Project Accountant - large change programmes and projects

Job Description

Globally respected financial services house - great cv brand valueHighly tangible budget/forecast role across largest programmes in the worldDescriptionProject Accountant - large change programmes and projectsDocklands Canary WharfFinancial ServicesThis role will be of interest to a qualified accountant with significant experience of delivering high quality, timely and insightful project accounting information, periodic forecasts, annual budgets, and three-year plans. In addition, this role will beresponsible for providing high quality Management Information and analysis to support the businessin decision taking.Reporting to the Head of Strategic Finance, the typical responsibilities of the role include:Planning, budgeting, and forecasting:

• Providing strategic financial leadership as part of the business planning / budget and monthly forecasting
• Working closely and collaboratively with the portfolio management unit and the wider change community to ensure communications in respect of forecasts, budgets and monthly results are aligned and the financial impacts understood
• Communicating clear, timely messages about results against quarterly forecasts and annual budgets, at a Project and Total Change Portfolio level
• Working closely and collaboratively with the Financial Planning & Analysis team to deliver efficient and effective planning, budgeting, forecasting and monthly reporting processes

Month and year-end reporting:

• Managing the team to provide accurate, efficient, and high quality financial transactional reporting and analysis, to Project Teams and other Finance teams in both monthly reporting cycles, and in annual budgeting, planning, and forecasting activities
• Managing the team in the efficient, effective, and technical handling of accounting transactions for the business
• Communicating clear, timely messages re month end results at a Project/Change Portfolio level
• Participating in monthly review meetings with the Project Teams to agree key messages and ensure these are forward looking where appropriate
• Providing high quality project accounting support across the the firm
• Ensuring compliance with appropriate accounting standards and policies in support of a clean audit report and minimal audit adjustments
• Providing high quality year-end accounting support to the Financial Control team, supporting the delivery of the interim and year-end audit, Annual Report and Accounts, Business Plan and Fees Consultation Papers/ fees modelling as required

Systems and processes:

• Working closely with the Divisions Accounting Systems Teams to define and deliver system requirements and improvements
• Identifying opportunities for improving the efficiency of systems and processes, supporting the team in doing so and in implementing them
• Ensuring the teams records management processes are clear, understood and any issues arising are resolved in a timely and appropriate manner

People management:

• Managing the team, their performance, motivating and coaching them, providing timely and honest feedback as appropriate
• Setting and ensuring delivery against stretching objectives
• Ensuring appropriate strength and depth in the team, succession planning is in place and career development opportunities are pursued as appropriate

Other:

• Ensuring team undertake finance assurance and provide adequate and insightful finance comments for submissions to the Executive
• Providing support to the Head of Department as required in delivering an effective Finance function
• Ensuring strong collaboration and knowledge sharing within and across the Finance teams to encourage strong working relationships and high-quality deliverables

ProfileProject Accountant - large change programmes and projectsWere a signatory to the Governments Disability Confident scheme. This means that we will offer an interview to disabled candidates entering under the scheme, should they meet the minimum criteria for a role. A minimum criterion needs to be measurable fromreviewing a candidates CV. Exceptions may apply if due to the volume of applications we are not able to interview all eligible candidates who qualify under the scheme.MINIMUM:

• A technically strong, qualified accountant (ICAEW/CIMA/ACCA) with experience of budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, management accounting & monthly reporting for Projects and Change delivery
• Computer literacy and well-developed skills in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• A collaborative, inclusive and enthusiastic leadership style
• Experience of managing, communicating with and influencing senior stakeholders

ESSENTIAL:

• Strong experience of delivering accurate, timely and insightful management accounts, budgets, and forecasts as well as quality financial analysis and reporting
• A strong coaching mentality, managing people capability and continuous learning approach to support the development of the team, providing timely and constructive feedback as appropriate
• A strong and credible communicator who uses a range of influencing styles at a senior level to manage and deliver effectively and to create and sustain effective relationships
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills with the desire and ability to build strong and lasting working relationships with key stakeholders across the firm and beyond
• Excellent presentation skills (written and oral)
• A pro-active self-starter with the drive, enthusiasm, and commercial acumen
• Driven to identify the financial and value-adding opportunities the business would benefit from the most
• A strategic thinker, able to consider the big picture and how this impacts the firms management accounting, reporting, & financial planning approach & focus
• Excellent business awareness skills, curiosity, and creativity
• Familiarity with or ability to grasp quickly, the business drivers and objectives of the firm, its primary processes and their financial impacts
• A strong continuous improvement mentality, with an ability to identify inefficiencies in systems/processes, identify and recommend options for improvement and deliver them
• Ability to deliver in an uncertain environment, including with and through others

DESIRABLE:

An interest in keeping up to date with modern reporting, financial planning, and continuous improvement approachesEx