Lead Project Financial Accountant

Description Zutari: Co-creating an engineered impact. Zutari is a well-established, management-owned engineering firm with almost 90 years' experience. As human-centred engineering consultants and advisors, we are trusted by our clients, business partners, communities and other stakeholders across Africa. We co-create engineering solutions that have a positive impact and improve people's lives. Zutari values inclusion and recognises the importance of a diverse, talented workforce, believing that people need other people to succeed. What kind of talent do we pursue? We employ people with the right attitude and a positive mindset, who are motivated by doing the right thing, getting things done and share a sense of urgency. People who have an impact in our teams and broader community. People who think differently and connect with those around them to co-create new opportunities and leave a meaningful legacy. Role Responsibilities The Lead Project Financial Accountant is the most senior technical and people-leadership role within the Project Financial Accounting function, holding end-to-end accountability for the financial integrity of a portfolio of projects and business units. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the incumbent is the Region or Business Unit's primary authority on project finance, setting the standard for revenue recognition, working capital management, financial reporting and owning outcomes rather than individual transactions. The role carries full line management accountability for a team of Project Financial Accountants and Senior Project Financial Accountants, with functional oversight extending to Project Managers and Project Assistants. This spans team performance, capability development, resourcing and succession planning, positioning the Lead Project Financial Accountant as the critical link between operational project finance and senior Business Unit leadership. As a trusted advisor to Business Unit MDs and Operational Directors, the incumbent translates complex financial detail into clear, decision-ready insight and acts as the final point of technical review and escalation before matters reach the wider Finance function or external audit.

Key Responsibilities
Project Financial Accounting & Revenue Assurance:
• Hold end-to-end accountability for the financial integrity of a portfolio of projects and units, acting as the primary financial advisor to Business Unit MD(s)/Operational Director(s) on meeting monthly targets.
• Direct and quality-control the monthly revenue recognition process across the team, signing off on entries prepared by Project Financial Accountants and Senior Project Financial Accountants, including exception reasons and variance explanations at month end.
• Own the accuracy of the Fee Revenue Forecast and workload across the unit, ensuring project plans and backlog are correctly maintained.
• Provide final sign-off on project opening and closing processes prepared by the team, covering checklist completion, baseline margin reasonableness, DOA approval and billing terms. Working Capital & Financial Control:
• Take ownership of Working Capital performance across the portfolio, driving down Accounts Receivable ageing and WIP ageing and ensuring timely invoicing across the team.
• Champion consistent implementation of, and adherence to, the Delegation of Authority (DOA) across the team, escalating breaches where required.
• Approve financial transactions on the ERP system (Vantagepoint) beyond individual Project Financial Accountants' limits, including write-offs, provisions, credit notes, receipts and journals.
• Lead the bi-annual Working Capital certification process for the Region/Business Unit, including review of Project Managers indications and WIP approvals ahead of certification.
• Oversee monthly reconciliations, either compiling or reviewing as required.
• Identify and drive process and control improvements in project financial accounting across the team. Reporting & Business Partnering:
• Compile the monthly financial reporting pack for the Region/Business Unit and present findings to Business Unit leadership.
• Critically evaluate reporting outputs produced by the team before submission, holding the group to a consistently high standard.
• Partner with Business Unit leadership on financial queries, analysis and decision support beyond routine reporting.
• Lead financial reviews of tenders and proposals ahead of submission, assessing cash position, profitability, risk exposure and tax implications to inform bid decisions.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the external audit process, providing information and resolving audit queries on behalf of the team. Team Leadership & Development:
• Manage a team of Project Financial Accountants and Senior Project Financial Accountants as their direct line manager, including goal-setting, regular performance reviews and day-to-day people management.
• Identify skills gaps and drive structured development plans, building the team's capability and judgement to operate with less day-to-day oversight.
• Provide input into resourcing, recruitment and succession planning for the team.
• Act as the first point of escalation for complex or ambiguous project accounting matters raised by the team.
• Identify and adopt AI and other technology tools that improve the speed, accuracy, or efficiency of project financial accounting and drive their adoption across the team. Qualifications Minimum requirements
• B.
Com Accounting degree
- Essential
• Progress toward, or completion of, a professional qualification (e.g. CIMA, CA(SA))
- Advantageous Experience
• 7
- 10 years' experience in a project finance environment, including at least 3 years in a supervisory, review or line management capacity.
• Demonstrated experience owning revenue recognition, working capital and reporting outcomes for a multi-project multi-currency portfolio, not just individual projects.
• Experience with Deltek Vantagepoint or a comparable project accounting/ERP system.
• Proficient in MS Excel; working knowledge of Power BI is advantageous Skills Skills, and characteristics (add if applicable)
• Technical & Reporting
• Project Accounting & ERP Systems — Expert command of project set-up, revenue recognition, WIP, billing and budget management within ERP system, with the ability to identify and correct errors in others' work.
• Financial Reporting — Able to compile, quality-assure and present monthly financial reporting packs and reconciliations for a Region/Business Unit.
• MS Excel & Power BI — Advanced Excel proficiency for reporting and analysis; working knowledge of Power BI advantageous for dashboard-based reporting.
• Financial & Analytical
• Revenue Recognition & Working Capital Management — Deep technical mastery sufficient to resolve complex or ambiguous scenarios and set the standard the team is reviewed against.
• Commercial & Risk Analysis — Able to assess cash position, profitability, and risk exposure on tenders and proposals to support senior decision-making.
• Governance — Applies the Delegation of Authority consistently and identifies control gaps before they become issues.
• Interpersonal & Behavioural
• People Management — Sets objectives, conducts performance reviews, and manages the day-to-day output of a team of qualified accountants.
• Influencing & Advisory — Communicates financial insight persuasively enough to shape decisions made by Business Unit MDs and Operational Directors.
• Resilience Under Pressure — Sustains accuracy and judgement across a demanding portfolio and team review workload against firm month-end deadlines. Competencies
• Ownership & Accountability — Takes full accountability for the financial outcomes of the Region/Business Unit's project portfolio, holding a high personal standard and expecting the same of the team.
• People Leadership & Development — Builds capability in others through coaching and constructive review, with genuine investment in the growth and progression of the team.
• Stakeholder Credibility — Earns the trust of Business Unit MDs and Leaders as a finance partner whose judgement can be relied on without independent verification.
• Sound Judgement Under Ambiguity — Resolves complex or unclear project accounting scenarios in a way that holds up to audit and senior scrutiny.
• Continuous Improvement — Champions improvement in financial processes and controls, including the adoption of new tools and technologies that lift the team's accuracy and efficiency We believe that a diverse workforce is key to our business success. We seek the best people for our jobs based on their skills, qualifications, and experience. We embrace the principle of equal opportunity in employment, and we work towards eliminating all forms of unlawful discrimination in our employment practices. In support of diversity and the equal opportunity principle, preference will be given to individuals from designated groups within South Africa.