Interim Project Accountant

A well-established UK business is seeking a technically strong Project Accountant to join its central finance team on a 12-month fixed term contract. This is a high-profile role supporting a significant business change and technology investment programme, with multi-million-pound budgets and senior stakeholder exposure.

Reporting into the Head of Finance, you will take ownership of financial control, governance, and accounting treatment across a portfolio of projects. The ideal candidate is highly experienced in IAS 38, confident in capitalisation vs P&L decisions, and able to apply accounting standards practically to technology and project spend.

• Own financial oversight of major project and technology spend, ensuring robust control, accurate forecasting, and clear visibility against budget

• Ensure correct accounting treatment of project costs, with a focus on IAS 38 compliance and Capex vs Opex classification

• Provide timely project financial information to senior stakeholders, highlighting risks, opportunities, and required interventions

• Partner closely with Technology, Transformation, and Project teams, attending governance forums and challenging assumptions

• Support budgeting, forecasting, and phasing of project and technology spend

• Maintain strong financial governance, ensuring adherence to investment approvals, business cases, and post-implementation reviews

• Translate complex accounting concepts into practical guidance for non-finance stakeholders

• Drive improvements in processes, controls, and ways of working related to project and technology accounting

You will be a hands-on, technically capable accountant who can both drill into the detail and see the bigger commercial picture. You thrive in a fast-moving, change-driven environment and are comfortable challenging stakeholders to ensure the correct accounting treatment is applied.

You will bring:

• Strong technical accounting knowledge, particularly around IAS 38 (Intangible Assets) and capitalisation of technology/project spend

• Clear understanding of Capex vs Opex treatment, and ability to explain and justify decisions

• Exposure to technology, systems, or transformation programmes

• Qualified accountant

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to communicate complex financial data clearly