Project Accountant - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Project Accountant - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Morgan McKinley is seeking a Project Accountant for a 12-month fixed-term contract position based onsite in Sydney, NSW. This role offers a salary of $120,000.00 - $140,000.00 per annum.

The Project Accountant holds a crucial position, providing support to the PMO and Project Owners in the effective financial management of their projects. This includes ensuring precise financial tracking, monitoring actuals against budgets and forecasts, and delivering timely insights to facilitate informed decision-making. A significant aspect of this role involves designing and maintaining financial models to track benefit realisation throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

• Financial Management
• Collaborate with Project Owners to understand project scope, financial requirements, and primary cost drivers.
• Offer ongoing financial guidance, ensuring adherence to organisational policies and funding constraints.
• Assist in the development of project budgets, business cases, change requests, and financial plans.
• Budgeting & Forecasting
• Maintain detailed project budgets and regularly update forecasts based on actual performance and identified risks.
• Track and reconcile actual expenditure against approved budgets, identifying variances and recommending corrective actions.
• Prepare monthly project financial reports, dashboards, and commentary for stakeholders and governance forums.
• Financial Modelling
• Construct and maintain robust financial models to support project planning, scenario analysis, and benefit realisation tracking.
• Work with Project Owners and the PMO to define benefit metrics, baselines, and measurement methodologies.
• Monitor benefit realisation progress and provide insights into deviations, risks, and opportunities.
• Compliance
• Ensure all project financial activities comply with internal controls, procurement policies, and audit requirements.
• Support the preparation of financial documentation for internal and external audits.
• Maintain accurate financial records and ensure data integrity across systems.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Serve as a trusted financial advisor to Project Owners, the PMO, and senior leadership.
• Communicate complex financial information in a clear, accessible manner, tailored for non-financial stakeholders.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Finance, Procurement, and the PMO.

Skills & Qualifications:

• CA/CPA qualified.
• Experience in project accounting, management accounting, or financial analysis.
• Strong analytical and financial modelling skills (Excel, Power BI, or equivalent).
• Ability to interpret financial data and translate insights into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Key Behaviours:

• Structured and detail-oriented.
• Proactive, accountable, and capable of managing competing timelines.

Key Relationships:

• Head of Reporting and Accounting: Direct reporting line; escalate issues and provide updates.
• CFO: Provide accurate and insightful reporting to support decision-making.
• Head of PMO: Provide regular updates on program financials, guidance to reduce variances to plans, and regular analysis, reporting, and insights to ensure variations are managed appropriately.
• Project Owners: Support detailed analysis and reporting to provide guidance and insight.

Performance Measures:

• Timeliness of Reporting: Accurate and timely financial reporting for all key projects.
• Stakeholder Management: High stakeholder satisfaction and strong relationships with Project Owners.
• Effective Financial Modelling: Effective financial models that support decision-making and benefit tracking.