Interim Project Accountant - (Grant Finance Lead)

• 4-6 month contract
• £550-£575 per day
• Part time - 3 days a week

About the Role
This role will focus on establishing robust financial systems, processes, and controls for the management and disbursal of grant funding. The successful candidate will play a key role in overseeing grant payments, reconciliation, compliance, and financial reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Grant Management & Compliance

• Work closely with the lead grant recipient team to coordinate grant payments
• Act as a key point of contact for financial requirements, controls, and processes
• Ensure compliance with funding requirements and grant conditions

Financial Tracking & Reconciliation

• Develop and maintain a centralised grant payment tracking system (initially spreadsheet-based, with potential migration to software solutions)
• Lead reconciliation of grant payments against approved allocations and disbursals
• Identify, investigate, and resolve discrepancies

Systems & Process Development

• Review current finance processes and identify gaps, risks, and improvement opportunities
• Design and implement tools, templates, and controls to improve consistency and governance
• Review and enhance existing payment request, evidence, and reconciliation processes
• Develop financial reporting capabilities to provide insight into:
  • Grant payments by member organisation
  • Undisbursed grant balances
  • Programme-level financial performance

Essential Requirements

• Recognised finance/accountancy qualification
• Strong experience using accounting software and advanced Excel skills
• Experience in a finance business partnering or project support finance role
• Experience designing and implementing financial processes and controls
• Previous experience supporting grant-funded programmes