Projects Accountant

Burhani Engineers Limited is one of the most reputable engineering firms in Nairobi, Kenya, with over four decades of proven excellence in the engineering industry. Established more than forty (40) years ago, the company has built a strong legacy founded on innovation, technical competence, and dependable service delivery.

We specialize in delivering comprehensive engineering solutions across multiple disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, civil engineering, and instrumentation. This multidisciplinary expertise enables us to successfully undertake and execute a wide range of projects across diverse business sectors.

Our strength lies in our team of highly skilled and experienced professionals who are committed to providing high-quality, reliable, and cost-effective engineering solutions tailored to meet our clients’ specific needs. Through a strong focus on quality, safety, and performance, Burhani Engineers Limited continues to be a trusted partner in engineering excellence and sustainable development.

1. Job Purpose

The Projects Accountant is the financial steward of all project operations, responsible for end-to-end financial management — from budget origination and cost control through to final account settlement and audit-readiness. The role drives financial accuracy, compliance, and transparency across a dynamic multi-project contracting environment, partnering with project managers, quantity surveyors, and site teams to ensure every shilling is tracked, justified, and reported in real time. A key expectation of this role is the ability to leverage digital and IT tools to automate, integrate, and improve financial visibility across the project lifecycle.

2. Key responsibilities 

2.1  Project Budgeting & Financial Planning

• Lead the preparation, implementation, and ongoing monitoring of project-specific budgets aligned to Bills of Quantities (BoQs), contract values, and project programmes.
• Develop rolling financial forecasts (monthly/quarterly) incorporating scope changes, variation orders, and project progress updates.
• Maintain budget-vs-actual dashboards using Excel (advanced) or ERP/project management tools, with real-time visibility for project managers and senior leadership.
• Integrate budget data with project scheduling tools (e.g. MS Project, Primavera) to align financial and time-based project planning.

2.2  Financial Reporting & Management Accounts

• Prepare accurate, timely financial reports entailing project P&Ls, cost-to-complete (CTC) analyses and earned value reports on a monthly and ad-hoc basis.
• Produce variance analyses comparing actual costs vs. budgets and forecasts, with clear written commentary for management decisions.
• Consolidate multi-project financial data into company-wide project portfolio reports for the Head of Finance and the Management Board.
• Utilize ERP/accounting system reporting modules (SAP, Sage, QuickBooks, or equivalent) to generate structured management accounts.
• Produce KPI dashboards (utilization rates, cost burn, profitability by project, WIP schedules) using Excel pivot tables, Power BI, or equivalent BI tools.

2.3  Cost Management & Control

• Monitor and track all project expenditures including labour, materials, subcontractors, plant, and preliminaries against approved budgets in real time.
• Identify cost overruns, uncommitted costs, and budget threats early and recommend corrective action to project teams.
• Manage Work-in-Progress (WIP) accounting in line with IAS 11/IFRS 15 construction contract accounting standards.
• Process and validate interim payment certificates (IPCs), subcontractor payment applications, and supplier invoices against contract milestones.
• Support the Quantity Surveyor in valuations, re-measurements, and final account negotiations with clients and subcontractors.
• Administer contract retention calculations, release schedules, and bond tracking across all active projects.

2.4  IT Systems, Data & Digital Finance Tools

• Use ERP and project accounting software as the single source of financial truth across all projects.
• Build and maintain automated Excel models and macros (VBA/Power Query) for cost tracking, cash flow forecasting, and payroll reconciliation.
• Develop and maintain Qlik (or equivalent) dashboards for real-time project financial performance monitoring accessible to project and site teams.
• Integrate financial data from field systems (site timesheets, materials requisitions, fuel logs) into the accounting system, minimising manual data entry and error risk.
• Implement and enforce a digital document management protocol for all project financial records — contracts, IPCs, variations, purchase orders — using document management systems (e.g. SharePoint, Aconex, Procore).
• Evaluate and recommend IT improvements to financial workflows, including mobile-first tools for site-based data capture and approval workflows.
• Act as Finance Super-User for the ERP system: provide training to project staff, maintain chart of accounts integrity, and liaise with IT on system configuration and upgrades.
• Ensure cybersecurity best practices in handling financial data — including controlled system access, audit trails, and data backup protocols.

2.5  Procurement Financial Oversight

• Review and validate all procurement requests and purchase orders against approved project budgets before commitment.
• Monitor and flag uncommitted purchase orders and open GRNs that may affect project cost forecasts.
• Leverage procurement-to-pay modules within the ERP system to enforce three-way matching (PO, GRN, Invoice) before payment release.

2.6  Cash Flow Management & Treasury Support

• Prepare and maintain project-specific and consolidated cash flow forecasts, updated weekly or at programme milestones.
• Monitor client billing cycles, IPC submission schedules, and payment receipts to optimise working capital.
• Flag cash flow risks (payment delays, front-loaded expenditure) and propose mitigation actions to the Head of Finance.
• Prepare drawdown requests and financial reports for project financiers, banks, or development finance institutions where applicable.

2.7  Compliance, Statutory, & Financial Controls

• Ensure all project financial transactions comply with Kenyan financial regulations, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) requirements, and company internal controls.
• Manage and account for withholding tax (WHT) on subcontractor and professional fee payments in line with KRA guidelines.
• Ensure timely and accurate VAT treatment on construction contracts, including reverse charge mechanisms and VAT on retention.
• Maintain a complete, auditable project file — financial records, contracts, variations, approvals — ready for internal and external audit at all times.
• Support year-end statutory audit processes including work-in-progress schedules, accruals, prepayments, and contract asset/liability reconciliations.
• Enforce segregation of duties, approval authority matrices, and financial delegation policies across project expenditure.

2.8  Projects Payroll & Labour Cost Management.

• Oversee the processing and reconciliation of site-based payroll comprising casual labourers, artisans, and plumbers, carpenters etc ensuring accuracy and compliance with Employment Act requirements.
• Reconcile labour cost allocations per project, cost centre and activity code, feeding data into project cost reports.

2.9  Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary financial partner to Project Managers and Resident Engineers by attending project progress meetings, reviewing project programmes, and providing financial input to key decisions.
• Liaise with Quantity Surveyors on contract administration, claim preparation, and dispute resolution.
• Collaborate with the HR/Admin team on workforce cost management and benefits cost allocation to projects.
• Provide financial analysis to support contract bids, pricing reviews, and go/no-go decisions for new projects.
• Prepare financial packs and briefings for client project steering committees or joint venture governance meetings as required.

2.10  Process Improvement & Financial Governance

• Continuously identify and implement improvements in financial processes, reporting workflows, and systems integration to drive accuracy and efficiency.
• Develop and document Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for project financial management processes.
• Drive a culture of financial accountability across site and project teams through training, clear policies, and regular financial reviews.
• Prepare and present periodic financial governance reports to the Head of Finance and CFO.

3.1  Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Commerce, or a related field from a recognised university.

3.2  Professional Experience

• Minimum 6 years’ progressive experience in project accounting, cost accounting, or financial management.
• At least 3 years’ direct experience in the construction, civil engineering, or infrastructure contracting sector in Kenya or East Africa is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-project financial portfolios with an aggregate value of KES 500M+ is an added advantage.

3.3  Technical & IT Skills

• ERP Proficiency: Hands-on experience with at least one construction/project-focused ERP system — Sage 300 Construction & Real Estate, SAP (PS module), or equivalent. Must demonstrate ability to configure project cost codes, run reports, and extract data.
• Advanced Excel: Proficient in PivotTables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, financial modelling, and at least working knowledge of VBA macros and Power Query for automation.
• Business Intelligence: Experience with Qlik, Tableau, or equivalent tools to build and publish financial dashboards is highly desirable.
• MS Office 365 Suite: Full proficiency in Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and Word for professional communication and document management in a cloud-based environment.
• Digital Document Management: Familiarity with systems such as SharePoint, Aconex, Procore, or similar for managing project documents, approvals, and financial records.
• Data Integrity & Cybersecurity Awareness: Understanding of financial data governance, access controls, audit trails, and data backup best practices.

3.4  Core Competencies

• Financial Acumen: Deep understanding of project accounting principles, construction contract revenue recognition (IFRS 15), and WIP accounting.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to synthesise large volumes of data into clear, actionable financial insights.
• Attention to Detail: High standards of accuracy in all financial records, reports, and reconciliations.
• Commercial Awareness: Understanding of contract structures (lump sum, re-measured, cost-plus), procurement models, and construction project lifecycle.
• Communication: Ability to translate complex financial information into plain language for non-finance project teams and senior management.
• Integrity & Discretion: Highest standards of professional ethics in handling confidential financial and commercial data.
• Initiative & Ownership: Proactive self-starter who identifies problems and drives solutions without being directed.
• Adaptability: Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced, multi-project construction environment.

Application Deadline:
This position will remain open for applications until 19th June 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.