Project Accounting Controller

Job Summary by the careerbalance.co.uk Team:

108Job Description:Equality of opportunity and inclusivity is fundamental to the vision and values of Wildanet. The principles of equality and diversity are at the heart of Wildanet’s work and are supported by appropriate employment policies, procedures and good practice.
Wildanet is a thriving and growing internet provider bringing superfast and super-reliable service to homes and businesses throughout the region. Our aim is to attract, develop and retain colleagues with a unique combination of local knowledge and technical expertise who put the customer at the heart of the business.
Wildanet, building careers from the Southwest to anywhere.
Job Title: Project Controller
Benefits: Company Pension/ Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family/ Onsite Free Parking/ Eyecare Vouchers/ Bespoke Training & Development Plan/ Spontaneous Awards/ Enhanced Sick, Family leave and Statutory Leave/ Flu Jabs/ Employee Share Options/ Death in Service Benefit/ Paid leave for charity support/ Complimentary tea and coffee in the office/ Attractive holiday package/ Free Broadband (on completion of Probation)/ Access to our generous Wildanet Rewards & Recognition Hub
Location: Liskeard Office
Salary: £48,500 – £53,500 DOE per annum DOE.
Role Purpose: This role will act as a finance business partner to our build team by providing commercial finance support to our Chief Operating Officer and Regional Build Managers, ensuring that the performance of our broadband fibre network build is monitored and proactively managed, while ensuring a sound control framework is in place for build finance.
Main Responsibilities: The Project Controller will report into the Head of Commercial Accounting but provide finance business partner support to our Chief Operating Officer and Regional Build Managers. You will also be required to work closely with our Chief Financial Officer, Financial Controller, and Logistics, Operations and Commercial teams.
The role holder will be responsible for working with Regional Build Managers to:
Take the lead on setting-up a best-in-class project accounting and reporting function;
Formulate budgets for new projects;
Monitor performance of live projects against budget;
Reforecasting the cost-to-complete projects; and
Identifying levers to ensure projects stay on budget and implementing a sound control framework.
Key Activities: While duties and responsibilities will vary, they typically include:
• Set-up and manage a project accounting function with 0 to 3 direct reports (Project Accountants)
• Creating and maintaining project financial reporting templates in a standardized form across all projects.
• Lead on the preparation of projects budgets with input from Regional Build Managers.
• Support with financial input into the project initiation documents.
• Producing monthly actual v budget analysis for each project with a reforecast cost-to-complete.
• Proactively identify potential issues and solutions with Regional Build Managers to ensure projects stay on budget and timeline.
• Identify any process and control issues in relation to the build finance function, then proposing and implementing solutions.
• Creating an aggregated build plan and forecast to feed into the group model and cash flow with an ability to influence the build team to achieve a desired outcome from the group funding perspective
• Provide actionable project data insight to the board and executive team of Wildanet.
• Develop and track life-cycle performance of each project including installation, sales, marketing and network key metrics.
• Any other ad-hoc project related analysis required.
Measures of Performance: This list is not exhaustive and will be reviewed regularly with the employee and their line manager
• Accurate and timely actual v budget analysis with re-forecasted cost-to-completes, by submitted by given deadline.
• Projects performing within budget
• Supporting the team to deliver accurate and timely reporting in line with the month-end and year-end timetable
• Supporting the team to deliver a clean audit opinion with no audit issues/adjustments
• Feedback from direct reports, peers, including the Financial Controller and Regional Build Managers on:
o Acting as a motivational and effective leader.
o Ability to partner effectively to deliver accurate budgets and performance analysis on time.
o Attendance at internal and external meetings with ability to influence outcomes.
o Maintenance of a strong control environment.
• Meeting and exceeding individual and collective KPI’s.
Essential Person Specification:
Knowledge:
• Good knowledge of best practices in accounting.
Skills/Attributes:
• Proficiency in electronic accounting systems.
• Ability to work across professional disciplines and reporting lines.
• Exceptional ability to prepare project budgets, financial forecasts, and management reports.
• Excellent communication skills toward effective collaboration and client services.
Experience:
• 2 – 5 years’ experience as a project controller or similar.
• Previous work experience in the telecom or altnet market is desirable.
• Experience of successfully managing and developing teams.
• Extensive experience in project invoicing and billing.
Qualifications:
• Degree in accounting, or similar.
• Accounting qualification is necessary.
Circumstances:
• Ability to commute to Wildanet Head Office in Liskeard
• Standard office working hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.Location: Liskeard