Senior Project Accountant

About the role

FUNCTION OF DEPARTMENT

The Finance department’s role is to provide a complete accounting and financial management service to enable the Board and Management to meet statutory requirements and exercise effective financial control over the Crown Agents businesses.

MAIN JOB PURPOSE

Reports to Head of Project Accounting. The role is responsible for supporting Project Managers to manage project finances and for performing month-end project accounting tasks. As a qualified accountant you will use your accounting knowledge to improve all forms of project reporting and assist finance leadership in continuous process improvement. As a Senior Project Accountant, you may be required to take on greater leadership of cross cutting initiatives that improve processes or other projects to improve performance.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF JOB

Project Finances

• Prepare high quality and timely monthly financial reports to clients in coordination with respective Programme Manager, Regional Finance colleagues and partners
• Supporting Project Managers in day to day project finance management
• Facilitate the preparation of monthly invoices to be sent to clients along with the financial and spend reports
• Understanding and interpreting the month’s performance with insightful commentary on variances of programme spend and present for review by PM and PD
• Monitor programme budgets and ensure funds are allocated to agreed budget lines
• In coordination with Programme Managers prepare robust and timely financial forecasting
• Work with the programme’s Procurement and in country finance teams to prepare forecasting and support the end to end finance processes involved
• Review and analyse changes to programme budget in line with corporate and client requirements, proactively identify risks and propose mitigations
• Perform an advisory role to PM, PD and Procurement team on budgets and FX rates.
• Join internal and client meetings to lead on programme finance discussion
• Develop systems and processes to ensure efficient and effective management of project finances and reporting, including monitoring spend against implementation plans/projections
• Ensure all project related documentations, including audit trail are appropriately stored and easily accessible to auditors
• Lead on project audits both internally and externally and ensure timely response to audit requests
• Provide oversight and support to the Regional Finance Managers to ensure that forecasts are accurate and realistic, adjusting for risk if needed so that variance against monthly forecasts are minimal

Corporate Finance

Ensure appropriate project accounting from inception to closure through working with Project Managers, this includes:

• Ensuring robust forecasting is undertaken
• Ensuring accurate and consistent journals are posted in accordance with revenue recognition policy.
• Working with Project Managers to complete project submission forms and provide commentary on variances and project risk
• Processing project submission forms in a timely and efficient manner
• Reconciling information on the project accounting system (PSA) to the Accounting system (SUN) and resolving discrepancies
• Active engagement in monthly practice review meetings
• Meeting audit requirements.
• Balance sheet reporting is consistent and accurate
• Balance Sheet Reconciliations are timely, complete and signed
• Project budgets are on system

About you

Requirement

Qualification

• Qualified Accountant or equivalent experience

Experience

• Experience of working effectively where strong organisational skills are required
• Demonstrate a robust and commercial mindset
• Strong understanding of technical accounting as it relates to projects
• Work effectively with people across all levels
• Desire to progress and be a quick learner, self-starter

About us

You’ll be working with Crown Agents which is a high impact social enterprise passionate about transforming the future for millions of people. Since our creation in 1833 we have worked across the globe to improve public services and drive economic growth. Our expertise is finding new solutions to difficult problems for clients in the areas of health, governance, economic growth, humanitarian action and supply chain services. We work with and train leaders at local, national and international level to achieve lasting change drawing on our insight and experience.

Crown Agents is committed to diversity and will promote diversity for all candidates at all times as well as a business culture that reflects that belief. Crown Agents will treat everyone equally irrespective of race, religion, colour, sex, age, national origin, disability or sexual orientation, and places an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy. Crown Agents shall not discriminate unlawfully when deciding which candidates are selected for interview, or in any terms of employment, and will ensure that each candidate is assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and abilities to perform the role. Crown Agents is committed to being an organisation enhanced by diversity and encourages applications from anyone who shares our values and commitment to improving the lives of communities affected by poverty or conflict.

About what’s on offer

Crown Agents offers a competitive benefits package.