accounting for large or complex construction programmes
• Professionally qualified or qualified by experience
• Experience of using Contract Management and ERP software would be an advantage
• Ideally, the successful candidate will have a recognised supervisory qualification or be able to give a commitment to obtain such a qualification

If you are successful for the role, you will be required to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) pre‑employment checks that will include a basic disclosure check. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the national security vetting process for either a CTC or SC clearance check. Any offer of employment is conditional upon completion and receipt of satisfactory checks.

We recognise people want to work in a variety of different ways, and that’s why we’re happy to consider flexible working arrangements. Please feel free to talk to us at interview about the flexibility you may be looking for. We’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we actively encourage applications from all sections of society. Please be aware, the Company has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

What can Portsmouth Water offer you?

• Enjoy 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, giving you plenty of time to relax, recharge, and explore.
• We’ll help secure your future with a generous pension scheme, contributing up to 15% – because your tomorrow matters as much as your today.
• You could earn a non-contractual bonus of up to 6% of your basic salary, linked to company performance – because when we succeed together, you should benefit too.
• Whether you’re welcoming a new arrival through birth or adoption, we’ve got your back with enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave and pay.
• All expenses covered summer and winter social events.
• Our life assurance scheme gives your loved ones extra security, with a 4x salary lump sum benefit in case the unexpected happens.
• Comprehensive Wellbeing Support, including confidential mental health and wellbeing advice 24/7 through our Employee Assistance Programme, or physical health support via our Virtual GP service.
• Private Medical Insurance – provided by Bupa giving you access to expert healthcare and 24/7 confidential support.
• Electric Vehicle Scheme (after 1 year), Cycle to Work Scheme, Health Cash Plan…and so much more!