Chartered Accountant (ICAN) - Construction & Engineering Port Harcourt

Pyfinest Resources - Our client, a well-established and fast-growing civil engineering construction company, is  recruiting to fill the position below:  Job Title: Chartered Accountant (ICAN) - Construction & Engineering

Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers

Employment Type: Full-time About the Opportunity

We are looking for more than an Accountant. We are looking for a Financial System Builder. Our client is a well-established civil engineering and construction company headquartered in Port Harcourt, with multiple projects and operational activities across Nigeria. As the company continues to grow its project portfolio and operations, it is seeking an experienced ICAN Chartered Accountant to strengthen its accounting and financial management systems. This is an opportunity for a hands-on accounting professional who can look beyond routine bookkeeping and build systems, controls and reporting structures that give management accurate financial information and keep the business compliant. If you can take an Accounting Department from “keeping the books” to “running a controlled financial system,” we want to hear from you. The successful candidate will take responsibility for the company's accounting operations and will play a key role in establishing robust financial controls, reporting systems, compliance processes and project-accounting structures appropriate for a growing construction and engineering business. You will work closely with Management, Project Teams, Procurement, Administration and external auditors to ensure that the company's financial information is accurate, timely, compliant and useful for decision-making.

Review existing accounting processes, systems, and controls and identify gaps. Develop and implement appropriate accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls. Establish a disciplined chart of accounts capable of producing meaningful management and project-level reports. Strengthen documentation, authorization, and approval processes for financial transactions. Establish proper segregation of duties and accountability across the finance function. Improve the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of financial records.

Project & Construction Accounting (This is a critical part of the role.):

Project/job costing and cost allocation. Tracking project revenue, direct costs, and overheads. Project profitability analysis. Budget versus actual expenditure. Cost-to-complete monitoring. Tracking variations, claims, retentions, and project receivables. Monitoring subcontractor and supplier balances. Equipment and plant-related costs. Identifying cost overruns and financial leakages early. Preparing project financial reports for Management.

Prepare accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual management accounts. Produce meaningful profit & loss, balance sheet, and cash-flow reports. Prepare project-specific financial reports and performance analyses. Provide Management with timely financial information to support business decisions. Develop appropriate financial KPIs and reporting dashboards. Analyse financial performance and highlight risks, trends, and areas requiring management attention. Prepare annual financial statements and schedules for audit.

Take ownership of the company's accounting-related statutory obligations, including:

Companies Income Tax. VAT and other applicable transaction taxes. Withholding Tax. PAYE and payroll-related statutory obligations. Tax filings, schedules, and reconciliations. Tax documentation and compliance records. Liaising with relevant tax authorities and professional advisers where required. Ensuring that the company remains compliant with applicable Nigerian tax legislation. The successful candidate must be capable of keeping the company prepared for tax reviews, audits, and regulatory scrutiny.

Coordinate annual external audits and ensure timely provision of audit schedules. Maintain complete and properly organized accounting records. Prepare audit working papers and supporting documentation. Follow up on audit queries and implement agreed corrective actions. Ensure financial reporting complies with applicable Nigerian accounting and reporting requirements. Maintain proper documentation for statutory and regulatory filings.

Cash Flow, Banking & Working Capital:

Prepare and monitor cash-flow forecasts. Manage bank reconciliations and cash positions. Monitor receivables and payables. Strengthen credit-control and collection processes. Track outstanding client certificates, invoices, retentions, and other receivables. Monitor supplier and subcontractor obligations. Provide Management with early warning of potential cash-flow pressures.

Procurement, Payments & Internal Controls:

Working closely with Procurement and Management, ensure that:

Purchases are properly authorized and documented. Supplier invoices are properly verified before payment. Payment processes have appropriate approval controls. Supporting documentation exists for every material expenditure. Procurement costs are properly coded and allocated to projects. Financial controls reduce the risk of errors, duplication, unauthorized expenditure, and fraud.

Assets, Equipment & Inventory:

Plant and heavy equipment. Vehicles. Tools and other fixed assets. Equipment acquired for projects. Depreciation and asset registers. Inventory and consumables. Asset movements and disposals.

Mandatory Requirements

Full membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). Minimum 5 years' relevant post-qualification experience in accounting/finance. Proven experience in a construction, civil engineering, infrastructure, manufacturing, oil & gas services, equipment-hire, or similarly project-driven environment. Strong practical knowledge of project accounting and cost control. Demonstrable experience developing or strengthening accounting systems and internal controls. Strong knowledge of Nigerian taxation and statutory compliance. Excellent knowledge of financial reporting and accounting principles. Strong proficiency in accounting software/ERP systems and Microsoft Excel. Demonstrable experience preparing management accounts, financial statements, budgets, and cash-flow forecasts. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Ability to work independently and take ownership of the finance function.

Construction/project accounting. Infrastructure or engineering companies. Equipment hire/leasing operations. Procurement-heavy businesses. Multi-project environments. ERP/accounting-system implementation or restructuring. Internal control design and implementation. Audit and tax management. Management reporting and financial dashboards will have a distinct advantage.

This Role Is Not For You If...

You are primarily a bookkeeper, transaction processor, or accounts officer looking for a routine accounting position.

See the gaps. Build the systems. Control the numbers. Protect the business. And give Management a clear financial picture of what is really happening.

What You Can Expect

A senior-level opportunity within a growing Nigerian engineering and construction organization. Significant autonomy to strengthen and professionalize the accounting function. Direct exposure to Management and major business/project decisions. Opportunity to implement improved financial systems, controls, and reporting processes. Competitive remuneration Salary: N300,000 monthly commensurate with experience and demonstrated capability. A challenging environment where your accounting expertise can make a measurable business impact.

Not Specified. How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should send their updated CV highlighting relevant construction/project accounting experience with a brief cover letter explaining how you would strengthen the company's accounting systems and controls and Evidence of ICAN membership/qualification to: [Email hidden - Login to reveal] using “Chartered Accountant – Construction” as the subject of the mail.

The company operates across multiple project locations in Nigeria, and the successful candidate must be prepared to support financial operations and reporting across the company's various projects and operational activities. Only candidates who meet the stated qualification and experience requirements will be shortlisted.