The Project Accountant is responsible for delivering financial management, reporting, and analysis across multiple construction, development, and acquisition projects. The role ensures project costs, budgets, and forecasts are accurately monitored, financial risks are identified and managed, and project teams are supported with timely, relevant financial insights to inform decision-making.
Reporting directly to the Head of Finance, the Project Accountant works closely with the Development and Acquisition teams as a key member of their teams, providing embedded commercial and financial support.
Accountabilities & Key Activities
Project Financial Management
- Set up and maintain project accounts within the accounting system, ensuring correct coding and cost centre allocations.
- Work with Development Managers to prepare, monitor and update project budgets, [LG1] [DM2] forecasts, and cash flow projections.
- Track actual costs against budgeted amounts and analyse variances.
- Review and reconcile development costs including building contractor and consultant progress claims, variations, retentions, and subcontractor invoices. [LG3] [DM4]
- Review and track preliminary budget for acquisition projects
- Manage project accruals and ensure accurate month-end cut-offs.
- Prepare the documentation for drawdowns from our financiers [LG5] [DM6]
Reporting and Analysis
- Prepare monthly project financial reports, including cost-to-complete analysis, forecast final costs, and development performance metrics reports.
- Support development managers with real-time financial information to assist in project performance reviews.
- Develop and maintain financial dashboards and KPIs for project reporting.
- Assist in preparation of management reports and board / sub-committee papers relating to project performance.
- Support internal briefings and approval processes by preparing subject-matter specific financial reports.
Governance and Compliance
- Ensure compliance with internal accounting policies, contract terms, and relevant accounting standards.
- Support external and internal audit processes related to project expenditure and reporting.
- Maintain accurate documentation and audit trails for all project-related financial transactions.
Process Improvement
- Contribute to the refinement of financial controls, systems, and processes for project accounting.
- Support implementation of new project/development management or ERP systems as required.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Liaise with development managers and project teams (internal and external), to ensure alignment between financial, delivery and operational project data.
- Collaborate with external consultants, quantity surveyors, and contractors to reconcile costs, manage claims and maintain accurate cashflow projections.
- Provide financial guidance to project teams on budget management and cost control.
Project Financing
- Support Development Managers to satisfy lender Conditions Precedent (CPs) and other pre-draw requirements, including collation of evidence and sign-offs.
- Prepare, submit and track drawdown requests, ensuring requests reconcile to approved budgets and align to eligible costs and lender requirements.
- Coordinate periodic reporting to funding partners and respond to ad-hoc information requests.
Skills & Experience
Essential Criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
- Experience in project accounting within the construction, property development, or infrastructure sector.
- Strong knowledge of job costing, project financial control, and WIP reporting.
- Knowledge in project accounting systems
- Advanced Microsoft Excel and financial modelling skills.
- Strong attention to detail and analytical skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
- Proven ability to work across teams and manage multiple priorities.
- Commercial acumen and proactive problem-solving approach.
- High level of integrity and commitment to financial accuracy.
- Values alignment with organisational values (Integrity, Inclusion, Innovation and Impact).
Desirable Criteria:
- CPA or CA qualification
- Experience with contract administration and progress claim validation.
- Understanding of construction contracts (AS4902, AS4300, or similar).
- Exposure to multi-project, project finance or joint venture reporting environments.
