CAPEX & Projects Accountant

Fluid Recruitment; Dunedin; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Alpine Energy is seeking a Capex & Projects Accountant to manage capital programmes, project costs and fixed assets. You will collaborate with Project Managers, Engineering and Finance to ensure accurate recording of expenditure and reliable financial reporting.

Reporting to the Financial Planning & Reporting Manager, you’ll own key project accounting processes, maintain strong financial controls and provide visibility of capital expenditure performance across programmes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or a related discipline.
• CA, CPA or equivalent professional accounting qualification.
• At least five years' relevant experience in financial analysis, management accounting or regulatory reporting.
• Experience in CAPEX analysis, fixed asset accounting, capitalisation and variance analysis.

Responsibilities

• Monitor capital project expenditure against budgets and forecasts; identify variances and risks.
• Provide financial analysis, forecasting and reporting across capital programmes.
• Collaborate with Project Managers and stakeholders to support financial decision-making.
• Manage project capitalisation and ensure assets are recorded timely.
• Maintain the Fixed Asset Register and oversee asset additions, transfers, disposals and depreciation.
• Manage WIP balances, investigate aged items and capitalise appropriately.
• Review cost allocations ensuring CAPEX vs OPEX classification per policy.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, regulatory reporting and audits.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial reporting and cost visibility.

Skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Excel

ERP systems

Financial reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Commerce

CA/CPA or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Financial reporting systems

Job description

Fluid Recruitment is partnering with Alpine Energy for a newly created Capex & Projects Accountant position, to help ensure the effective financial management of our capital programmes, project costs and fixed asset portfolio.

Working closely with Project Managers, Engineering, Asset Management and Finance teams, you'll play an important role in ensuring project expenditure is accurately recorded, financial reporting is reliable, and capital investment decisions are supported by sound financial analysis.

About the role

Reporting to the Financial Planning & Reporting Manager, you'll take ownership of key project accounting and fixed asset processes, helping maintain strong financial controls and providing visibility of capital expenditure performance.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Monitoring capital project expenditure against approved budgets and forecasts, identifying variances, cost overruns and emerging financial risks.
• Providing financial analysis, forecasting and reporting across capital programmes and project expenditure.
• Working with Project Managers and business stakeholders to support financial decision‑making and project outcomes.
• Managing project capitalisation and ensuring completed assets are accurately recorded in a timely manner.
• Maintaining the Fixed Asset Register and overseeing asset additions, transfers, disposals, impairments and depreciation.
• Managing work‑in‑progress (WIP) balances, investigating aged items and ensuring timely reconciliation and capitalisation.
• Reviewing cost allocations and ensuring capital and operating expenditure is correctly classified in accordance with accounting standards and organisational policies.
• Supporting budgeting, forecasting, regulatory reporting and internal and external audit requirements.
• Identifying opportunities to improve financial reporting, cost visibility, systems and processes.

You’ll bring:

• A bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or a related discipline.
• A CA, CPA or equivalent professional accounting qualification.
• At least five years' relevant experience in financial analysis, management accounting, business performance, regulatory reporting or a related finance role.
• Experience in CAPEX analysis, fixed asset accounting, capitalisation, reconciliations and variance analysis.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to identify financial trends, risks and opportunities.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with financial, ERP and reporting systems.
• Experience supporting regulatory reporting, compliance and internal or external audits.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to explain complex financial information clearly.

Experience in electricity distribution, utilities, infrastructure or another asset‑intensive industry would be an advantage.

Why join Alpine Energy?

At Alpine Energy, we're connected as one team. We believe in working collaboratively, treating people with trust and respect, taking ownership and doing the right thing.

You’ll work alongside a range of technical and operational specialists, gaining insight into the financial management of critical infrastructure while contributing to sound investment decisions and effective asset management. Our state‑of‑the‑art offices in Timaru are designed to enhance collaboration and productivity, with stunning panoramic views to enjoy throughout the day. You’ll also have access to our well‑stocked café, complete with top‑notch coffee, fresh fruit bowls, interactive games and an outdoor space for those well‑deserved breaks.