Job Description:
The Finance Project Manager will play a critical role in supporting the Authority-wide Project Management Office (PMO) and Transport Technology teams in monitoring, managing, and reporting on project costs, budgets, and financial performance.
Key Responsibilities:
* Collaborate closely with the PMO and transport technology teams to monitor and control project budgets, ensuring adherence to allocated resources.
* Provide detailed financial analysis and reporting for all major projects, including tracking expenditure against budgets, forecasting costs, and identifying potential overruns.
* Assist in the development and implementation of robust financial management processes within the PMO, ensuring alignment with relevant guidance and best practices.
* Regularly review and assess project financial performance to ensure compliance with the Public Spending Code, Infrastructure Guidelines, and other applicable standards.
* Ensure that projects adhere to Value for Money principles, delivering efficient use of public funds while achieving strategic objectives.
Business Partnering and Advisory Support:
* Act as a trusted finance advisor to project managers and stakeholders across the organization, providing guidance on financial processes, budget management, and compliance requirements.
* Work with cross-functional teams to support the development of project charters, project initiation document, project business cases, ensuring they meet the standards outlined in the internal Project Approval guidelines, Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and other frameworks.
* Support operational teams in identifying cost-saving opportunities, improving financial outcomes, and optimizing resource allocation.
* Provide financial training and support to non-finance project leads to enhance their understanding of budgeting and financial management.
Financial Oversight and Reporting:
* Produce accurate and timely financial reports, dashboards, and updates for senior management, PMO leads, and external stakeholders.
* Develop and maintain robust financial tracking systems to ensure transparency and accountability in project delivery.
* Assist in the preparation of submissions and reports for external audits, funding applications, and regulatory compliance reviews.
Compliance and Governance:
* Ensure procurement procedures are in accordance with national and EU public procurement guidelines, regulations and directives;
* Ensure that a systematic risk assessment process is embedded in each project and play a key role in identifying and managing risk;
* Ensure that each project is developed in accordance with the authorities internal control framework;
* Ensure all project budgets and financial activities comply with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, including risk management and audit requirements.
Change Management and Transformation:
* Support the implementation of finance transformation initiatives aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of financial operations.
* Act as a change champion, ensuring finance processes are integrated into the PMO's workflows and adopted by project teams.
Qualifications and Experience:
* Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field.
* Professional qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent.
* 5+ years of experience in financial management, business partnering, or project finance roles including 2 years of management.
* Strong knowledge of public sector finance frameworks, including the Public Spending Code, Infrastructure Guidelines, and governance standards.