Project Accountant

We have an exciting opening for a Project Accountant to work with our friendly and busy team. This role will be embedded within the project delivery team, reporting to the Financial Planning & Projects Manager. The successful candidate will be engaged in a diverse and varied range of innovative, technical and sustainability projects and can build and tailor the responsibilities of the role.

Please note that we may, at our discretion, offer study support which can be discussed and on the job training will be provided.

Project Accountant Key responsibilities will include:

• Provide financial support to project and business development teams, acting as the central point between the Finance function and project delivery within the Catapult. Key relationships will be with the internal stakeholders.

• Accurate and timely reconciliation of project accounting to financial accounting as a key internal control

• Investigate project variances and follow up with Project Managers

• Clear understanding of funding rules on projects

• Preparation of month end revenue recognition files for monthly management accounts

• Reconcile employee timesheets and system uploads on a monthly basis

• Preparing monthly financial information and analysis for projects to explain actual financial performance and incorporate latest forecasting from the PMO Team for subsequent periods to ensure an up-to-date view on quantum and timing of costs to completion for our projects.

• Monitoring progress of project activities and milestones to enable appropriate project financial accounting for revenue recognition, cost recognition and invoicing.

• Working with project managers to prepare robust financial budgets and forecasts, understanding the financial implications and outcomes of project activities. 

• Lead project receivables to ensure project revenue is claimed via the correct channels and follow up with grant funding bodies.

• Ownership of individual project audit as and when required.

• Close project accounts upon project completion.

• Ownership of statutory audit deliverables for revenue recognition and project reporting.

• Provide preparation of project accruals and prepayments.

• Assist with any transactional activities and purchase ordering for projects.

• Support the finance team with ad-hoc activities to provide resilience across the team.

• Working with finance team members to drive continuous improvement in our financial management practices and financial awareness across the business. Recommend process improvements to the invoicing cycle when identified.

Project Accountant Skills & Experience required:

• You will be qualified by experience, part qualified or studying towards ACCA/CIMA

• Is curious, with a desire to learn and share knowledge; focused on continuous improvement and wanting to develop new ways to highlight or explain information to support insight and decision-making.

• Adopts a customer-first approach, willingness to investigate any queries and support internal stakeholders.

• Is focused on attention to detail, and adopts working practices that ensures the information reported is accurate.

• Is a team-player, who works collaboratively with their colleagues and stakeholders at all levels across the organisation.

• Has confidence in communicating with various levels of authority throughout the business. 

• Ability to respond well to changes in priorities.

• Good written and verbal communication skills and strong organisational skills.

• Intermediate to advanced computer literacy, including experience in word processing, spreadsheets and accounting software.

• Is a self-learner, wanting to develop their own skills and knowledge.

Project Accountant Desirable experience:

• Project experience having managed budgets in a similar role and environment, in particular with a time and materials operation.

• The role will give an exposure to contractual terms. An understanding of their Financial implications and risks will be ideal but not required.

• Knowledge of SAP By Design.

How we work:

We strive to create a high trust environment that enables team members to bring their whole selves to work – this helps to create the foundations of an innovation culture. Our shared values are critical to this:

• We care - for our people, our partners, and our planet

• We connect - and engage with people and ideas

• We learn - and grow, as people and as an industry

Underpinning this is our belief in great teams, our combined efforts will always deliver outcomes beyond that of any individual providing we are honest through debate, experiment and reflect, and create shared resolutions in support of our purpose. Live these values, work to our principles, take ownership to deliver, and we are certain you will thrive with us.

This job description set outs the skills and experience we think are needed to be able to perform in this job. However, if you believe you can deliver in this role then we want to hear from you.

Important notice for applicants: We use tools to detect plagiarism and the use of AI or chatbots for applicant answers. If plagiarism, AI use (such as ChatGPT) or similar software are found to have been used in your application you will not be considered for this or future roles within the Satellite Applications Catapult. If you need any additional support during the application process, please do reach out and connect. We also invite you to share feedback via Applied.

At Satellite Applications Catapult, we're committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome candidates from all corners of the globe, but due to legal and logistical considerations, we want to be transparent about the potential visa-related challenges that could arise. Our ability to offer sponsorship will depend on the level of interest for our roles and salary level.

If you need any additional support during the application process, please do reach out and connect. We also invite you to share feedback via Applied.