Lead Project Financial Accountant

Requisition #

FIN-L8.3

Job title

Category

Finance

Contract type

Permanent (Employee)

Full Time

Description

Zutari:
Co-creating an engineered impact.
Zutari is a well-established, management-owned engineering firm with almost 90 years' experience. As human-centred engineering consultants and advisors, we are trusted by our clients, business partners, communities and other stakeholders across Africa.
We co-create engineering solutions that have a positive impact and improve people's lives. Zutari values inclusion and recognises the importance of a diverse, talented workforce, believing that people need other people to succeed.
What kind of talent do we pursue?
We employ people with the right attitude and a positive mindset, who are motivated by doing the right thing, getting things done and share a sense of urgency. People who have an impact in our teams and broader community. People who think differently and connect with those around them to co-create new opportunities and leave a meaningful legacy.

Role responsibilities

The Lead Project Financial Accountant is the most senior technical and people‑leadership role within the Project Financial Accounting function, holding end‑to‑end accountability for the financial integrity of a portfolio of projects and business units. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the incumbent is the Region or Business Unit's primary authority on project finance, setting the standard for revenue recognition, working capital management, financial reporting and owning outcomes rather than individual transactions.

The role carries full line management accountability for a team of Project Financial Accountants and Senior Project Financial Accountants, with functional oversight extending to Project Managers and Project Assistants. This spans team performance, capability development, resourcing and succession planning, positioning the Lead Project Financial Accountant as the critical link between operational project finance and senior Business Unit leadership.

As a trusted advisor to Business Unit MDs and Operational Directors, the incumbent translates complex financial detail into clear, decision‑ready insight and acts as the final point of technical review and escalation before matters reach the wider Finance function or external audit.

Key responsibilities

• Hold end-to-end accountability for the financial integrity of a portfolio of projects and units, acting as the primary financial advisor to Business Unit MD(s)/Operational Director(s) on meeting monthly targets.
• Direct and quality‑control the monthly revenue recognition process across the team, signing off on entries prepared by Project Financial Accountants and Senior Project Financial Accountants, including exception reasons and variance explanations at month end.
• Own the accuracy of the Fee Revenue Forecast and workload across the unit, ensuring project plans and backlog are correctly maintained.
• Provide final sign‑off on project opening and closing processes prepared by the team, covering checklist completion, baseline margin reasonableness, DOA approval and billing terms.
• Take ownership of Working Capital performance across the portfolio, driving down Accounts Receivable ageing and WIP ageing and ensuring timely invoicing across the team.
• Champion consistent implementation of, and adherence to, the Delegation of Authority (DOA) across the team, escalating breaches where required.
• Approve financial transactions on the ERP system (Vantagepoint) beyond individual Project Financial Accountants' limits, including write‑offs, provisions, credit notes, receipts and journals.
• Lead the bi‑annual Working Capital certification process for the Region/Business Unit, including review of…