Senior Project Accountant

Location - Milton Keynes (minimum of two days a week in the office. You can do more than two days if preferable)

Reporting to - Group Commercial Accountant

Band - 3.2

Salary - £57,000 to £61,000 (depending on location and proven ability)

Working hours - Full time (9 day fortnight)

Contract type/duration - Fixed term contract until May 2026 (maternity cover)

Closing date - 23rd February 2025

Who Are We?

Connected Places Catapult is the UK's innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and places. We provide impartial 'innovation as a service' for public bodies, businesses, and infrastructure providers to catalyse step-change improvements in the way people live, work, and travel.

Purpose of the role

We are looking to appoint a Qualified Accountant as a Senior Project Accountant on a fixed term contract basis until 31 May 2026. Reporting to our Commercial Accountant, you will work as part of a small finance team and be responsible for working with Project Management and Delivery teams on financial analysis and commentary on project finances, and liaising with other departments within the business as necessary.

This is a pivotal role which would suit someone with energy, excellent communication skills, good technical experience, and strong financial acumen who is looking to be part of a high performing team in an exciting and dynamic organisation.

1. Reporting and analysis of project finances.
2. Acting as the financial expert for a number of Project Management and Delivery colleagues to provide a value-add service.
3. Provide constructive challenge and advice to ensure forecasts are reliable and accurate.
4. Driving commercial and collaborative revenue stream cost management initiatives.
5. Maintenance and management of our Excel based project finance workbook.
6. Provide support and assistance with customer invoicing and project grant claim submissions.
7. Month end project and intercompany journals, as required.
8. Assistance with the annual R&D Tax Credit claim.
9. Support the Commercial Accountant to provide day to day project finance support.
10. To deputise for the Commercial Accountant as required.
11. Ensure an ethos of equity, inclusivity, and diversity underpin your work activity, contribute to inclusive innovation across all Catapult activities.
12. You may be required to undertake any other reasonable duties to support the Catapult in achieving its strategic outcomes and ensure effective business operations.

1. Qualified ACCA / CIMA / ACA.
2. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
3. Strong Excel skills.
4. Experience working in either a project or timesheet-based organisation.
5. Experience with financial grant management.
6. Project accounting experience.
7. Experience of Microsoft Dynamics or extensive alternative ERP systems.
8. Ability to learn new systems quickly.
9. The ability to deliver to tight timescales and deadlines consistently.
10. Excellent day to day planning and organisational skills.
11. Dynamism, aptitude for problem solving and teamwork, practicality, reliability, flexibility, and results oriented.
12. The ability to engage and influence colleagues to achieve common goals and objectives.

Employment here is based solely upon individual merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. We strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, religion, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by law. We also make all reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under laws protecting the rights of the disabled.