Project Accountant/Cost Accountant/Cost Controller

WATG SINGAPORE, INC.; Singapore; Hybrid; SGD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

WATG SINGAPORE, INC. is seeking an experienced Project Accountant in Singapore to support our finance team across a diverse portfolio of design projects. You will handle project setup, billing, collections, budgeting, and profitability tracking, ensuring accurate revenue recognition and strong financial controls.

This role requires hands-on experience with WIP, contracts, and cross-functional collaboration with project managers and senior leaders to drive performance across projects.

Qualifications

• Experience in revenue or cost accounting.
• Project accounting experience in professional services or design/engineering.
• Hands-on experience with WIP, revenue recognition, project billing, collections, budgeting, costs, and profitability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and accounting systems.
• Experience with BST, Deltek, or a comparable ERP system.
• Ability to partner with project managers and senior leaders.
• Strong GL, AR, and AP knowledge.
• Analytical, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; collaborative mindset.
• Integrity and discretion with confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Monitor project financial health by reviewing WIP, revenue, backlog, budget variances, profitability, and billable expenses.
• Lead project health reviews with Project Managers and Senior Leaders, providing insights on project financial performance.
• Manage project setup and maintenance, including budgets, fee flows, phases, and financial information in the accounting system.
• Review project contracts to ensure financial details, accounting requirements, and client requirements are accurately reflected.
• Oversee client billing and accounts receivable, including preparing invoices, monitoring aging, managing cashflow projections, and coordinating collection efforts.
• Partner with Project Managers and Senior Leaders on collections and, where necessary, support stop-work and third-party collection processes to minimise company exposure.
• Manage accounts payable activities, including consultant and vendor invoices, payment processing, coding, approvals, and Pay-When-Paid tracking.
• Support revenue recognition and reporting, ensuring revenue is captured accurately across projects and phases.
• Conduct periodic project reviews and internal spot audits, analysing project costs against budgets and contract terms.
• Prepare management reports and ad hoc analysis to support informed business and project decisions.
• Drive process improvements by identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, controls, reporting, and financial processes.
• Provide global Project Accounting coverage and support special projects as needed.

Skills

Revenue or Cost accounting

Project accounting

WIP & revenue recognition

Project billing & collections

Budgets & profitability

ERP systems (BST/Deltek)

MS Office proficiency

Contract review knowledge

Analytical & problem solving

Communication skills

Tools

BST/Deltek ERP

Job description

Project Accountant

Location: Singapore

At WATG, we create places that inspire people. As a global leader in hospitality, tourism, mixed-use, and destination design, our projects span some of the world's most iconic destinations.

Behind every successful project is a strong finance team that ensures projects are financially healthy, well managed, and delivered efficiently. We are looking for an experienced Project Accountant to join our Finance team and play a key role in managing the financial performance of our diverse portfolio of projects.

What You'll Do

As a Project Accountant, you will provide project accounting support throughout the project lifecycle - from project setup and contract review through billing, collections, financial monitoring, and project close-out.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Monitor project financial health by reviewing WIP, revenue, backlog, budget variances, profitability, and billable expenses.
• Lead project health reviews with Project Managers and Senior Leaders, providing insights on project financial performance and areas requiring attention.
• Manage project setup and maintenance, including budgets, fee flows, phases, and financial information in the accounting system.
• Review project contracts to ensure financial details, accounting requirements, and client requirements are accurately reflected.
• Oversee client billing and accounts receivable, including preparing invoices, monitoring aging, managing cashflow projections, and coordinating collection efforts.
• Partner with Project Managers and Senior Leaders on collections and, where necessary, support stop-work and third-party collection processes to minimise company exposure.
• Manage accounts payable activities, including consultant and vendor invoices, payment processing, coding, approvals, and Pay-When-Paid tracking.
• Support revenue recognition and reporting, ensuring revenue is captured accurately across projects and phases.
• Conduct periodic project reviews and internal spot audits, analysing project costs against budgets and contract terms.
• Prepare management reports and ad hoc analysis to support informed business and project decisions.
• Drive process improvements by identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, controls, reporting, and financial processes.
• Provide global Project Accounting coverage and support special projects as needed.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for an experienced, organised, and proactive finance professional who can work independently while building strong partnerships with project teams. This is a project accounting role that requires proven hands-on experience managing project financials, including project setup, WIP, revenue, billing, collections, budgeting, and project profitability.

This role is a strong fit if you have:

• Revenue or Cost accounting experience
• Project accounting experience, preferably within a professional services firm, architecture, engineering, design, consulting, or similar project-based environment.
• Direct experience managing the financial aspects of projects throughout the project lifecycle, from project setup through close-out.
• Practical experience with WIP, revenue recognition, project billing, collections, budgeting, project costs, and project profitability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and accounting systems.
• Experience with BST, Deltek, or a comparable ERP system would be an advantage.
• Experience partnering with Project Managers and Senior Leaders on project financial performance.
• Strong knowledge of general ledger, accounts receivable, and accounts payable processes.
• Strong analytical, organisational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to work with Project Managers, Senior Leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and a collaborative approach.
• The ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement, and take ownership of responsibilities.
• A high level of integrity and discretion when handling confidential information.
• Management accounting without direct project accounting responsibility

Why Join WATG?

At WATG, you'll be part of a global, collaborative team where your work directly supports the delivery of world-class design projects.

We value initiative, continuous improvement, collaboration, and professional growth, and provide opportunities to work with colleagues across our international offices.

If you're an experienced project accounting professional looking for a role where you can combine your accounting expertise with project-focused financial management, stakeholder partnership, and continuous improvement, we'd love to hear from you.