Project Accountant (Reporting and Compliance)

A 1‑year fixed‑term opportunity has arisen for a Project Accountant to join our Finance team at UKCEH. In this role, you’ll play a key part in post award monitoring and submission of final expenditure statements for our UKRI‑funded research projects, supporting vital work that addresses some of the biggest environmental challenges of our time.

Reporting to our Head of Project Accounting, you’ll take the lead on implementing finance project reviews with our project managers. This is a key role at the heart of UKCEH’s research funding ecosystem - one that ensures our world‑leading science is delivered with integrity, accountability and financial excellence. Working closely with project managers, project accountants and research funders, you’ll act as a trusted expert who guides colleagues through complex reporting requirements and drives continual improvement in our financial project management processes.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Schedule and deliver financial project reviews using existing tools, working closely with senior Project Accountants.
• Collaborate with Project Accountants to create clear, tailored reporting templates for a variety of funders.

To thrive in this role, you’ll bring a truly collaborative approach: someone who supports colleagues, delegates effectively and works confidently as part of a team. You’ll be skilled at partnering with non‑finance colleagues, translating financial information clearly and building trust with academic scientists and project teams. Alongside this, your strong organisational skills and ability to manage your workload independently will enable you to plan, prioritise and deliver high‑quality work in a dynamic, purpose‑driven environment.

For the role of Project Accountant we’re looking for somebody who has:

• Accountancy training or qualification - trainee, part or fully qualified (we’ll also consider alternative professional qualifications or non-qualification based relevant experience).
• Experience with UKRI post‑award grant management, including familiarity with JeS or the Joint Funding Service.
• Proven experience in external funder reporting and audit processes.
• Strong financial systems experience (Workday desirable) and excellent Excel skills.

We appreciate the continuous dedication and contributions of our staff, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes financial incentives and wellbeing-oriented perks, such as:

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (role dependant).
• Dental insurance, gym/fitness discounts, retail discount portal.

At UKCEH, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and circumstances. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and people with disabilities.