Project Accountant

Project Cost Specialist

Location: Belfast
Salary: Competitive
Sector: Defence / Engineering
Type: Permanent
Travel: Minimal

The Opportunity

Are you an experienced Project Accountant, Project Cost Specialist or Finance professional looking for an opportunity to work on complex, high-value engineering projects?

We’re working with a leading UK engineering and defence organisation that is looking for a Project Cost Specialist to join its Belfast-based finance team.

This is a great opportunity to take ownership of the financial side of a portfolio of projects, working closely with Project Managers, Finance, Manufacturing and senior stakeholders.

You’ll be more than just a number-cruncher — your analysis and financial insight will directly support important business and project decisions.

What will you be doing?

You’ll be responsible for supporting the financial management and performance of a portfolio of projects.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Producing monthly financial and project review packs

• Analysing project costs, performance and variances

• Preparing project cost reports and recommending corrective actions

• Producing forecasts and supporting budgeting activities

• Working closely with Project Managers and operational teams

• Providing accurate financial information to support decision-making

• Monitoring project risks and helping identify ways to reduce financial exposure

• Supporting Work in Progress (WIP) and project cost reviews

• Preparing estimates for annual and multi-year budgets

• Supporting month-end financial activities

• Reviewing cost certificates and project financial information

• Supporting internal and external audits

• Ensuring projects comply with financial processes and accounting standards

• Identifying weaknesses in financial controls and escalating issues where required

• Helping improve financial reporting, systems and processes

• Using tools such as Oracle, Excel, TM1 and Power BI to improve reporting and analysis

What are we looking for?

We’re keen to speak with finance professionals who have:

• Around 5 years’ relevant finance/accounting experience

• Experience in project accounting, project finance, cost accounting or financial analysis

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex financial information

• Excellent Excel skills

• Experience using ERP/finance systems — Oracle would be highly desirable

• Experience with Power BI and/or TM1 would be advantageous

• Strong communication skills and confidence working with different stakeholders

• Experience within manufacturing, engineering, aerospace or defence would be beneficial

• A qualification such as CIMA, ACCA, ICAI or equivalent is desirable, although relevant experience will also be considered

• Ideally, previous experience working as a Project Accountant

Why consider this role?

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to move beyond traditional accounting and become a key financial partner to major engineering projects.

You’ll have the chance to:

• Work on complex and technically interesting projects

• Gain exposure to senior stakeholders and project leadership

• Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing and Operations

• Develop your project finance and commercial skills

• Make a genuine contribution to project performance

• Join an established and collaborative finance team

• Build valuable experience within the defence and engineering sector

Interested?

If you’re currently working in Project Accounting, Project Finance, Cost Accounting or Financial Analysis and are looking for your next challenge, we’d be keen to hear from you.

Apply now for a confidential conversation about the opportunity.