Senior Project Accountant

James Fisher and Sons plc; Westhill; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

James Fisher and Sons plc is seeking a Senior Project Accountant to lead a small team and drive financial performance across a diverse project portfolio. Hybrid working from Westhill, Inchinnan or Knutsford, with security checks as part of the process.

You will partner with senior stakeholders, prepare budgets, forecasts and IFRS 15 reporting, and deliver value through robust controls, earned value, and cost tracking while mentoring two project accountants and a cost controller.

Qualifications

• Qualified ICAS/ACCA/CIMA.
• IFRS 15 experience desirable.
• Experience in engineering, manufacturing, oil & gas, or project-based environments.
• Strong communication and time management skills.

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.

Skills

People management

Business partnering

Excel skills

Stakeholder management

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 and organisational visibility.
• 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 company operating across 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.

James Fisher Defence (JFD), part of the James Fisher Group, is a global leader in underwater capability, delivering cutting‑edge diving, submarine rescue, and hyperbaric solutions to both commercial and defence markets. Operating worldwide, JFD is the foremost provider of submarine rescue services and a trusted name in submarine escape training. We’re also at the forefront of hyperbaric rescue innovation and a leading supplier of advanced diving equipment and saturation systems across the industry.

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 with Vercida. You can learn more about our approach by visiting our company page: James Fisher and Sons diversity, inclusion, culture - VERCID.

About You

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