London, UK
Global project accounting leader
at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is seeking a global project accounting leader to join its team in London.
At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity and collaboration. Together we can achieve great things.
Success at SOM means:
- ideas: we believe in a meritocracy of ideas. We look to everyone to actively contribute to the discourse in the firm
- knowledge: we believe that expertise is the result of lifelong learning. We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers, develop new skills and deepen our knowledge
- product: we strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work
- individual: we value individuals who bring the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity in the way they work. Each person can develop and contribute their wealth of attributes, skills and knowledge to support the overall health of the firm
- team: we value the power of interdisciplinary integration. A positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals is essential
- firm: we have a history of making transformative contributions to the profession and our communities. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work
Leadership responsibilities:
- actively leads, trains and mentors team members
- directly supervises staff and is committed to direct reports’ professional development
- develops and engages in talent strategy to find specialists, leaders, and future professionals for the firm through resume review and interviews, as applicable
- actively engages in internal and external professional development opportunities
- develops and/or manages, in collaboration with team members, a clear and consistent work plan to achieve budget, deliverables, and schedule
- encourages incorporation of sustainable strategies in all project assignments, as applicable
- contributes to the development of standards, policies, and procedures
- protects SOM from financial and legal risk.
Minimum qualifications:
- degree in accounting/business administration or comparable experience
- prior mentoring and supervision responsibilities
- seven years +Project or Job Costing experience and percent complete accounting
- experience within the architecture, engineering or construction industries
- hands-on, especially in terms of billing, project accounting, and contract review
- ability to prioritise, organise workflows and juggle conflicting demands
- requires in-depth knowledge of the project accounting role, including project budgets, labor costs, estimate to complete, estimate at completion, billed and earned revenue
- exceptional communication skills (written and oral)
- ability to interface with and provide strategic guidance to Key Stakeholders across the firm
- strong communication skills, including the ability to write and present findings
- experience with Microsoft office including but not limited to Microsoft Excel
- experience with multicurrency project accounting
- experience with Deltek Vision ERP software preferred
Position responsibilities
Provide strategic oversight to project accounting and project management on complex projects including:
- project set up
- invoicing set up
- planning and budgeting
- project financial execution
- consultant management
- project health evaluation
- work closely with senior leaders, CFO, and partners to achieve the best financial outcomes
- responsible for project-related financial functions and reporting including but not limited to project financial performance, variance analysis, accounts receivable and forecasting
- analyse estimate to complete and estimate at completion, review with a project team for accuracy
- assist project managers in identifying potential additional services
- perform project accounting duties on complex projects
- collaborate with local and global finance team to evaluate, develop and implement project accounting tools & procedures that enhance and improve overall results
Meetings:
- develop and maintain a schedule of required meetings for both this role and the team
- participate in ongoing project reviews with project managers as necessary
- facilitate meetings with leadership (including project managers and partners) from a summary level including staffing, comprehensive project performance, projects at risk, billings and collections and coordinate back-up and balance workload within the team
SOM offers opportunities to work on transformational projects, competitive salaries, health insurance, wellness, retirement and financial and other work/life plans.
At SOM, we welcome and encourage diversity in the workplace. We believe an inclusive environment benefits our employees, our firm, and our community, while also enriching and challenging our own thinking about design. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
Click here to learn more about SOM’s employment policy and how to apply offline.
Portfolios must be submitted for all design positions (architecture, interiors, planning, etc). Applications without work samples will not be reviewed. Portfolios should be one PDF attachment, 10-20 pages, maximum 5MB. Submit portfolios as part of your application in the section where the application asks you for your resume or CV.