Project Accountant

Manchester Arndale; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

OCS UK & Ireland is seeking an interim Project Accountant for a fixed-term 6-month contract in the United Kingdom. The role focuses on managing project receivables, chasing overdue debt, and supporting reporting for the security and operational teams.

You will monitor accounts, negotiate payment arrangements, and provide analysis to help reduce aged debt and improve cash collection while ensuring adherence to contractual payment terms.

Qualifications

• Recognised accountancy qualification – ACCA/CIMA/ACA.
• Experience within credit management.
• Advanced Excel skills and ERP systems experience.

Responsibilities

• Monitor outstanding customer accounts and project receivables
• Proactively chase overdue debt on more complex accounts
• Act as a point of escalation for the senior security CC
• Negotiate payment arrangements with customers where appropriate
• Escalate persistent overdue accounts in accordance with company procedures
• Prepare accounts for legal recovery where necessary
• Investigate issues within invoicing to cash collection and report root causes to the CC Manager/AR Manager/Ops Directors
• Work with the Financial Controller - Projects to resolve commercial issues delaying payment
• Assist training of new security CCs to upskill
• Forecast expected cash receipts
• Build positive working relationships with customers
• Ensure compliance with company credit policies

Skills

ACCA/CIMA/ACA

Credit management

Advanced Excel

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

About The Company

Fixed term Contract - 6 months

Job Purpose

The role of interim Project Accountant is responsible for the project management of ensuring that overdue debt in the 'Tail' i.e. everything outside of the top 20 debtors is chased and recovered efficiently. Overseeing, but not managing the senior security CC and two security CC's, the role ensures timely collection of outstanding debts, maintaining positive client relationships and supporting the security CFD and operational teams with reporting debts across security/cleaning and Private FM.

The role focuses on reducing aged debt, improving cash collection performance and ensuring compliance with contractual payment terms.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor outstanding customer accounts and project receivables
• Proactively chase overdue debt on more complex accounts
• Act as a point of escalation for the senior security CC
• Negotiate payment arrangements with customers where appropriate
• Escalate persistent overdue accounts in accordance with company procedures
• Prepare accounts for legal recovery where necessary
• Investigate issues (where appropriate) within the process flow of invoicing through to cash collection and report on root causes to the CC Manager / AR Manager / Ops Directors as appropriate
• Work Closely with the Financial Controller - Projects to resolve commercial issues delaying payment
• Assist with the training of the new security CC's to ensure that they are upskilled
• Forecast expected cash receipts
• Build positive working relationships with customers
• Ensure compliance with company credit policies

KPI's

• Aged debt over 30/60/90 days
• Cash collected against monthly targets

Skills and Experience

• Recognised accountancy qualification - ACCA/CIMA/ACA
• Experience within credit management
• Advanced Excel knowledge
• ERP systems experience

About The Role

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

Why Work for OCS?

Award-Winning Employer: Ranked 36th on Glassdoor’s Best Companies to Work For 2025 — we value and motivate our people.

Digital Learning: The OCS Academy offers digital courses and resources to help you build skills and grow your career.

Retail Perks With our Hapi app, you can gain access to exclusive discounts, rewards and wellbeing resources.

Professional Growth: 600+ live learners across UK&I — Empowering colleagues with further development and qualifications!

Flexible Pay: Access a portion of earned wages before payday with our Wagestream App! (Contract Specific)

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.