Assistant Finance Manager

Costain are working with Thames Water on a variety of water and wastewater projects and have fantastic opportunities for individuals to join our growing AMP8 delivery team, working predominantly across the Thames Valley and Thames South regions. There is a mix of projects ranging from smaller capital maintenance to large civil new build schemes. 

At Costain, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.

This is a home based role with travel to our Camberley, London and Nottingham offices as required.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Support the contract teams in managing the financial performance of the contract and accurately reporting and forecasting the results of the contract. This includes supporting the preparation and review of the Contract Leaders’ Report (CLR) to ensure that it adequately reflects the status of the contract, and that the financial performance is being reported in line with Group guidelines and Financial Reporting Standards
• Contract Accounting - integrity of costs, revenue ledgers and transaction processing
• Ensure that all cash book, accounts receivable, accounts payable and general ledger books of entry and processes are administered in an accurate and timely manner
• Maintain Framework Balance Sheet reconciliations on a regular basis
• Responsible for VAT and CIS submission and queries, including registration where necessary, and compliance with current legislation
• Manage the contract cash flow including deposits and partner distributions
• Finance point of contact for internal and client audits
• Ensure timely partner invoicing and dispute resolution
• Oversee and support the invoice processing team ensure the accurate processing, verification, and reconciliation of all supplier invoices, using the Costain E1 plant system
• Maintain accurate records of all hours worked by all directly employed labour by setting up and maintaining appropriate systems and procedures
• Record and retain accurate Staff costs, whilst maintaining consolidated individual information in relation to IT, Company Vehicles, Company Mobile Phones, HO Professional Service staff, training charges etc.
• Preparing and posting accurate Journals, Accruals and Prepayments in line with Accounting Policies and accurate cost allocation
• Assist with preparation of accounting papers in conjunction with commercial leads for internal and audit review

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Essential

• Experience working in a finance department in a similar role
• Strong written, oral and analytical skills with attention to detail and an ethical approach to data including respecting the confidential nature of information
• Advanced understanding of Microsoft, specifically excel
• Self-motivate, reliable and agile individual
• Honest, resilient and competent individual with high emotional intelligence
• Ability to assimilate, understand, analyse and present data
• Ability to solve complex problems under pressure in a calm and rational manner whilst always acting with integrity
• Able to develop and maintain good relationships with internal and external stakeholders of the business at all levels

 

Desirable

• Experience with Microsoft Power BI
• Experience of working with Oracle Enterprise One

Qualifications

Essential 

• Degree level qualification in a relevant field or substantial experience

Desirable

• Relevant qualification (i.e. Chartered Accounting)

 

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Costain helps to improve people’s lives with integrated, leading edge, smart infrastructure solutions across the UK’s energy, water, transportation and defence markets. We help our clients improve their business performance by increasing capacity, improving customer service, safeguarding security, enhancing resilience, decarbonising and delivering increased efficiency. Our vision is to be the UK’s leading smart infrastructure solutions company. We will achieve this by focusing on blue chip clients whose major spending plans are underpinned by strategic national needs, regulatory commitments, legislation or essential performance requirements. We offer our clients leading edge solutions that are digitally optimised through the following five services which cover the whole lifecycle of their assets: future-shaping strategic consultancy; consultancy and advisory; digital technology solutions; asset optimisation and complex programme delivery. Our culture and values underpin everything we do.