Assistant Project Accountant

ARCA; Gloucester; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangement

Pension contribution

25 days annual leave

Job summary

ARCA, partnered with a growing engineering and infrastructure organisation, is recruiting an Assistant Project Accountant. This is an excellent opportunity for a finance graduate or early-career accountant to support project accounting, reporting, forecasting and commercial management across UK programmes.

You will work with experienced professionals to develop robust financial controls and revenue recognition, with clear progression towards professional qualifications.

Qualifications

• Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Up to two years' experience within a finance, accounting or commercial role.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Office applications.
• Experience using accounting software such as Xero, Sage or similar.

Responsibilities

• Support the financial management of multiple projects and ensure robust financial controls.
• Assist with client invoicing, payment applications, and supplier invoices.
• Monitor project costs against budgets and assist with forecasting and budgeting.
• Support month-end and year-end processes and financial reporting.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Numerical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Excel & Office

Education

Degree in Accounting/Finance/Business or related

AAT or studying towards ACCA/CIMA/ACA

Tools

Xero

Sage

Job description

ARCA is delighted to be partnering with a growing engineering and infrastructure organisation to recruit an Assistant Project Accountant.

This is an excellent opportunity for a finance graduate or someone in the early stages of their accounting career to join a fast-growing business delivering complex engineering and infrastructure projects across the UK.

Working closely with experienced commercial and finance professionals, you'll gain exposure to project accounting, financial reporting, forecasting and commercial management, whilst supporting the successful delivery of major programmes within a highly regulated sector.

The Opportunity

The Assistant Project Accountant will support the financial management of multiple projects, helping to ensure robust financial controls, accurate reporting and commercial performance.

This role provides a fantastic platform for someone looking to develop a career within project accounting, commercial finance or management accounting, with clear progression opportunities and support towards professional qualifications.

Key Responsibilities

Project Accounting & Commercial Support

• Support the preparation and issue of client invoices.
• Assist with payment applications and supporting documentation.
• Raise purchase orders and process supplier invoices.
• Monitor project costs against budgets.
• Assist with forecasting, budgeting and project profitability reporting.
• Support timesheet validation and project cost allocation.
• Help ensure accurate revenue recognition across project portfolios.
• Support monthly financial reporting activities.
• Assist with budget monitoring and cash flow forecasting.
• Prepare financial analysis for operational and commercial teams.
• Support month-end and year-end processes.
• Assist with audit preparation and financial record management.

Management Information & Analysis

• Support the production of management reports and performance dashboards.
• Assist with project performance analysis and KPI reporting.
• Gather information from project and operational stakeholders.
• Contribute to project profitability, revenue and cash flow reporting.
• Help improve reporting processes and data accuracy.

Business & Team Support

• Work closely with Project Managers and commercial stakeholders.
• Support finance process improvements across the business.
• Respond to supplier and client finance queries where required.
• Provide general commercial and financial administration support.

About You

We're keen to hear from candidates who are ambitious, detail-oriented and eager to develop within a project-focused finance environment.

• Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Up to two years' experience within a finance, accounting or commercial role.
• Good understanding of accounting principles.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Office applications.
• Experience using accounting software such as Xero, Sage or similar.
• Experience within engineering, construction, utilities, manufacturing or infrastructure sectors.
• AAT qualified or studying towards AAT, ACCA, CIMA or ACA.
• Exposure to project accounting or project-based environments.

What's on Offer

• Hybrid working arrangement.
• Pension contribution.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Professional development and qualification support.
• Clear progression opportunities within a growing organisation.
• Exposure to major engineering and infrastructure projects.