Project Cost Accountant - Project Controls - Energy Projects

Turner & Townsend; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Project Cost Accountant to support cost management and project controls. You will process invoices, manage cost data and contribute to financial reporting for large engineering or infrastructure projects.

The role emphasizes accuracy, compliance with contracts, and collaboration with project teams across controls, planning, commercial and procurement to ensure timely payments and reliable cost reporting.

Qualifications

• Experience with invoice processing, accounts payable, cost administration or financial controls.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other MS Office applications.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced project environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Willingness to learn project controls processes including cost control, forecasting and reporting.
• Experience in engineering/construction/infrastructure/energy/project environments is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Process, validate and reconcile supplier invoices to ensure accuracy and compliance with contracts.
• Support cost control systems to track budgets, commitments, actual costs and forecasts.
• Assist with CBS and WBS alignment for cost reporting.
• Support setup and management of POs, WOs and requisitions for accurate cost capture.
• Monitor invoice status and resolve discrepancies with suppliers and internal teams.
• Contribute to accruals and ensure costs are reflected in project reporting cycles.
• Support month-end reporting and forecast updates with cost data.
• Assist in cost reporting and expenditure analysis for project teams.
• Support NEC/FIDIC compliance where applicable.
• Collaborate with project controls, planning, commercial, finance and procurement teams.

Skills

Invoice processing

Accounts payable

Cost administration

Financial controls

Numerical skills

Analytical thinking

Excel

Stakeholder management

Communication

Tools

Excel

Job description

Job Description

As a Project Cost Accountant you will support the delivery of cost management and project controls services, focusing on invoice processing, cost administration, and financial reporting. Working closely with project teams, commercial teams and the supply chain, you will ensure project costs are accurately recorded, validated and reported.

• Supporting the implementation and maintenance of cost control systems and processes to track project budgets, commitments, actual costs and forecasts.
• Processing, validating and reconciling supplier invoices to ensure accuracy and compliance with project and contractual requirements.
• Assisting with the creation and maintenance of Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS) aligned to project Work Breakdown Structures (WBS).
• Supporting the set-up and management of Purchase Orders (POs), Work Orders (WOs) and requisitions to ensure accurate cost capture and reporting.
• Monitoring invoice status, resolving discrepancies with suppliers and internal stakeholders, and ensuring timely payment processing.
• Assisting in the production of accruals and helping ensure actual costs are accurately reflected within project reporting cycles.
• Maintaining cost records, supporting month-end reporting activities and contributing to forecast updates.
• Supporting the change control process by providing cost and invoice-related information where required.
• Validating supplier and subcontractor cost data to improve the accuracy of project cost reporting and forecasting.
• Assisting in the preparation of cost reports, expenditure analysis and financial summaries for project teams and management.
• Supporting compliance with contractual requirements, including NEC and FIDIC principles where applicable.
• Working collaboratively with project controls, planning, commercial, finance and procurement teams to ensure cost information is accurate and up to date.
• Identifying and escalating cost, invoice or payment issues that may impact project performance.
• Developing knowledge of cost engineering principles, project controls processes and industry best practices.

Qualifications

You have an interest in developing a career in Cost Engineering, Project Controls or Project Finance, with experience or exposure to invoice processing, financial administration, cost control or project support activities.

You are highly organised, detail-oriented and comfortable working with financial data in a project environment. You possess strong communication skills and can build effective working relationships with internal teams and external suppliers.

• Be able to obtain BPSS level security clearance.
• Have experience or knowledge of invoice processing, accounts payable, cost administration or financial controls.
• Possess strong numerical and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Be proficient in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Have the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines within a fast-paced project environment.
• Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Have strong stakeholder management and interpersonal skills.
• Be willing to learn project controls processes, including cost control, forecasting, change management and reporting.
• Understand the importance of data accuracy and financial governance.
• Have experience working within engineering, construction, infrastructure, energy or project-based environments (desirable).
• Be working towards or interested in membership of a relevant professional body such as the Association for Project Management (APM) or Association of Cost Engineers (ACostE) (desirable).
• Have a desire to develop a career within the nuclear, infrastructure or energy sectors.

Additional Information

SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.