Project Accountant

James Fisher and Sons plc; Renfrew; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Project Accountant role is based in Inchinnan, Glasgow, with responsibility for accurate and timely reporting of long-term projects and services, ensuring financial performance is tracked from both project performance and accounting perspectives in line with IFRS15 and related standards.

In this permanent position, you will work closely with Project Managers and cross-functional teams to identify cost variances, drive cost improvements, and support bids and delivery across the project

Qualifications

• ICAS/ACCA/CIMA qualification required.
• Proven track record in project management accounting or cost controller role.
• Experience with ERP systems and multi-currency projects.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed project baseline cost and revenue budgets with EAC reforecasts.
• Perform Value of Work Done (VOWD) assessments and manage variances.
• Maintain forecasting and cost tracker models and highlight improvements.
• Provide monthly revenue and profit margin information including intercompany data.
• Document accounting papers for project accounting treatments.
• Conduct cost variance and sensitivity analyses with mitigations.
• Ensure proper cost allocation and GL reconciliation.
• Support lessons learned and share insights with bids, operations, procurement and project teams.
• Manage multi-currency project reporting and FX exposure.
• Manage intercompany recharges and project-related billing.

Skills

Excel

Financial analysis

Education

ICAS/ACCA/CIMA qualification

Tools

Glovia ERP

SAP ERP

Oracle ERP

Job description

The Role

The Project Accountant will ensure there is accurate and timely reporting of long‑term projects and services - actual and forecast financial performance, both from a project performance and Financial Accounting perspective in accordance with IFRS15 and other applicable accounting standards. This includes robust challenge of costs to drive continuous cost improvement throughout the project life cycle.

About The Role

Project Accountant

Permanent position

Inchinnan, Glasgow

The Project Accountant will ensure there is accurate and timely reporting of long‑term projects and services - actual and forecast financial performance, both from a project performance and Financial Accounting perspective in accordance with IFRS15 and other applicable accounting standards. This includes robust challenge of costs to drive continuous cost improvement throughout the project life cycle.

They will implement Cost Management best practices and apply this consistently across all projects to proactively identify cost variances and risk areas and mitigations to project managers, to assist delivery of project & customer requirements in a cost‑effective manner.

To work closely with Project Managers to ensure they understand the financial performance of their respective projects and assist in communicating this to the wider business as required.

Long term project or services vary in length and value typically ranging from 1 year to 5 years and from £1m to £30m.

This role is expected to build strong relationships across the business with bids, operations, supply chain/procurement, project management, planning, project controls and commercial teams.

You will need a flexible approach to working as the role will be based in Inchinnan, Glasgow, with the expectation to travel as required to support the bids and project teams as required.

Key Duties And Responsibilities

• Preparation of detailed project baseline cost and revenue budget and regular EAC reforecasts in collaboration with the Project team and present the information to stakeholders as required.
• Perform Value of Work Done (VOWD) assessments through project life, compare to planned progress, identify and mitigate slippage and escape issues to management.
• Responsible for the preparation and population of project specific forecasting and cost tracker model; highlighting performance improvements.
• Providing project monthly revenue and profit margin information including intercompany information for actuals, forecasts and annual budget process in accordance with IFRS15 accounting standard.
• Prepare and document Accounting based papers to support the accounting treatment for the project covering appropriate accounting standards and to update as required.
• Conduct cost variance analysis and sensitivity analysis and identify opportunities, risks and mitigations where available to the Project Manager.
• Ensure costs are correctly allocated to cost accounts/work orders, review correct coding of requisitions, purchase orders, contracts, invoices, variations, reconciling costs to the General Ledger and investigating variances.
• Facilitate and participate in lessons learnt sessions on project delivery and feedback to the responsible functions to ensure these are captured and acted upon to improve future project delivery.
• Manage multi‑currency project reporting and FX exposure.
• Manage intercompany recharges, cost allocations, and project‑related billing.

What We’re Looking For

You will have a strong focus on uplifting the quality and standard of output of the finance team along with driving deeper financial insight with active business partnering.

Focused on delivering results, you will be objective orientated with a detailed mindset.

An effective problem solver with excellent people management skills.

Collaborating effectively with team members, senior management teams, executives and third parties such as Auditors.

Give clarity in conveying complex financial information in a clear and understandable manner.

You will have excellent analytical review skills and the ability to prioritise tasks and manage time.

Key Skills, Knowledge And Experience

• ICAS/ACCA/CIMA qualification.
• Proven track record in a similar role (e.g. Project Management Accountant, Cost controller etc.) and industry (e.g. Oil & Gas, engineering or manufacturing).
• Proficient user of Microsoft Excel.
• Experience of ERP systems (e.g. Glovia, SAP, Oracle etc.).
• Experience working with multi‑currency projects.
• Understanding of intercompany accounting and multi‑entity structures.

Why join us?

• Competitive benefits tailored to the division.
• Opportunities for career growth and visibility across the organisation.
• A supportive, inclusive culture that values your ideas and contributions.
• Work that truly makes a difference in safety, innovation, and global capability.

About Us

James Fisher is a global engineering services company with over 50 years of experience delivering complex offshore energy projects in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

We operate across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport, leveraging cutting‑edge technology and deep expertise to support the full lifecycle of our customers’ assets.

JFD is the world leading underwater capability provider, serving the commercial and defence markets with innovative diving, submarine and hyperbaric rescue, technical solutions and services.

Operating worldwide, the company is the world’s leading provider of submarine rescue capability and an established provider of submarine escape training. The company is at the forefront of Hyperbaric Rescue, along with being the leading supplier of commercial and defence diving equipment and saturation diving systems to the commercial industry.

www.jfdglobal.com

Visit our website at: www.james-fisher.com

James Fisher and Sons are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications for candidates from all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success depends on our talented and diverse workforce.