Project Accountant

Sayari Earth; Mossel Bay; On-site; ZAR 550,000 - 850,000; Full time

Job summary

Sayari Earth, a nature-based climate solutions company, seeks a Project Accountant to manage finances across a growing portfolio of projects funded by multiple investors. You will ensure accurate allocations, strong controls, and reliable reporting with Project Managers, Operations, and Finance teams.

You will handle budget tracking, invoicing, reconciliations, and financial reporting for complex multi-project funding structures, while maintaining audit-ready records and compliance with policies

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or Diploma in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum 4 years' solid experience in project accounting, management accounting, or financial administration.
• Demonstrable experience managing finances across multiple concurrent projects with multiple funders or investors (fund accounting).
• Strong budgeting, reconciliations, cost allocation, financial reporting, and financial controls.
• Proficiency in accounting software and Excel (complex multi-dimensional budget data).
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate financial records across multiple concurrent projects with distinct investors and funding sources.
• Track investor- and stakeholder-specific budgets and funding allocations; report on expenditure and remaining funds.
• Code and allocate transactions to the correct project, cost centre, stakeholder, or funding source.
• Prepare investor-specific financial reports per funding agreements and reporting requirements.
• Monitor budgets and expenditure against approved funding allocations.
• Produce regular project financial reports, forecasts, and budget variance analyses.
• Assist Project Managers with budget planning and financial decisions.
• Ensure expenditure aligns with budgets and funding agreements.
• Process supplier invoices and project-related payments per policies.
• Manage accounts payable and support accounts receivable.
• Perform monthly reconciliations of project accounts and balance sheet items.
• Maintain audit-ready records and supporting documentation.
• Assist with supplier reconciliations and resolve queries.
• Support procurement to comply with budgets and policies.
• Verify purchase requests against available funding before processing.
• Monitor purchase orders and payments for financial accuracy and budget compliance.
• Strengthen internal controls and improve processes.

Skills

Budgeting

Reconciliations

Financial reporting

Excel proficiency

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Accounting/Finance

4 years' experience in project accounting

Tools

Xero

Cloud-based accounting software

Job description

Bachelor's Degree or Diploma in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.

About Sayari Earth

Sayari Earth is a technology- and impact-driven nature-based carbon removals project developer. We partner with landowners and communities to restore land, improve farm resilience, and support sustainable livelihoods through practical land management and conservation activities.

About the Role

Sayari Earth is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Project Accountant to support the financial management of our growing portfolio of projects.

As a project developer, we manage multiple concurrent projects funded by investors, each with its own budget, funding allocation, and reporting requirements. The ability to accurately process, track, and report on funds across this multi-project, multi-investor structure is central to this role, and solid, hands-on experience in this type of environment is essential.

The Project Accountant will ensure accurate financial administration, effective budget management, strong financial controls, and reliable financial reporting across the project portfolio. You will work closely with Project Managers, Operations, Procurement, and Finance to ensure project and investor funds are accurately allocated, tracked, reconciled, and reported throughout the project lifecycle.

This role plays a critical part in ensuring that funding allocated to investors' projects, stakeholders, contractors, suppliers, and implementation partners is properly managed, monitored, and accounted for.

If you are passionate about operational excellence and want to contribute to a company advancing climate and ecosystem restoration, we encourage you to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate financial records across multiple concurrent projects, each with distinct investors and funding sources.
• Track investor- and stakeholder-specific budgets and funding allocations, ensuring accurate reporting on expenditure and remaining available funds per project and per funder.
• Ensure all financial transactions are correctly coded and allocated to the appropriate project, cost centre, stakeholder, or funding source.
• Prepare investor-specific financial reports in line with funding agreements and reporting requirements.
• Monitor project budgets and expenditure against approved funding allocations.
• Prepare regular project financial reports, forecasts, and budget variance analyses.
• Assist Project Managers with budget planning and financial decision-making.
• Ensure project expenditure aligns with approved budgets and funding agreements.
• Process supplier invoices, project-related payments, expense claims, and reimbursements in accordance with company policies.
• Manage accounts payable and support accounts receivable processes where applicable.
• Perform monthly reconciliations of project accounts and balance sheet items.
• Maintain audit-ready financial records and supporting documentation throughout the project lifecycle.
• Assist with supplier reconciliations and resolve outstanding supplier queries.
• Support the purchasing process by ensuring procurement complies with company policies and approved project budgets.
• Verify purchase requests against available project and investor funding before processing.
• Monitor purchase orders and supplier payments to ensure financial accuracy and budget compliance.
• Strengthen internal financial controls and identify opportunities to improve financial processes.

Reporting & Compliance

• Assist in preparing monthly financial reports for projects and operational activities.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
• Assist with internal and external audits by maintaining complete audit trails and supporting documentation.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, investor and funding agreement requirements, accounting standards, and statutory regulations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of financial systems and reporting processes.

Project Support

• Work closely with Project Managers to monitor project financial performance.
• Assist with project cash flow monitoring and expenditure forecasting.
• Identify financial risks, budget overruns, or allocation discrepancies early and recommend corrective actions.
• Support financial reporting requirements for carbon projects and stakeholder reporting where applicable.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's Degree or Diploma in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum 4 years' solid experience in project accounting, management accounting, or financial administration.
• Demonstrable experience managing finances across multiple concurrent projects with multiple funders or investors(e.g. fund accounting, donor/grant accounting, or investor-allocated project budgets).
• Strong understanding of budgeting, reconciliations, cost allocation, financial reporting, and financial controls.
• Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Excel (including working with complex, multi-dimensional budget data).
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

Preferred

• Experience in project-based organizations with a strong grasp of project accounting principles.
• Experience preparing financial reports for external investors, funders, or donors.
• Experience with Xero or similar cloud-based accounting software.

Why Join Sayari Earth?

• Contribute to operational systems that support nature-based climate solutions.
• Work alongside passionate professionals in the climate and biodiversity space.
• Be part of a purpose-driven organization focused on measurable impact.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter to [e-mail] with the subject line: Project Accountant – [Your Name]

Your cover letter should highlight your experience managing multi-project or multi-funder finances, your relevant accounting and procurement experience, and why you are interested in joining Sayari Earth.

We are committed to building a diverse team. We warmly welcome applications from women and individuals who bring diverse perspectives and experiences.

Due to the high volume of applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.