Project Accountant

This position is responsible for supporting the financial elements of delegated UK/Europe Projects/Services Contracts. Incumbents of this role will work across the Commercial, Engineering, Project Management, Bids & Proposals and Finance functions, providing financial-based support under the guidance of senior project accounting staff. The role will contribute to improving both the quality and depth of the financial/non-financial information made available to the senior management team, enabling informed decision making.

This position typically works under general supervision, with more complex matters escalated to senior team members. Incumbents will exercise appropriate decision-making authority within defined parameters.

• Support business partnering activities with Program Management or Services teams
• Assist in the preparation of project financials for approval
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders including program management/services, contracts managers and engineering regarding contract documents, change orders and other contract modifications, approvals, and any additional services-related to billing
• Identify opportunities for improving project financial performance and escalated to senior staff for review
• Investigate financial discrepancies arising from variance analysis, with support from senior team members where required
• Liaise with Project Managers and relevant program CAMs to help monitor program risks and opportunities, including assisting with the maintenance of the financial risk register on a monthly basis
• Assist in internal and external audit requirements; this may include ad-hoc analysis
• Perform additional assignments, as directed
• Maintain project numbers, budgets, ETC's and other project information in the ERP System
• Liaise with project and production managers to ensure that all project costs are controlled in a timely manner
• Liaise with intercompany contacts to ensure accurate and timely financial information is included in the project forecasts
• Prepare monthly project reports and analysis in accordance with the timetable
• Prepare billings related to the assigned portfolio of projects in conjunction with the contracts and projects teams
• Keep the projects team informed and advise on billings, retentions, debtors and cash flow relating to individual projects
• Liaise with financial accounting where required and ensure that queries are followed up
• Assist in the preparation of claims and variations including cost models and pricing schedules
• Assist in reviewing and generating bid summaries for accuracy and compliance with company rates and mark-ups
• Meet with Project Managers prior to the monthly review meetings to agree project status including contract values and estimates to completion
• Prepare reports for, and attend, weekly and monthly project review meetings
• Assist FP&A with the co-ordination and preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual budgets for Cubic
• Assist in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements
• Escalate appropriately any known variances or problems of significance that may affect the outcome of a project
• Liaise with Project Planners, ensuring the reported financial status of the project is in line with the planned operational view

• Comply with Cubic's Quality Management System
• Comply with Cubic Occupational Health, Safety and Environment policies and procedures
• Comply with security in accordance with established policies and procedures of the organization
• Comply with Cubic Human Resources Procedures
• Other duties as requested

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Business discipline from a tertiary institution, 3-6 years of project accounting or management accounting experience (post-degree) in a project or services environment

• Working knowledge of a project or services-based environment
• Ability to work well with others under deadline situations and respond to changes in priorities
• Good written and verbal communication skills and strong organizational skills
• Ability to present financial information clearly to project managers and finance leadership
• Ability to work with limited supervision, take initiative, set priorities and see tasks through to completion
• Strong analytical and numerical skills, with a high level of attention to detail and accuracy
• Solid understanding of accounting principles, including revenue recognition, accruals, cost allocation and balance sheet reconciliations
• Experience with month-end close-up processes,…