About the job

About the role

Function of Dept

The Finance function’s role is to provide a complete accounting and financial management service to enable the Board and Management to meet statutory requirements and exercise effective financial control over the Crown Agents businesses

Project Finance

• Prepare high quality and timely monthly financial reports to clients
• Supporting Project Managers in day to day project finance management
• Facilitate the preparation of monthly invoices to be sent to clients along with the financial and spend reports
• Understanding and interpreting the month’s performance with insightful commentary on variances of programme spend
• Monitor programme budgets and ensure funds are allocated to agreed budget lines
• In coordination with Programme Managers prepare robust and timely financial forecasting
• Work with the programme’s Procurement and in country finance teams to prepare forecasting and support the end to end finance processes
• Review and analyse changes to programme budget in line with corporate and client requirements, proactively identify risks and propose mitigations
• Perform an advisory role to PM, PD and Procurement team on budgets and FX
• Join internal and client meetings to lead on programme finance discussion
• Develop systems and processes to ensure efficient and effective management of project finances and reporting, including monitoring spend against implementation plans/projections
• Ensure all project related documentations, including audit trail are appropriately stored
• Lead on project audits both internally and externally
• Provide oversight and support to the Regional Finance Managers to ensure that forecasts are accurate and realistic, adjusting for risk if needed so that variance against monthly forecasts are minimal
• Manage Project Accountants and Junior Project Accountants in the exercise of their responsibilities

Skills and Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant or equivalent working experience
• Experience of working effectively where strong organizational skills are required
• Demonstrate a robust and commercial mindset
• Strong understanding of technical accounting as it relates to projects
• Work effectively with people across all levels
• Able to spot errors and/or anomalies and highlight and quantify risks and opportunities
• Knowledge of process from data inputs and system interfaces through to preparation of management accounts (P&L and supplementary analysis, balance sheet and cash flow statements)
• Understanding of budget/forecast processes and tools. Able to support and guide users in the preparation of project budgets and forecasts
• Use all tools at disposal to provide analysis and to present it clearly to project managers
• Interprets stakeholder needs and expectations to build working relationships and deliver appropriate solutions
• Ability to communicate well in a multi-stakeholder environment, as well has having excellent written communication skills
• Full knowledge of accounting for long term projects under FRS102, revenue recognition, provisions, bad debts, milestones, cost plus, % stage of completion
• Understands the importance of identifying ways to improve processes and maintain a continuous improvement mind-set
• Confident in the use of accounting systems and willingness to work on the enhancement of existing systems and processes