Job Purpose
The Projects Accountant serves as the financial custodian of all project activities, overseeing comprehensive financial management—spanning budget development, cost monitoring, and final account reconciliation to ensure audit preparedness. This position ensures financial precision, regulatory adherence, and clarity within a fast-paced, multi-project contracting landscape by collaborating with project managers, quantity surveyors, and field teams to meticulously track, validate, and report every expenditure in real time. A critical responsibility of this role is the proficiency to utilize digital and IT solutions to automate processes, streamline integration, and enhance financial transparency throughout the project’s duration.
Oversee and execute critical operational tasks, ensuring efficient and effective completion while maintaining high standards of accuracy and quality. Manage a diverse range of duties, including strategic planning, process optimization, and performance monitoring to drive organizational success. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align objectives and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Analyze complex data and provide actionable insights to senior leadership, supporting informed decision-making. Serve as a key liaison between departments, facilitating seamless communication and coordination to meet business goals. Maintain compliance with industry regulations and internal policies, mitigating risks and upholding organizational integrity. Develop and implement innovative solutions to address challenges, enhancing productivity and operational excellence. Mentor and guide team members, promoting professional growth and fostering a collaborative work environment.
Project Budgeting & Financial Planning encompasses the strategic allocation and management of financial resources to ensure efficient project execution. This role demands expertise in developing comprehensive budgets, forecasting financial requirements, and monitoring expenditures to maintain fiscal discipline. Proficiency in financial analysis, cost control, and risk assessment is essential, along with strong analytical skills to interpret data and optimize resource utilization. Responsibilities include preparing detailed financial reports, collaborating with stakeholders to align budgets with project objectives, and implementing corrective measures to address variances. A solid understanding of accounting principles and project management methodologies is required, supported by meticulous attention to detail and the ability to communicate financial insights effectively.
Lead the development, execution, and continuous oversight of project-specific budgets in accordance with Bills of Quantities (Boys), contract values, and project schedules.
Create dynamic financial forecasts on a rolling basis, covering monthly and quarterly periods, while integrating adjustments from scope modifications, variation orders, and ongoing project developments.
Create and update budget-vs-actual dashboards using advanced Excel functions or ERP/project management tools, ensuring real-time visibility for project managers and senior leadership.
Integrate budgetary information with project scheduling platforms, such as MS Project and Primavera, to synchronize financial and temporal aspects of project planning.
Responsible for overseeing financial reporting and preparing comprehensive management accounts, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery to support strategic decision-making. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to gather financial data, analyze performance trends, and identify key variances. Maintains robust accounting records, implements internal controls, and ensures adherence to regulatory standards and company policies. Provides insightful financial analyses and recommendations to senior management to optimize resource allocation and operational efficiency.
Compile precise, prompt financial reports, including project profit and loss statements, cost-to-complete evaluations, and earned value assessments, on a monthly and as-needed schedule.
Conduct variance analyses to compare actual costs against budgets and forecasts, providing concise written commentary to inform managerial decision-making.
Compile cross-project financial information into comprehensive project portfolio reports for dissemination to the Head of Finance and the Management Board.
Leverage the reporting capabilities of ERP and accounting systems, such as SAP, Sage, QuickBooks, or similar platforms, to produce comprehensive management accounts in a structured format.
Create dynamic KPI dashboards to track utilization rates, cost burn, project profitability, and work-in-progress schedules using Excel pivot tables, Power BI, or comparable business intelligence solutions.
Cost management and control professionals are responsible for overseeing financial expenditures, ensuring alignment with budgetary constraints, and optimizing resource allocation to enhance operational efficiency. They analyze financial data, identify discrepancies, and implement corrective actions to mitigate overspending while maintaining fiscal discipline. Key responsibilities include developing and monitoring budgets, forecasting financial trends, and collaborating with stakeholders to enforce cost-saving initiatives. Strong analytical skills, proficiency in financial software, and a keen attention to detail are essential for success in this role. Additionally, candidates should possess excellent communication abilities to present findings and recommendations to leadership teams effectively.
Monitor and oversee project expenditures in real time, ensuring all costs—including labor, materials, subcontractors, plant, and preliminary expenses—remain within approved budget allocations.
Evaluate budgets proactively to detect cost overruns, uncommitted expenses, and potential financial risks, then propose corrective measures to project teams.
Oversee accounting for Work-in-Progress (WIP) in strict alignment with the construction contract accounting requirements outlined in IAS 11 and IFRS 15.
Process interim payment certificates (PCs), subcontractor payment applications, and supplier invoices to ensure they align with contract milestones and validate their accuracy.
Assist the Quantity Surveyor with valuations, re-measurements, and final account negotiations involving clients and subcontractors.
Oversee the administration of contract retention calculations, release schedules, and bond tracking for all ongoing projects.
IT Systems, Data, and Digital Finance Tools: The role involves overseeing the implementation, maintenance, and optimization of IT infrastructure, data management systems, and digital finance solutions to enhance operational efficiency and strategic decision-making across the organization.
Employ all ERP and project accounting software systems to serve as the unified, authoritative source for financial data across every project.
Develop and sustain automated Excel solutions, including models and macros using VBA and Power Query, to facilitate cost tracking, cash flow forecasting, and payroll reconciliation.
Design and oversee Qlik (or comparable) dashboards to provide real-time visibility into project financial performance, ensuring accessibility for both project and site teams.
Integrate financial data from field systems—such as site timesheets, materials requisitions, and fuel logs—into the accounting system to reduce manual data entry and mitigate the risk of errors.
Develop and maintain a standardized digital document management system to oversee all project financial records, including contracts, PCs, variations, and purchase orders, utilizing platforms such as SharePoint, Alone, and Procure.
Assess current financial workflows and propose IT enhancements, particularly mobile-first solutions for on-site data collection and approval processes.
Serve as the primary Finance Super-User for the ERP system, delivering training to project staff, safeguarding the accuracy of the chart of accounts, and coordinating with IT to manage system configuration and upgrades.
Implement and maintain robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard financial data, encompassing controlled system access, comprehensive audit trails, and reliable data backup protocols.
The position involves ensuring robust financial oversight in procurement activities, meticulously monitoring expenditures, and verifying compliance with established financial policies and regulations. Key responsibilities include analyzing procurement data, assessing cost-saving opportunities, and providing strategic recommendations to optimize financial performance. The role demands a keen eye for detail, strong analytical skills, and proficiency in financial software to track and report on procurement-related transactions. Applicants must possess a degree in finance, accounting, or a related field, along with relevant experience in procurement or financial oversight. Familiarity with regulatory frameworks and internal auditing procedures is essential, as is the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to drive financial accountability and efficiency.
Thoroughly examine and confirm all procurement requests and purchase orders to ensure alignment with the authorized project budgets prior to any financial commitments.
Review purchase orders that have not been finalized and open Goods Receipt Notes (GRNs) to identify any potential impacts on project cost projections.
Utilize procurement-to-pay functionalities within the ERP system to ensure three-way matching—between purchase orders, goods receipt notes, and invoices—is completed prior to processing payments.
Handles cash flow management and provides treasury support to ensure optimal liquidity and financial stability.
Develop and update weekly project-specific and consolidated cash flow forecasts, as well as revise them at key program milestones, to ensure accuracy and alignment with project timelines.
Oversee client billing cycles, ensure timely IPC submissions, and track payment receipts to enhance working capital efficiency.
Flag any potential cash flow risks, including payment delays and front-loaded expenditures, and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies to the Head of Finance.
Draft drawdown requests and compile financial reports for project financiers, banks, or development finance institutions as required.
Ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and financial integrity through robust compliance frameworks, statutory obligations, and stringent financial control mechanisms.
Ensure every project-related financial transaction adheres strictly to Kenyan financial regulations, the stipulations set forth by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and the internal control frameworks established by the company.
Oversee the accurate calculation and remittance of withholding tax (WHT) on payments made to subcontractors and professional service providers, ensuring strict adherence to Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) regulations.
Ensure all construction contracts are processed with accurate and timely VAT treatment, encompassing both reverse-charge mechanisms and VAT on retention.
Maintain a comprehensive, fully traceable project file containing financial records, contracts, variations, and approvals, ensuring it is perpetually prepared for both internal and external audit assessments.
Assist with the completion of year-end statutory audit activities, focusing on tasks such as preparing work-in-progress schedules, managing accruals and prepayments, and reconciling contract assets and liabilities.
Ensure strict adherence to segregation of duties, approval authority frameworks, and financial delegation policies governing project expenditures.
Manages payroll processing and oversees labor cost tracking to ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance with regulatory standards.
Responsible for managing the processing and reconciliation of site-specific payroll, which includes casual laborers, artisans, and specialized trades such as plumbers and carpenters, while ensuring precision and adherence to the Employment Act’s regulatory standards.
Reconcile labor cost allocations by project, cost center, and activity code, then input the data into project cost reports.
Collaborates effectively across departments and maintains robust engagement with stakeholders to ensure alignment and drive project success.
As the primary financial advisor to Project Managers and Resident Engineers, you will participate in project progress meetings, assess project programs, and contribute financial insights to critical decision-making processes.
Collaborate with Quantity Surveyors to manage contract administration, prepare claims, and resolve disputes efficiently.
Partner with the HR and Administrative teams to oversee workforce cost management and the allocation of benefits costs to various projects.
Conduct financial evaluations to furnish data-driven insights that inform contract proposals, pricing assessments, and strategic go/no-go determinations for upcoming ventures.
Compile and present financial packages and briefing materials for client project steering committees or joint venture governance meetings as needed.
The role focuses on enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring robust financial oversight. Responsibilities include identifying inefficiencies, implementing process improvements, and maintaining compliance with financial governance standards. Candidates must possess a strong analytical mindset, proficiency in financial analysis tools, and experience in process optimization. The position requires meticulous attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive sustainable improvements. Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and risk management practices is essential for success in this role.
Consistently evaluate and enhance financial processes, reporting workflows, and system integrations to enhance accuracy and operational efficiency.
Prepare comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to document and standardize project financial management processes.
Foster a financially responsible culture among site and project teams by implementing training initiatives, establishing transparent policies, and conducting consistent financial evaluations.
Compile and deliver regular financial governance reports to the Head of Finance and Chief Financial Officer.
Seeking a highly skilled professional with a minimum of five years of experience in a relevant field, preferably holding a bachelor’s degree or higher in a related discipline. Proficiency in industry-specific software and tools is essential, alongside strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities. The ideal candidate will demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven track record of delivering results in fast-paced environments. Leadership experience and the ability to mentor junior team members are highly desirable. Knowledge of current trends and best practices within the industry is required, as well as a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
Holders of a relevant academic qualification are invited to apply, with at least a bachelor’s degree in a pertinent field required for consideration. Advanced degrees or specialized certifications may be advantageous, depending on the specific role and industry demands. Applicants must demonstrate a solid academic foundation aligned with the position’s core requirements to ensure suitability for the role.
Hold an accredited university degree in Finance, Accounting, Commerce, or a closely related discipline.
Seeking a highly skilled professional with extensive hands-on experience in the relevant field, demonstrating a proven track record of success in complex projects and initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of [X] years of progressive experience in [specific industry/role], showcasing expertise in [key skills or areas of knowledge]. Responsibilities include leading cross-functional teams, driving strategic initiatives, and delivering measurable results that align with organizational objectives. Strong problem-solving abilities, exceptional communication skills, and the capacity to mentor junior staff are essential. Familiarity with industry-standard tools, methodologies, and best practices is required, along with a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
Minimum six years of progressively responsible experience in project accounting, cost accounting, or financial management is required.
A minimum of three years of hands-on involvement within the construction, civil engineering, or infrastructure contracting industry across Kenya or East Africa is highly desirable.
Candidates with a proven track record in overseeing multiple financial portfolios, collectively valued at KES 500 million or more, will be considered a strong asset.
Proficient in a range of technical and IT competencies, candidates should demonstrate expertise in system administration, network management, and software development. A strong grasp of cybersecurity principles, database administration, and cloud computing platforms is essential. Familiarity with programming languages such as Python, Java, or C++ is required, along with experience in troubleshooting hardware and software issues. Knowledge of DevOps practices, Agile methodologies, and IT infrastructure management is highly desirable. The role demands the ability to analyze complex technical problems, implement efficient solutions, and maintain robust IT systems to support organizational objectives.
Proficiency in ERP systems is required, with practical experience using at least one construction or project-focused ERP platform such as Sage 300 Construction & Real Estate, SAP (PS module), or a comparable solution. Candidates must showcase expertise in configuring project cost codes, generating reports, and extracting operational data efficiently.
Proficient in leveraging advanced Excel functionalities, including Pivot Tables, LOOKUP/LOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, and financial modeling, with a solid working understanding of VBA macros and Power Query to facilitate automation.
Proficiency in business intelligence tools such as Qlik or Tableau, or comparable solutions, is preferred for the development and dissemination of financial dashboards.
Full mastery of the MS Office 365 Suite is required, encompassing Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and Word, to facilitate professional communication and streamline document management within a cloud-based infrastructure.
Proficiency in digital document management systems, including but not limited to SharePoint, Alone, Procure, or comparable platforms, for the organization, tracking, and processing of project documentation, approval workflows, and financial records.
Proficient in maintaining data integrity and cybersecurity awareness, with a strong grasp of financial data governance principles, access control mechanisms, audit trail protocols, and established data backup methodologies.
Demonstrated expertise in key functional areas, including advanced analytical skills, problem-solving proficiency, and effective communication abilities. Proven capacity to collaborate across teams, adapt to evolving priorities, and deliver measurable results in fast-paced environments. Strong organizational aptitude, attention to detail, and commitment to maintaining high standards of accuracy and efficiency. Capable of managing multiple responsibilities while prioritizing tasks strategically to meet deadlines and project objectives. Exhibits leadership qualities, including mentoring team members, fostering a positive work culture, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
Proficient in project accounting fundamentals with a strong grasp of construction contract revenue recognition under IFRS 15 standards and work-in-progress (WIP) accounting practices.
Analytical Thinking: Demonstrates proficiency in distilling extensive datasets into concise, strategic financial recommendations.
Requires exceptional precision in maintaining, reviewing, and reconciling all financial documentation and reports ensuring flawless accuracy.
Commercial awareness encompasses a comprehensive grasp of contract frameworks, including lump sum, re-measured, and cost-plus arrangements, alongside procurement methodologies and the full spectrum of construction project stages.
The role demands strong communication skills, specifically the capacity to distill intricate financial data into clear, accessible language tailored to non-financial project teams and senior leadership.
Maintaining unwavering integrity and exercising the utmost discretion are essential, as the role demands adherence to the strictest professional ethics when managing sensitive financial and commercial information.
Proactive and self-driven, the ideal candidate demonstrates strong initiative by independently recognizing challenges and implementing effective solutions without requiring constant oversight. This role demands an individual who takes ownership of their work, anticipating opportunities for improvement and driving progress through decisive action.
Adaptability is essential, requiring the capacity to prioritize tasks efficiently and perform optimally within a dynamic, multi-project construction setting characterized by rapid pace and diverse demands.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
6 years
