Major Projects Finance Manager

As part of the Senior Finance Team, this global commercial finance role will support the financial oversight for major projects in the organisation, contributing to all aspects of the project, including strategic development, operational performance and organisational efficiency.

Working closely with Project Partners / Project Directors / Project Managers, the Major Projects Finance Manager will provide value-add support, ensuring adherence to policies and procedures and presenting reports and performance to the Strategic Projects Leadership team. 

The position requires extensive Project Accounting experience along with broad financial and systems knowledge. The role will be responsible for governance, early warning reporting, ensuring risks and opportunities are captured and EAC are up to date. 

A commercial understanding of how projects operate, and the ability to act as a business partner to project teams is key.

• 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 the Leadership team
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Identifying, analysing and reporting on project performance, risk, cost and cash management data to a monthly reporting cycle.
• Act as a financial partner to the relevant members of the project and leadership teams to ensure all financial issues are robustly and effectively managed and reported.
• Anticipate future project performance outcomes from known and potential risks and opportunities by reviewing registers and producing run-rate/trend analysis.
• Support the project teams in the preparation of regular Estimates at Completion and maintain data quality and accuracy of all project data. 
• Ensure changes to Estimates at Completion are logged to support variance analysis to the ‘as-sold’ position of the project and as part of the monthly reporting cycle. 
• Drive completion and accuracy of system invoice schedules, together with developing and maintaining cash flow forecasts for projects in the portfolio. 
• Develop relationships with clients’ finance teams to ensure efficiency of the processing of invoices and collections cycle (where appropriate). 
• Ensure consistent application with internal policies and compliance with accounting standards, including supporting project teams to ensure appropriate documentation to support judgements.
• Support the Project review process and detailed review of the loss provisions/WIP provisions.
• Attendance of and contribution to Project Board and other governance meetings; providing constructive challenge and input into project/contract review meetings.
• Drive best practice globally for Major Projects to ensure consistent project set-up and reporting

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.
• 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.  

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.

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