Projects Accountant

Burhani Engineers is seeking a highly capable Projects Accountant to serve as the financial steward of all project operations. This is a critical role responsible for end-to-end financial management — spanning budget origination, cost control, financial reporting, and final account settlement — across a dynamic multi-project engineering contracting environment. You will partner closely with project managers, quantity surveyors, and site teams to ensure every shilling is tracked, justified, and reported in real time.

A defining expectation of this role is the ability to leverage digital and IT tools to automate financial processes, integrate data streams, and improve financial visibility across the full project lifecycle. If you thrive at the intersection of construction finance and technology-driven reporting, this role offers significant scope for impact and professional growth.

• Lead preparation, implementation, and ongoing monitoring of project-specific budgets aligned to Bills of Quantities (BoQs), contract values, and project programmes.
• Develop rolling monthly and quarterly financial forecasts incorporating scope changes, variation orders, and project progress updates.
• Maintain real-time budget-vs-actual dashboards using advanced Excel or ERP/project management tools for project managers and senior leadership.
• Integrate budget data with project scheduling tools such as MS Project or Primavera to align financial and time-based planning.
• Prepare accurate, timely 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 versus budgets and forecasts, with clear written management commentary.
• Consolidate multi-project financial data into company-wide portfolio reports for the Head of Finance and Management Board.
• Generate structured management accounts using ERP/accounting systems such as SAP, Sage, QuickBooks, or equivalent platforms.
• Produce KPI dashboards covering utilisation rates, cost burn, profitability by project, and WIP schedules using Power BI, Excel pivot tables, or equivalent BI tools.
• Monitor and track all project expenditures — labour, materials, subcontractors, plant, and preliminaries — against approved budgets in real time.
• Identify cost overruns, uncommitted costs, and budget threats early; recommend and drive corrective action with project teams.
• Manage Work-in-Progress (WIP) accounting in compliance 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.
• Champion adoption and optimal use of ERP and project accounting software as the single source of financial truth across the business.

• Demonstrate at least 4–6 years of hands-on project accounting experience within a construction, engineering, or contracting environment.
• Apply advanced proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, dynamic dashboards, complex formulas) to build real-time financial tracking tools.
• Operate ERP or project accounting systems (SAP, Sage, QuickBooks, or equivalent) to generate management accounts and financial reports.
• Interpret and apply IAS 11 and IFRS 15 construction contract accounting standards accurately in day-to-day WIP and revenue recognition processes.
• Construct and present earned value analyses, CTC reports, and project P&Ls with clarity and precision for non-finance stakeholders.
• Build Power BI or equivalent BI dashboards to provide leadership with actionable financial intelligence.
• Collaborate effectively with project managers, quantity surveyors, and procurement teams to enforce cost control disciplines on site.
• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA(K) or ACCA qualification is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrate understanding of contract documentation including BoQs, variation orders, IPCs, and retention schedules.
• Communicate financial findings in clear written and verbal form to both finance and non-finance audiences.

The salary for this role is competitive and commensurate with experience, estimated in the range of KES 120,000 – 200,000 per month based on Kenyan market benchmarks for a mid-to-senior project accountant in the engineering and construction sector. Burhani Engineers offers a structured work environment with exposure to large-scale, multi-disciplinary engineering projects across the region.

• Competitive salary package
• Exposure to complex, high-value engineering projects
• Professional development opportunities

Ideal candidate: You are a detail-oriented, tech-savvy accountant with a strong background in project or cost accounting within the construction or engineering sector. You are comfortable working in a fast-paced, multi-project environment and can translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights for project and executive teams. You are proactive about identifying financial risks and confident in presenting findings to senior stakeholders.

Do NOT apply if: You have no prior experience in project-based or construction accounting, are uncomfortable with ERP systems and digital finance tools, or are looking for a purely transactional bookkeeping role. This position requires strategic financial thinking, not just data entry.

• Prepare an updated CV highlighting your project accounting experience, systems proficiency, and key achievements in cost control or financial reporting.
• Write a concise cover letter (no more than one page) explaining why you are the right fit for this role at Burhani Engineers.
• Submit your application through the Burhani Engineers official careers page or the job platform where this posting appeared.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment.