Senior Project Accountant

James Fisher and Sons; Knutsford; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

James Fisher and Sons is seeking a Senior Project Accountant to lead a small team, drive financial performance and governance across a diverse project portfolio. Hybrid working options across Westhill, Inchinnan or Knutsford, reporting to the Head of Project Financial Management.

The role focuses on budgeting, EAC forecasts, Earned Value, IFRS 15, and partnering with senior stakeholders across Finance, Project Management, Procurement, Engineering, Treasury and Governance.

Qualifications

• ICAS, ACCA or CIMA qualified.
• IFRS 15 experience desirable.
• Experience in engineering, manufacturing, oil & gas, or project-based environments.
• Strong communication and time management skills.
• Proven ability to improve financial reporting and drive governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of Project Accountants and Cost Controllers.
• Manage a portfolio of complex, high-value revenue-generating projects.
• Develop and maintain project budgets, EAC forecasts, and Earned Value assessments to ensure accurate financial performance tracking.
• Prepare and manage project forecasting and cost-tracking models, identifying opportunities for improved performance.
• Deliver monthly revenue recognition, profit margin reporting, and budgeting in line with IFRS 15 requirements.
• Produce and maintain accounting position papers to support project accounting treatments and compliance.
• Perform variance and sensitivity analysis, highlighting risks, opportunities, and mitigation plans to project leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement by facilitating lessons learned reviews and implementing best practices across project delivery.

Skills

People management

Stakeholder management

Financial analysis

Team leadership

Education

ICAS/ACCA/CIMA

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Glovia

Job description

Senior Project Accountant
Full-Time, Permanent
Westhill, Inchinnan or Knutsford, Hybrid working

Please note that this role requires security checks.

The Role:

Ready to take the lead in a high-impact project finance environment? We're looking for an experienced Senior Project Accountant to play a key role in driving financial performance, governance, and commercial insight across a diverse project portfolio. Reporting directly to the Head of Project Financial Management, you'll lead a team of two Project Accountants and a Cost Controller, partnering closely with senior stakeholders across Finance, Project Management, Procurement, Engineering, Treasury, Tax, and Governance. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially focused finance professional who thrives on influencing decision-making, improving financial controls, and delivering value through effective project financial management.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of Project Accountants and Cost Controllers.
• Manage a portfolio of complex, high-value revenue-generating projects.
• Develop and maintain project budgets, EAC forecasts, and Earned Value assessments to ensure accurate financial performance tracking.
• Prepare and manage project forecasting and cost-tracking models, identifying opportunities for improved performance.
• Deliver monthly revenue recognition, profit margin reporting, and budgeting in line with IFRS 15 requirements.
• Produce and maintain accounting position papers to support project accounting treatments and compliance.
• Perform variance and sensitivity analysis, highlighting risks, opportunities, and mitigation plans to project leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement by facilitating lessons learned reviews and implementing best practices across project delivery.

What we're looking for:

• ICAS, ACCA or CIMA qualified.
• IFRS 15 experience will be desirable.
• Experience in a similar role within engineering, manufacturing, oil & gas, or project-based environments.
• Strong people management and business partnering skills.
• Proven ability to improve financial reporting and deliver actionable insights.
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Glovia).
• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and time management skills.
• Results-driven with exceptional attention to detail.

Why join us?

• Competitive package.
• Clear pathways for career development andorganisationalvisibility.
• Inclusive and supportive culture that values individual contributions.
• Meaningful work with impact across safety, innovation, and global operations.

About us:

James Fisher is a global engineering services companyoperatingacross Energy,Defence, and Maritime Transport. With a strong heritage in maritime operations, we now deliver innovative solutions in challenging environments. Our One James Fisher strategy is focused on building a unified, sustainable business within the Blue Economy, driving progress through technology,expertise, and collaboration.

Visit our website at: Home | James Fisher and Sons plc
For more information about our values and behaviours, follow the link: About us | James Fisher and Sons plc

James FisherDefence(JFD), part of the James Fisher Group, is a global leader in underwater capability, deliveringcutting-edgediving, submarine rescue, and hyperbaric solutions to both commercial anddefencemarkets. Operating worldwide,JFD is the foremost provider of submarine rescue services and a trusted name in submarine escape training.We’realso at the forefront of hyperbaric rescue innovation and a leading supplier of advanced diving equipment and saturation systems across the industry. Explore more about JFD

At James Fisher and Sons, we are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success is driven by the talent and diversity of our workforce.
To support an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience in the UK, we partner withVercida. You can learn more about our approach by visiting our company page: James Fisher and Sons diversity, inclusion, culture - VERCID