Project Accountant

Astroscale UK are seeking a motivated newly qualified/finalist accountant to join our small and busy Finance team at our office in Harwell, UK.  

 

Reporting directly to the Head of Finance Development, this role will be key in supporting the financial management of both Research & Development (R&D) and commercial projects.  This will involve working with stakeholders in all areas of the business including Programmes, Engineering, Procurement and HR.  There will also be exposure to more technical accounting work such as revenue recognition and R&D claims.

 

Astroscale's work environment is fast-paced and dynamic, with plenty of opportunities to learn and contribute. The ideal candidate will be quick to pick up new processes and show initiative.   This role will be varied and challenging, providing an amazing opportunity for a newly qualified finance professional.

 

Responsibilities 

 

Project Forecasting, Accounting and Reporting:

• Work with the Head of Finance Development to maintain and improve the project forecasting process
• Support Project Managers in data preparation and analysis for monthly project financial status reports including
  • Actuals vs Budget, understanding what has happened during the month
  • Understanding project-to-date cost and cost-to-completion
  • Analysis of variance between current and previous forecasts 
• Support Project Managers with preparing resource analysis to better understand effort spent and identifying potential areas of risk to the project
• Support on Project audits 

Finance Operations:

• Take ownership of critical month end tasks such as revenue recognition and project cost allocation. 
• Work with the wider Astroscale finance team to develop financial systems
• Supporting the finance team with month end management reporting to Japanese holding company
• Supporting the finance team with managing the cashflow in relation to project income and costs
• Managing the accounts receivable function from raising invoices to providing commentary on aged receivables

 

Other activities:

• Supporting finance team with year end accounts and audit process.  This will include liaising with auditors for certain areas such as revenue recognition
• Assistance with conversion of reported UK GAAP figures to IFRS for group consolidated reporting as required
• Liaise with external accountant to provide information for the annual Corporation Tax return and R&D claims
• Other ad hoc reporting requirements requested by Japanese parent company

 

Essential Skills

 

• Part or newly qualified accounting qualification – CIMA, ACCA or ACA
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience with management or project accounting in industry
• Experience building or maintaining Excel models
• Confident in using Excel to manipulate and analyse data
• Embraces change and comfortable to challenge stakeholders in a productive and collaborative way
• Confident communicator
• Ability to identify and resolve problems
• Experience with general ledger functions and journal creation and entry
• Involvement in the budgeting/forecasting process

 

Desirable skills

 

• Experience with SAP Business by Design
• Project accounting
• Previous involvement in process improvement/implementation
• Familiar with the year-end process

 

 

Benefits

 

• Competitive base salary
• Opportunity to work with a highly talented, diverse & dynamic international team with cutting edge technology
• 9/75 work pattern
• Flexible working around core hours in a friendly and supportive environment
• Hybrid working available
• 25 days holiday (increasing yearly up to a maximum of 28 days) + 8 days Bank Holiday
• Life insurance and long-term sick pay
• Private healthcare (taxable benefit)
• Regular social events 

 

 

Location

 

Astroscale UK (Harwell), with potential for some travel to Astroscale Japan (Tokyo)

 

 

 

 

About Astroscale

                                                

We aim to deliver cutting edge technologies that will become part of routine commercial space operations by 2030.

 

Astroscale is the first private company with a vision to secure the safe and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations, and the only company dedicated to in-orbit servicing across all orbits. Founded in 2013, we are developing innovative and scalable solutions across the spectrum of in-orbit servicing missions, including End of Life services, Active Debris Removal, In-situ Space Situational Awareness and Life Extension Services, to create sustainable space systems and mitigate against the hazardous build-up of debris in space.

 

Astroscale is an Equal Opportunities employer and embraces a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

 

 

Note to recruitment agencies: Astroscale operates a preferred Supplier List, and we do not accept unsolicited agency approaches. Please do not forward candidate CVs or details in response to this advert, or to any Astroscale employee.