Project Controller

JD Ross Energy; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

JD Ross Energy is seeking a seasoned Project Controller in Melbourne to join a high-performing delivery team. The role focuses on budgeting, forecasting, accruals and cost control across multiple capital projects, partnering with Project Managers and delivery teams to deliver accurate financial reporting.

You will work with SAP and modern reporting tools (Power BI/Tableau), providing financial insights, variance analysis and governance-ready commentary to stakeholders and leadership.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Accounting or Finance; CPA/CA or Project Controls certs highly regarded.
• Experience in Project Accounting, Project Controls or Project Finance for engineering/utilities.
• Experience with SAP ERP to manage project financial data; exposure to Power BI/Tableau is a plus.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, accrual management and cost control capabilities.
• Advanced Excel skills; consolidate, reconcile and interpret large data sets.
• Ability to analyse complex financial information and advise stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate monthly project forecasting, accruals and cost management across a portfolio of capital projects.
• Monitor budgets, actual expenditure, commitments and forecasts, ensuring accuracy of project financial information.
• Investigate forecast variances and provide detailed recommendations to support project performance.
• Partner with Project Delivery teams to understand cost drivers and highlight budget pressures.
• Provide project and program-level financial reporting, analysis and commentary for governance.
• Apply project controls, governance and assurance processes to ensure compliance and reporting accuracy.
• Support audits, project reviews and lessons learned activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting processes and automate recurring reporting activities.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Accruals

Cost tracking

Variance analysis

Project reporting

Financial analysis

Advanced Excel

SAP

Power BI

Tableau

Reporting tools

Education

Accounting/Finance degree

CPA/CA or Project Controls certification

Tools

SAP

Power BI

Tableau

Excel

Job description

• Competitive pay and genuine progression opportunities.

I'm currently partnering with a leading Australian infrastructure and energy organisation.

Due to continued investment across a significant portfolio of capital projects, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Project Controller to join a high-performing project delivery team with experience in Project Accounting, Project Controls or Project Financial Management, ideally gained within utilities, infrastructure, engineering or construction environments.

You'll bring strong expertise in budgeting, forecasting, accruals, cost tracking and variance analysis, working closely with Project Managers and Delivery Teams to provide accurate financial reporting, meaningful commercial insights and effective cost control across multiple projects.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys partnering with operational stakeholders, investigating financial performance, challenging assumptions and supporting informed decision-making across a complex project portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate monthly project forecasting, accruals and cost management activities across a portfolio of capital projects.
• Monitor project budgets, actual expenditure, commitments and forecasts, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of project financial information.
• Investigate forecast and cost variances, providing detailed analysis and recommendations to support project performance.
• Partner with Project Delivery teams to understand cost drivers, identify emerging budget pressures and highlight potential underspends.
• Experience maintaining project financial data using SAP or associated system.
• Familiarity with Tableau, Power BI or similar reporting tools.
• Provide project and program-level financial reporting, analysis and commentary to support decision-making and governance requirements.
• Apply project controls, governance and assurance processes to ensure financial compliance and reporting accuracy.
• Support audits, project reviews, documentation requirements and lessons learned activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting processes, strengthen controls and automate recurring reporting activities.

About You

To be successful, you will bring:

• Tertiary qualifications in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline are preferred. Candidates holding CPA, CA or Project Controls certifications will be highly regarded.
• Previous experience within Project Accounting, Project Controls or Project Finance roles supporting engineering, construction, utilities or infrastructure-based organisations.
• Experience utilising SAP or another large ERP platform to manage and analyse project financial information. Exposure to reporting and visualisation tools such as Power BI or Tableau would be advantageous.
• Strong technical capability across budgeting, forecasting, accrual management, cost control and the analysis of financial performance against plan.
• Advanced Excel skills are essential, including the ability to consolidate, reconcile and interpret large volumes of financial and project-related data.
• A naturally inquisitive mindset with the ability to analyse complex financial information, identify underlying drivers and provide meaningful recommendations to stakeholders.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships with operational and project stakeholders, providing trusted financial guidance and influencing decision-making where required.
• Comfortable operating within a deadline-driven environment, managing multiple project priorities simultaneously while focusing attention on areas of greatest financial risk and variance.
• Experience managing month-end reporting activities across multiple projects, with the ability to identify and prioritise areas requiring detailed review based on financial risk and material variance

Why Apply?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a market-leading organisation at a time of significant investment and growth. You'll be working on projects that directly impact communities while partnering with experienced project delivery and finance professionals in a collaborative environment.