Project Controller - Finance

Purpose of Position

This role sits within the APAC Finance Business Partnering team and is primarily responsible for project controlling across an assigned portfolio. It provides timely, accurate and practical financial support to Project Management Units (PMUs), focusing on project setup, budgeting and forecasting, financial performance monitoring, revenue and billing, cost allocation, working-capital management, compliance support and project close-out. The role also supports regional finance activities, systems and process improvements, audits and other operational priorities as required.

Primary Responsibilities

Project Controlling (assigned portfolio):

• Act as principal finance contact for assigned PMUs, providing day-to-day financial support and clear advice to project leaders.
• Prepare, maintain and communicate accurate project budgets, forecasts, actual results and portfolio-level reporting, including variance and risk analysis.
• Establish and maintain project structures, coding, chart-of-account mappings, timesheet configurations and other financial-system requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
• Maintain project revenue schedules and support accurate revenue recognition in line with contracts, budgets, group policies and accounting requirements.
• Coordinate, review and process client billing, ensuring invoices are accurate, complete, timely and properly documented.
• Monitor and reconcile work in progress, unbilled revenue and project balance-sheet items, driving timely clearance of outstanding balances.
• Support accounts receivable management, follow up overdue balances and escalate collection risks.
• Review project cost forecasts regularly, ensuring costs are complete, appropriately allocated (reimbursable vs. non-reimbursable) and supported by reliable assumptions.
• Monitor financial performance against budget, contract and delivery plans; identify overruns, under-recovery or margin pressures and work with PMUs on corrective actions.
• Support project-level tax, on-cost and regulatory requirements, escalating compliance matters to specialist teams.
• Maintain project financial records, control schedules and compliance registers to support internal review, audit readiness and governance.
• Coordinate project financial close-out, including final billing, cost recovery, balance clearance and records archiving.
• Ensure PMU staff have access to, and are trained on, finance and reporting systems.

Regional Finance & Legal-Entity Compliance:

• Provide financial information and coordination support for statutory reporting, tax filings, employment-related obligations and legal-entity audits.
• Maintain assigned compliance registers and supporting schedules; escalate deadlines, information gaps or control issues.

Project & Operational Support:

• Support PMUs in meeting financial requirements, resolving process issues and improving the quality and timeliness of financial information.
• Assist with donor, client, internal and external audits by extracting information, preparing reconciliations and coordinating documentation.
• Provide financial setup and information support for new projects, offices or legal entities.
• Liaise with Accounting, Accounts Payable, Payroll, Timesheets, Tax and other corporate teams to resolve financial and compliance matters.
• Provide guidance and practical training to PMU staff on finance processes, reporting tools and project controls.

Continuous Improvement & Team Support:

• Influence and manage client expectations; build strong relationships with client project teams and present solutions to complex issues confidently.
• Take ownership of deliverables and contribute to process improvement through innovative, cost-effective ideas.
• Provide back-fill for team members on leave or at capacity.
• Support development and implementation of global, regional and localised policies and procedures.
• Investigate and provide information requested through corporate/owner audits.
• Test and provide feedback on finance and reporting systems, supporting implementation of changes.
• Embrace innovation and technology (AI, data, technology) to introduce new ways of working.

Reporting Requirements

Reports to the Finance Business Partnering Lead. Requirements include attendance at team and regional meetings, and regular (minimum monthly) one-to-one meetings with the line manager on KRAs, career development and other matters. In-office presence is required for the majority of the working week.

Key Relationships

Part of the APAC Finance Business Partners Team; liaises closely with Project Accounting Teams, Project Managers, Project Coordinators/Operations Managers, Business Development Capture Managers and other employees.

Minimum Education & Experience

• Degree in finance, accounting, commerce, business or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience in project controlling, project accounting, management accounting or financial support for project-based operations.
• Practical experience with budgeting, forecasting, revenue and billing, cost control, reconciliations, working capital and financial performance reporting.
• Strong Excel capability and confidence with complex financial, project-management and reporting systems.
• High attention to detail, sound financial judgement and ability to investigate variances through to resolution.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines, coordinate inputs from multiple stakeholders and drive adherence to financial timetables.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders and provide practical guidance/training.
• Collaborative, service-oriented and adaptable approach with a commitment to continuous improvement.