Project Accountant NEW

Blackburn, Lancashire
Robert Walters

A leading technology group is seeking a Project Accountant to join their Finance team in Blackburn, offering a competitive salary of £40,000pa-£45,000pa. This role presents an exciting opportunity for you to shape the future of project revenue reporting within a £93m organisation undergoing a finance transformation. You will be at the heart of non-recurring project accounting, owning end-to-end processes and providing actionable insight into variances, trends, and performance.

As a Project Accountant based in Blackburn, you will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of non-recurring project accounting within the Finance department. Your day-to-day activities will involve managing complex financial data related to live projects-ensuring costs are correctly coded in ERP systems-and maintaining audit-quality reconciliations. You will proactively liaise with billing and credit control teams to ensure invoicing accurately reflects contractual milestones. By partnering with project managers across departments, you will gain deep insights into performance metrics while identifying risks early. Your role will also include supporting FP&A with forecasting inputs and ad-hoc financial projects. Success in this position requires meticulous attention to detail when reconciling third-party costs; maintaining accurate records; contributing to internal/external audits; and fostering a culture of continuous improvement through process enhancements. Your ability to translate detailed financial information into clear executive-level commentary will be crucial for driving informed decision-making throughout the business.

Key duties include:

• ake full ownership of end-to-end project profit and loss statements, work-in-progress schedules, and IFRS 15 revenue recognition for non-recurring contracts, ensuring all reporting is accurate and timely.
• Manage deferred and accrued revenue balance sheet accounts associated with projects, guaranteeing they are fully reconciled and supported with clear evidence.
• Provide comprehensive reporting on project profitability, trends, variances, and risks to Finance and operational stakeholders in a manner that is both timely and insightful.
• Champion the development and continuous improvement of project accounting processes, controls, and reporting as the function evolves within the organisation.
• Control project revenue, cost schedules, and work-in-progress by applying IFRS 15 percentage-of-completion principles to ensure compliance and transparency.
• Investigate aged or unsupported balances arising from milestone billing in deferred/accrued revenue positions, resolving discrepancies efficiently.
• Ensure all project balance sheet reconciliations are complete, accurate, audit-ready, and supported by clear documentation at every month end.
• Lead monthly project profit and loss portfolio reporting by providing detailed executive-level commentary on key revenue drivers, margin trends, and variance analysis.
• Partner with project managers to understand live project performance, cost-to-complete metrics, and identify potential margin or delivery risks early on.
• Post project-related journals, accruals, and prepayments in Access Dimensions (or similar ERP systems), ensuring underlying accounting is precise and complete.

To excel as a Project Accountant in this organisation’s Finance team based in Blackburn, you will bring proven experience from similar roles where you have managed complex contract accounting tasks under IFRS 15 guidelines. Your background should include handling work-in-progress schedules; milestone billing; deferred/accrued balance sheet reconciliations; posting journals; accruals; prepayments; as well as reconciling third-party/subcontractor costs. You possess advanced Excel capabilities alongside practical knowledge of ERP systems like Access Dimensions. Your analytical approach enables you to distil intricate financial data into actionable insights for senior stakeholders while your interpersonal skills foster effective collaboration across department

Ideally you will have experience in the following:

• art-qualified or qualified ACCA/CIMA (or equivalent) is essential for this role as it demonstrates your technical proficiency in accounting standards.
• At least three years’ experience in project accounting within technology, telecoms, professional services or industries supporting hardware/software/installation/build contracts is required.
• Proven track record applying IFRS 15 revenue recognition principles specifically to project-based contracts ensures you can handle complex financial scenarios.
• Practical experience managing work-in-progress schedules, milestone billing processes as well as deferred/accrued balance sheet reconciliations is vital.
• Advanced Excel skills combined with hands-on experience using ERP/project accounting systems such as Access Dimensions or comparable platforms are highly desirable.
• Strong analytical abilities allow you to translate detailed project data into clear executive-level insight and commentary for stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal skills enable you to partner constructively with non-finance colleagues on cost management, margin analysis and delivery performance discussions.
• A high level of attention to detail coupled with a strong financial control mindset ensures audit-quality reconciliations at every month end.

This organisation stands out for its commitment to professional development through ongoing training opportunities tailored to enhance your skills as a Project Accountant. Flexible working arrangements support your work-life balance while generous pension contributions provide long-term security. The company fosters an inclusive culture where collaboration between Finance and operational teams is encouraged-ensuring everyone feels valued regardless of their background or experience level.

If you are ready to take ownership of impactful projects within a supportive finance team-apply now!

Apply today by clicking on the link provided.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates