Project Accountant

Watercare Services Limited; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training and development opportunities

Life and income protection insurance

Generous parental leave

Employee discounts at retailers

Job summary

Watercare Services Limited is seeking experienced Project Accountants to support Auckland's capital investment programme within our Finance team. You will partner with Project Managers and delivery teams to ensure forecasts are accurate and cost reporting is transparent across a portfolio of major projects.

You will lead forecasting cycles, manage cost performance, and contribute to robust governance and audit readiness while advising on forecasting improvements and financial discipline.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in project accounting, capital programme finance, or project financial management.
• Strong forecasting, budgeting, cost control, and financial reporting experience.
• Experience with ERP platforms and project controls systems.

Responsibilities

• Own project financial performance, forecasting, and cost reporting across a portfolio of capital projects.
• Maintain alignment between project controls systems and ERP financial data.
• Lead monthly forecasting cycles, including cashflow forecasting and variance analysis.
• Provide insights on project risks, contingency usage, and cost pressures.
• Support month-end processes, accruals, journals, and reporting packs.
• Ensure robust financial governance, audit readiness, and compliance with investment management requirements.
• Assist capitalisation processes and asset handover activities.

Skills

Project accounting

Forecasting

Cost control

Education

Finance/Accounting degree

Tools

ERP platforms

Project controls systems

Job description

He kōrero mō mātou | About Watercare Ki te ora te wai, ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata

When the water is healthy, the land and the people are healthy Now is an exciting time to join Watercare, we're planning to spend $14 billion over the next 10 years to ensure we can continue to support our growing city in a climate-resilient way. When you average that out, that's an investment of $3.8 million every day!

He whakamārama mō te tūranga mahi | About the role

We're looking for experienced Project Accountants to join our Finance team and play a pivotal role in supporting Watercare's significant capital investment programme. This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of project delivery and financial performance, providing the insights, challenge, and financial governance that help ensure successful outcomes across some of Auckland's largest infrastructure projects. You will partner closely with Project Managers, delivery teams, and finance stakeholders to ensure forecasts are accurate, cost performance is transparent, and investment decisions are supported by reliable financial information. This will involve:

• Owning project financial performance, forecasting, and cost reporting across a portfolio of capital projects.
• Maintaining alignment and reconciliation between project controls systems and ERP financial data.
• Leading monthly forecasting cycles, including cashflow forecasting, estimate-at-completion reporting, and variance analysis.
• Providing meaningful financial insights on project risks, contingency usage, and emerging cost pressures.
• Supporting month-end processes, financial close activities, accruals, journals, and reporting packs.
• Ensuring robust financial governance, audit readiness, change control, and compliance with investment management requirements.
• Supporting capitalisation processes and asset handover activities.
• Acting as a trusted advisor to Project Managers and delivery teams while helping improve forecasting capability and financial discipline across the portfolio.

Ngā pūkenga e rapu nei mātou | About you

You're a commercially minded finance professional who enjoys partnering with stakeholders and translating complex data into meaningful insights that support decision-making. Your skills and experience will include:

• A tertiary qualification in Finance, Accounting, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Around 5+ years' experience in project accounting, capital programme finance, or project financial management.
• Strong forecasting, budgeting, cost control, and financial reporting experience.
• Experience working within infrastructure, utilities, construction, or large capital delivery environments.
• Experience with ERP platforms and project controls systems.
• Advanced analytical skills and the confidence to challenge assumptions and improve forecast accuracy.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

It would be advantageous if you also have:

• CA or CPA qualification (or are working towards it).
• Experience working within a regulated infrastructure environment.

Ngā hua mōu | What's in it for you

We offer a competitive salary and staff benefits package including:

• Training and development opportunities
• Life and income protection insurance plans
• Generous parental leave
• Employee discounts at a range of large retailers