Project Accountant (Reporting and Compliance)

Reporting to our Head of Project Accounting, you’ll take the lead on implementing finance project reviews with our project managers. This is a key role at the heart of UKCEH’s research funding ecosystem - one that ensures our world‑leading science is delivered with integrity, accountability and financial excellence. 

As our lead for UKRI grant reporting, you’ll play a pivotal part in safeguarding the smooth running of our funded projects, enabling researchers to focus on tackling major environmental challenges. Working closely with project managers, project accountants and research funders, you’ll act as a trusted expert who guides colleagues through complex reporting requirements and drives continual improvement in our financial project management processes. 

Your main responsibilities will include:  

Lead and deliver UKRI grant reporting 

• Act as UKCEH’s lead for UKRI grant reporting, ensuring accurate and timely submission of Financial Expenditure Statements (FES) via the Joint Funding Service portal. 

• Co‑ordinate and schedule all UKRI reporting activity.  

• Serve as the primary contact for audit documentation, managing queries from auditors and research councils on UKRI grants. 

• Provide backup cover for JeS submissions and administration. 

• Work collaboratively with the Project Reporting and Compliance Lead through weekly progress meetings. 

Support wider funder reporting and audits 

• Review cost statements for a range of external funders, such as UN and UNEP projects, ensuring clarity and compliance. 

• Prepare funder reports where required e.g. UNESCO projects, and support the EU Reporting Lead as needed. 

Lead on finance project reviews 

• Schedule and deliver financial project reviews using existing tools, working closely with senior Project Accountants. 

• Develop and embed a formal project review framework, including start‑up reviews, pre‑closure checks and risk‑based scheduling. 

• Empower Project Support Officers for perform reviews by enabling a consistent, standardised approach to project reviews. 

Drive continuous improvement 

• Collaborate with Project Accountants to create clear, tailored reporting templates for a variety of funders. 

• Support the rollout of key finance policies, such as subcontracting and project manager finance task notes, helping to strengthen best practice across UKCEH. 

You’ll be joining a friendly, collaborative and values‑driven finance team, where your contributions genuinely matter. This role offers the chance to build strong relationships across the organisation, working closely with colleagues from diverse backgrounds, including project managers, scientists and operational teams. You’ll deepen your expertise, play a meaningful part in how we deliver our research programmes, and help ensure our pioneering environmental science continues to make a real‑world impact. 

To thrive in this role, you’ll bring a truly collaborative approach: someone who supports colleagues, delegates effectively and works confidently as part of a team. You’ll be skilled at partnering with non‑finance colleagues, translating financial information clearly and building trust with academic scientists and project teams. Alongside this, your strong organisational skills and ability to manage your workload independently will enable you to plan, prioritise and deliver high‑quality work in a dynamic, purpose‑driven environment. 

For the role of Project Accountant we’re looking for somebody who has: 

• Accountancy training or qualification - trainee, part or fully qualified (we’ll also consider alternative professional qualifications or non-qualification based relevant experience) 

• Experience with UKRI post‑award grant management, including familiarity with JeS or the Joint Funding Service 

• Proven experience in external funder reporting and audit processes 

• Strong financial systems experience (Workday desirable) and excellent Excel skills 

* This post can be equally performed based out of any of our four sites. (Lancaster, Wallingford, Edinburgh or Bangor) with flexible hybrid arrangements. 

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years. 

Working for UKCEH is rewarding 

We appreciate the continuous dedication and contributions of our staff, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes financial incentives and wellbeing-oriented perks, such as: 

• 27 days annual leave (rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service) plus 3 days for Christmas closure    

• 10% employer pension contribution   

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (role dependant)  

• Peer reward and recognition scheme  

• Dental insurance, gym/fitness discounts, retail discount portal 

• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave   

• 24-hour, 365-day support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues and much more...  

Apply today with a Supporting Statement  

If this opportunity resonates with you and aligns with your personal career goals, the team would love to receive your application. Please answer the following questions below, providing up to 150 words per question. Use specific examples from your experience and focus on your personal contribution and impact (Please do not submit a cover letter - your responses to the questions below will be used in place of a cover letter) 

• Give examples of where you have communicated financial information to non-finance colleagues, concentrating on academic/scientific colleagues where possible. 

• Outline your experience of UKRI grant post award reporting e.g. use of JeS/ joint funding service and submission of Final Expenditure Statements. 

• What interests you about this role and working for UKCEH (we are keen to understand your motivation for applying to UKCEH). 

Our Commitment to Inclusion 

At UKCEH, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and circumstances. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and people with disabilities, and we’re happy to provide adjustments or support at any stage of the recruitment process - just let us know. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we’d love to hear from you anyway. You may be just the right fit for this role or another within our wider team.