Due to the increasing global portfolio of projects, a Major Projects Accounting Manager is sought to align with and support future business growth aspirations by partnering on complex multi-disciplinary and cross border projects.
With significant experience in project accounting on large and complex projects, including working collaboratively across a number of global teams, together with a track record of stakeholder management and excellent communication in a global professional services organisation, this role is key to monitoring and reporting financial performance of the largest projects across the practice.
This role exists to centralise delivery of end to end project support, including project accounting and reporting, ensuring that commercially astute assessments and decisions are made throughout the project life cycle on the major projects across Buro Happold.
This is a hybrid role, combining office and home working. You’ll be expected to be in the office at least 2 days per week.
What is the purpose of the role?
As part of the Senior Finance Team, this global commercial finance role will lead the financial oversight and be part of project teams for major projects in the organisation, contributing to all aspects of the project, including strategic development, operational performance and organisational efficiency.
You will ultimately lead a small and newly created team in the provision of strong financial reporting and strategic guidance in the financial management of several global projects. You will work closely with the operational Project Managers to provide value-add support, ensuring adherence to the internal controls, and presenting reports and performance to senior management.
The position requires extensive Project Accounting experience along with broad financial and systems knowledge. The role will be responsible for governance, early warning reporting including a risk and opportunities register and project EAC updates.
What will success look like?
- Demonstrate a commercial attitude with the ability to assess risk and propose outcomes as a result
- Create and communicate Project Reporting packs for each major project to Senior Finance
- Strong project governance including the attendance of and contributions to governance meetings.
- No “surprises” – monthly cost forecasting and variance analysis with commentary along with early warning reports.
- Business partnership and strong collaboration between multi-discipline and regional teams.
A detailed overview of your responsibilities is as follows..
- Identifying, analysing and reporting on project performance, risk, cost and cash management data to a monthly reporting cycle.
- Contribute to all aspects of the project, including strategic development, operational performance and organisational efficiency.
- Act as a financial partner to the relevant leadership teams to ensure all financial issues are robustly and effectively managed and reported.
- Work with and advise internal stakeholders to ensure coherent effective communication of project performance analysis (single version of truth) and forward-looking tasking and activities.
- Support the project managers in the preparation of regular Estimates at Completion and maintain data quality and accuracy of all project data.
- Support the Project review process and detailed review of the loss provisions/WIP provisions and revenue adjustments for all the major projects.
- Attendance of and contribution to Project Board and other governance meetings; providing constructive challenge and input into project/contract review meetings.
- Analysing trend variances in the financial results. Interpret and communicate results and work with the FP&A team to prepare data to inform the Director of Financial Operations and FP&A and the CFO.
- Work closely with the Commercial teams to understand and influence project performance and manage risks.
- Develop risk and opportunities reporting for each major project covering all aspects of the project.
- Support the review of terms and conditions in proposals/contracts to ensure that the company’s interest is maintained including project profitability and billing and collection profiles.
- Attendance and participation in JV board meetings where appropriate.
Qualifications
- Qualified CIMA/ACCA/ACA
Experience
- Extensive experience and knowledge of project accounting and experience with guiding and supporting strategic and tactical decision making.
- Ability to actively engage stakeholders and staff to ensure processes are executed consistently.
- Applied strategic thinking and complex problem solving.
- Strong team player, yet comfortable to work autonomously.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deal with finance and non-finance stakeholders.
- Experience in communicating and influencing senior stakeholders.
- Highly organised with the proven ability to prioritise and work to tight deadlines.
- Confident, proactive character, with the ability to take the lead in challenging situations; able to work unsupervised and use own initiative.
- Positive and collaborative approach to support and grow the global Buro Happold business.
- Resilient with excellent communication skills and demonstrable attention to detail.
Desirable skills:
- Experience of professional services or the construction industry would be an advantage.
- Experience of Agresso accounting system would be useful but not essential.
- Experience of Deltek Vision would be an advantage but not essential.
Style and Behaviours
- Creative thinker and problem solver - able to think strategically and also get into the detail.
- A good communicator and influencer
- Is seen as a role model; strives to behave in a positive and inspiring manner at all times.
- Develops and maintains internal and external networks and relationships. Is able to call upon a wide range of contacts; puts colleagues in touch with internal and external contacts.
- Is able to secure other Buro Happold expertise/resources at the right time and can lead cross group meetings and events.
- Develops an open relationship with the team to ensure they have support and direction needed to deliver goals.
- Does not sit on problems, proactively seeks solutions. Through knowledge of their specialism minimises challenging circumstances for the team or motivates them to a solution in unforeseen circumstances.
- Finds way of solving problems amicably by demonstrating a flexible and lateral approach to business and project situations avoiding confrontation and litigation.
- Takes time to consider how their specialism can impact positively on the business.
Join us to find out what you’re really capable of.
Described by our clients as 'passionate', 'innovative', 'collaborative': Buro Happold is an independent, international engineering practice that for over 40 years has become synonymous with the delivery of creative, value led building and city solutions for an ever changing world. Having worked on every continent, our clients include more than 90% of the world's leading architectural practices and we have collaborated with global organisations such as the United Nations, The World Bank and UNESCO. Through our global community of driven, world leading engineering and consulting professionals we deliver elegant solutions for buildings and cities that seek to address the major problems facing societies today. Follow us @burohappold and find out more at www.burohappold.com.
Buro Happold value flexible working as an important part of the way we work. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.#
A place for everyone
Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.
Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.
We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.
Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can work with you to support you throughout your application. #LI-JA1 #Hybrid