Project Accountant

Lorien; Cherwell District; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Airbus Helicopters UK (AHUK) is seeking a finance professional to validate the financial integrity of offers, develop project plans and forecast budgets for defence programmes. You will manage cost allocations, support month-end close, and lead SSRO audits from a finance perspective, ensuring accurate reporting and compliance with MoD procedures.

The role requires CIMA qualification, experience in financial controlling or project reporting, and knowledge of SAP.

Qualifications

• Professional accountancy qualification or part qualification - CIMA.
• Experience within a financial controlling and/or project reporting department.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with Senior Management to validate financial integrity of offers.
• Develop work breakdown structures for contract proposals.
• Forecast operating plans and budget updates; report deviations.
• Ensure accurate finance data; allocate costs; update hours in the programme.
• Lead SSRO Audit from a finance viewpoint.
• Prepare annual SSRO Supplier reports.

Skills

Accountancy

Communication

Reporting

MS Excel

Task coordination

Planning

Risk management

Education

CIMA

Financial controlling

Tools

SAP

Job description

Airbus Helicopters is the world's largest helicopter manufacturer and the company's site at Oxford Airport is Britain's civil helicopter hub.

AHUK offers considerable experience in helicopter sales, bespoke completions, maintenance and spares support. Its in-house engineering capabilities include design, customisation, installation, flight-testing and certification, as well as technical support, maintenance, training and the supply of spares for civil and military applications.

AHUK is the MoD's chosen provider of helicopters and maintenance for its Defence Helicopter Flying school (referred to as MFTS) located in RAF Shawbury (Shropshire) and RAF Valley (Anglesey).

The main responsibilities of the post holder will be:

• Offers: Liaise with the Senior Management Team to validate the financial integrity of offers before sending to customer.
• Develop work breakdown structures to generate project plans, work packages and schedules for future contract proposals.
• Forecast: Assist in the preparation of operating plans and forecast updates to the annual budget. Also reporting deviations to budget.
• Ensure all finance data is accurate ensuring costs are allocated correctly and hours bookings are up to date across the programme.
• Risk management
• Contracts reviews: Prepare Group contract reviews and monthly "Estimate at Completion" (EACs) updates. Ensure labour and sub-contractor costs are correctly booked.
• Support month end closing for financial reporting, ensuring correct accounting treatments on the programme.
• Lead the SSRO Audit from a finance viewpoint
• Complete annual SSRO Supplier report submissions
• Support with statutory audit answering any programme related queries.
• Assist with other finance month end tasks eg Support on Spares/Training activities.
• Focal point for programme related queries
• Actively support the programme with ad hoc financial requests
• Add finance expertise across the programme challenging delivery team where necessary.
• Internal control: monitor adherence to company policies and procedures (such as risk management) and the relevant accounting standards.
• Information system: maintain the defence related financial data in SAP, amend the reports, and address change requests to the IT department if required.

Knowledge and Skills

ESSENTIAL

• Good working knowledge of accountancy principles
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Good report and procedure writing skills
• Use of MS office and Excel in particular
• Ability to coordinate a number of tasks simultaneously, and to prioritise and work to tight deadlines
• Solid understanding of work package management and work package control
• Knowledge of risk management principles
• A structured /methodical approach to all planning/tracking tasks

DESIRABLE

• Knowledge of Single Source Regulatory framework
• Knowledge of Single Source Contract Regulations
• Knowledge of MoD Commercial and Accountancy procedures

Education, Qualifications or special training:

ESSENTIAL

• Professional accountancy qualification or part qualification - CIMA
• Experience within a financial controlling and or project reporting department

DESIRABLE

• Experience of working with SAP
• Experience of Project accounting
• Experience of MoD Commercial and Accountancy procedures

Other requirements

• Travel within UK and occasional travel within Europe
• Full driving licence preferred but not essential
• Normal working hours (37 per week), flexible working location available
• Eligible for MoD Security Clearance

Guidant, Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Impellam Group Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.