Management Accountant

Colas Ltd are a UK subsidiary of the global Colas Group, which operates in over 50 countries worldwide and employs over 55,000 people including over 1500 in the UK across multiple sites. We are specialists in highways construction and have been involved in large scale UK and international construction projects within the highways, airfields and marine sectors as well as offering highways maintenance services and manufacturing our own innovative surfacing products. We hold a ‘Gold Investor in People’ award for continuously developing and rewarding our employees, offering excellent career potential.

Colas Ltd have a great opportunity for a Management Accountant to join the team based at our Portsmouth Depot, PO6 1TA. Reporting to the Finance Manager, you will be responsible for timely and accurate completion of management accounts supporting delivery of an effective business partnering service with business and commercial managers. The role will include the production of monthly reports, budgets, and liaising with various stakeholders to ensure that risks and issues affecting performance are communicated clearly.

As a Management Accountant you will be able to identify opportunities for improvement in the finance systems, ensure financial protocols are maintained and manage, control, supervise and allocate workload within the finance and admin teams. With support needed, you will be required to ensure all costs are captured and allocated to contracts and/or departments accurately, effectively and in a timely manner, with a strict application of company governance and policies. Ensure sales invoicing and purchase ledger invoices are completed on a timely basis and allocated correctly and dealt with promptly. You will be able to produce accurate monthly management accounts, with particular focus on end of quarter and year end reporting, including Profit & Loss (P&L), key performance indicators, variance analysis and supporting commentaries in line with agreed reporting deadlines. Also, overseeing the timely production of weekly payroll and subcontractor payments. Your responsibility will be to prepare monthly reporting of Aged Working Capital (Debt & WIP), remedial and other provisions for contracts; liaising with project commercial managers and prepare the bi-yearly budgets including P&L, labour & equipment branch, overheads schedules as well as facilitating the preparation of the budget pack. You will act as guarantor of local financial governance (segregations of duties, financial authorities, engagement rules with suppliers, subcontractors and clients). Ensure compliance with group accounting policies for financial reporting, highlighting in advance any potential issues to management. You will develop relationships at all levels within the business to promote the value of the Finance function and actively develop and implement financial best practices.

The ideal candidate will be a qualified Accountant or minimum 5 years of relevant experience as Management Accountant within a construction / contracting environment. You will have excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and be confident in liaising with managers across the business. It is essential you have a good understanding and working knowledge of accounting and reporting systems, applicable legislation and the statutory and regulatory framework. Experience in the use of Microsoft Excel and Word is essential in this role as well being able to analyse and interpret data. We need someone who is able to hit the ground running and can support the team for 6 months. 

Here at Colas, we offer a great total compensation package, including:

• A salary between £35,000 and £42,000 (dependent on experience)
• Our Colas Pension Scheme has combined contributions of up to 10%
• Life Assurance Scheme which is x4 basic salary
• 25 days annual leave per year + Public Holidays 
• Holiday Purchase & Selling Scheme
• Hybrid Working Scheme (dependent on the role)
• Opportunities to study towards a fully funded Professional Qualification
• Ongoing personal / professional development
• Discounts on car leasing, holidays, cinema tickets, restaurants and much more through our online employee benefits portal

Note to Recruitment Agencies 

In line with our Company Policy, Colas Ltd has a preference for direct hiring and we will reach out to our PSL (Preferred Suppliers List) agencies if the role is eligible for release. We do not accept speculative CVs from agencies. If a speculative CV is sent, no fee will be applicable. 

As a business, we hold three core values Caring, Sharing and Daring. We are committed to Caring for our colleagues, promoting, equality and diversity, and maintaining a culture of fairness, transparency, and respect for all employees, clients, communities, suppliers, contractors, and other stakeholders. We harness a productive environment where talents are being fully utilised and organisational goals are met, Sharing our knowledge and expertise with colleagues to progress and expand on new ideas, promoting trust, responsibility, and solidarity. Our culture is built on an innovative and pioneering mindset, Daring to welcome new ideas and approaches. We are driven to invest in our employees and encourage them to participate in innovation, moving forward and striving to provide sustainable infrastructure solutions.