Project Accountant in Chippenham

Join to apply for the Project Accountant role at Trapeze Group Europe / UK Trapeze’s Intelligent Transport Systems, a leading provider of intelligent transport systems, is seeking an experienced Project Accountant. You will be responsible for the financial oversight, analysis, and control of large and complex hardware projects from bid stage through to project completion. The role ensures accurate financial reporting, cost management, forecasting, and compliance with internal and external financial requirements. Acting as a business partner to Project Managers and Engineering teams, you will provide insights that drive commercial decisions and improve project performance.

Key responsibilities:

• Manage the financial performance of multiple hardware projects, ensuring accurate reporting of costs, revenues, and margins.
• Maintain project P&Ls, balance sheets, and cash flow forecasts.
• Prepare monthly project reviews, variance analysis, and risk/opportunity assessments.
• Monitor project progress against budget and forecast; highlight deviations early and propose corrective actions.
• Ensure project accounting aligns with IFRS and internal accounting policies (e.g., percentage of completion, revenue recognition).
• Support the month-end and year-end closing processes, including journal entries and reconciliations.
• Assist with posting and allocation of project costs.
• Identify and contribute towards ways of streamlining the time and materials process.
• Reconcile and control costs at legal entity level and ensure these are accurately consolidated for project reporting and revenue recognition purposes.

Project Support & Business Partnering:

• Partner with Project Managers to provide financial insights and support decision-making.
• Participate in project review meetings, providing financial commentary and performance metrics.
• Support commercial negotiations, contract reviews, and change order management.
• Assist with project bid/pricing models and financial validation of new proposals.

Forecasting & Budgeting:

• Lead project-level forecasting (cost, revenue, margin, cash) and integrate into overall business forecasts.
• Support quarterly budget cycles and long-term financial planning.

Governance & Compliance:

• Ensure adherence to internal controls, audit requirements, and corporate governance standards.
• Maintain financial documentation and support internal/external audits.
• Monitor and manage project risks, ensuring financial implications are identified and managed.

Additional Activities (shared with other members of finance team):

• Take on company-wide finance tasks as allocated from time to time.
• Support financial team providing day‑to‑day assistance as required.
• Assist in monthly and year‑end management/financial accounts and audit.
• Ad hoc financial analysis in support of the preparation of management accounts.

Knowledge and Skills required:

• Professionally qualified (ACA, ACCA, ACMA) with at least 2 years post qualification experience.
• Proven experience as a Project Controller or Project Accountant within an engineering, manufacturing or hardware‑based business.
• Strong understanding of long‑term project accounting (PoC, WIP, revenue recognition).
• Strong organisational abilities, experience of working to tight deadlines and a hands‑on approach to finance.
• Advanced Excel including Pivot tables, Look‑up functions and similar is essential for all analysis and reporting duties.
• Deep knowledge of accounting principles, good understanding of financial/management information systems.
• Technically competent with finance and accounting knowledge and skills.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to adapt to and implement change.
• High level of numeracy (Accounting/Maths/Statistics) and the ability to interpret management information.
• High computer literacy, with particular reference to accounting and management software and their application in a software / project environment.

Personal Qualities:

• Approachable and professional.
• Ability to work flexible hours under pressure to tight time‑scales.
• Passionate and driven.
• Self‑motivated and energetic.
• Flexible and adaptable – We believe in leading through learning.
• Good sense of humour, with the ability to create and maintain excellent communication between different stakeholders at all levels across the organisation.

In return we will offer a competitive salary along with a comprehensive benefits package including a discretionary bonus, healthcare cash back scheme, private pension scheme, life assurance and income protection as well as many initiatives to support a healthy lifestyle.