Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Base salary: £44,380 to £52,212 per annum depending on skills and experience. In addition, a flexible benefits fund of 15% is paid on top of the base salary and is fully pensionable, along with a range of competitive benefits.

About the Role
The Project Accountant provides financial support and analysis to Finance Business Partners to help the organisation achieve its financial targets and deliver value for money within available budgets. Key responsibilities include supporting monthly and quarterly reviews with Budget Holders, Cost Managers, and Commercial Managers to challenge variances against business plans or forecasts and recommend corrective actions. You will collaborate with HS2 Commercial, Cost Managers, and Contractor Finance leads to improve the accuracy of Actual Cost of Work Performed (ACWP), expenditure, and cash forecasts. Driving the month-end process for the business area, you will ensure a strong control environment is maintained and accruals are appropriately challenged and evidenced.

You will monitor alignment between project and financial data systems and provide corrective actions where necessary. Providing monthly and ad-hoc reporting and analysis, you will support project stakeholders in managing financial expenditure within agreed targets. You will review and monitor project liabilities and maintain appropriate provisions in the accounts.

Supporting the Project Finance Business Partners during annual business planning and quarterly forecasting, you will help establish phased forecasts aligned with planned programme delivery. You will assist delivery teams in creating Change and Investment papers by providing robust financial information and ensuring proposals are clearly articulated before review.

Additional responsibilities include advising on the application of IFRS Standards and government finance procedures, guiding project teams on ERP system use, providing ad-hoc analysis, and supporting the year-end audit process. You will actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in all work and comply with organisational policies and initiatives on EDI.

The role requires behaviour consistent with HS2’s values of Safety, Leadership, Integrity, and Respect.

Experience
- Experience working in a project environment.
- Experience providing financial information to inform project decisions, understanding consequences against cost, schedule, and quality.
- Experience in business planning and forecasting within a project context.
- Experience preparing financial reports.

About You
- Ability to work effectively as part of a project team within a matrix structure.
- Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel or equivalent spreadsheet software to analyse large and complex data sets and produce useful management information.
- Commitment to promoting and embedding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in all aspects of work.
- Behaves consistently with HS2 values of Safety, Leadership, Integrity, and Respect.

Qualifications
- Qualified accountant with membership of a recognised professional body.
- Knowledge of SAP, Oracle, or similar ERP accounting systems.