Senior Project Accountant

Morson Group; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Morson Group is working with a leading UK engineering and defence organisation to recruit a Senior Project Cost Specialist in Belfast. You will own the financial performance of high-profile international projects, partnering with Project Managers and senior stakeholders to ensure robust cost management and reporting.

The role emphasizes identifying risks, improving processes, and influencing key business decisions within an embedded project finance environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in finance/accounting roles focusing on projects or cost management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with attention to detail.
• Experience interacting with senior stakeholders and providing actionable insights.
• Proficient in Excel for complex modeling and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Manage and analyse project costs, budgets and financial performance.
• Produce monthly financial reports and management packs.
• Prepare forecasts and support budgeting processes (annual/multi-year).
• Identify financial risks and opportunities; recommend actions to mitigate issues.
• Collaborate with Project Managers and operational teams for cost control.
• Provide financial insights to support major business decisions.

Skills

5+ years of finance experience

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder communication

Excel

Education

CIMA/ACCA or equivalent

Tools

Oracle

Power BI

TM1

Job description

Senior Project Cost Specialist

Location: Belfast

Salary: Competitive

Sector: Defence / Engineering

Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

Are you an experienced Project Accountant, Project Cost Specialist or Project Finance professional looking for your next challenge?

We're working with a leading UK engineering and defence organisation that is looking for a Senior Project Cost Specialist to join its Belfast-based finance team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of the financial performance of a portfolio of high-profile international projects, working closely with Project Managers, Finance teams and senior stakeholders.

You’ll have genuine influence over how projects are financially managed, with the opportunity to identify risks, improve processes and contribute to key business decisions.

What will you be doing?

You’ll play a key role in making sure projects are financially healthy, accurately forecast and well controlled.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing and analysing project costs, budgets and financial performance
• Producing monthly financial reports and management packs
• Preparing forecasts and supporting annual/multi-year budgeting
• Identifying financial risks, opportunities and potential cost issues
• Working closely with Project Managers and operational teams
• Providing financial insight to support key business decisions
• Investigating variances and recommending corrective action
• Supporting month-end and audit activities
• Ensuring financial controls, processes and accounting standards are followed
• Improving financial reporting, systems and processes
• Providing guidance to project controls and wider finance teams

What are we looking for?

We're keen to speak with experienced finance professionals who have:

• 5+ years' relevant finance/accounting experience
• Experience within project accounting, project finance, cost accounting or financial control
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent Excel skills
• Experience using ERP/finance systems - Oracle experience would be highly desirable
• Experience with Power BI and/or TM1 would be advantageous
• Strong communication skills and confidence working with senior stakeholders
• Ideally, experience within engineering, manufacturing, aerospace or defence
• A relevant professional qualification such as CIMA, ACCA or equivalent would be advantageous, but relevant experience will also be considered

Why consider it?

This isn't simply a reporting role. You’ll be embedded within the project environment, working directly with key stakeholders and helping shape financial decisions across an international portfolio.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Work on complex, high-value international projects
• Gain exposure to senior leadership and strategic decision-making
• Develop your career within a major engineering and defence environment
• Make a genuine impact on project performance
• Work as part of an established and collaborative finance function

If you're an experienced Project Accountant or Project Finance professional looking for a role where your financial expertise can genuinely influence the success of major projects, we'd love to hear from you.