The Purpose of the Role
The Working Capital
Projects is responsible for overseeing and managing the financial aspects of
project delivery with a specific focus on optimizing working capital. This role
bridges the gap between project management and finance, ensuring that non-finance
team members (e.g., project managers, operations) actively contribute to
improving cash flow, budgeting, and the financial health of projects. The WCP
works closely with project teams to ensure that cash flow is managed
efficiently throughout the project lifecycle, from awarding to final delivery.
Key Responsibilities:
Project
Cash Flow Planning:
Collaborate
with project teams to ensure that project plans incorporate clear cash flow
timelines.
Help
team members matching project milestones with payments from clients and
payments to suppliers.
Develop
tools and templates to track financial health in a non-technical way, focusing
on key cash flow indicators.
Accounts
Receivable (AR) for Projects:
Work
with project managers to track project-specific receivables, ensuring timely
invoicing and payments from clients.
Simplify
the reporting of overdue payments or potential delays in receiving funds and enhance
their impact on project budgets.
Assist
in negotiating client payment terms that align with project schedules, reducing
the financial burden on the team.
Accounts
Payable (AP) for Projects:
Guide
non-finance project teams on managing supplier payments efficiently, ensuring
that payments are timed to match cash inflows from clients.
Help
project managers in accelerating payments, both project execution and working
capital.
Collaborate
with procurement teams in a way that positively impacts cash flow without
disrupting the project.
Budgeting
and Financial Forecasting:
Support
project managers in creating realistic budgets and financial forecasts by
simplifying financial inputs and outputs.
Help
non-finance teams anticipate the financial impact of project delays, scope
changes, or client variations in a clear and actionable manner.
Provide
financial insights in a way that aids decision-making, ensuring the team is
aligned with both project goals and financial targets.
Risk
and Contingency Planning:
Identify
potential financial risks, such as delays in client payments or increased
project costs, and how these risks could impact the project s working capital.
Work
with project teams to develop contingency plans that address potential working
capital shortages or budget overruns, ensuring the project remains financially
viable.
Collaboration
Across Teams:
Act
as the primary point of contact between project management and finance teams,
facilitating clear communication and understanding of financial priorities.
Help
non-financial stakeholders align their operational decisions with the company s
broader financial strategy by offering practical, easy-to-follow advice.
Collaborate
with contract management and legal teams to ensure that working capital
considerations are integrated into project contracts, including negotiating
favorable billing terms.
Key Skills & Qualifications:
Bachelor s
degree in Business, Project Management, or related field (experience in finance
or basic financial training is a plus but not required).
5+
years of experience managing complex projects with a focus on budgets, cash
flow, or financial oversight.
Familiarity
with project management tools and ability to incorporate financial insights
into project planning.
Strong
interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain financial concepts in a
simple, non-technical way.
Experience
collaborating with cross-functional teams, especially in procurement,
operations, and legal.
Problem-solving
skills with a focus on practical, project-specific solutions.
We Value:
Financial
Acumen (non-technical)
Project
Budgeting and Forecasting
Simplifying
Complex Financial Information
Communication
and Collaboration
Risk
Management
Problem
Solving and Contingency Planning
Negotiation
and Vendor Management
Work Environment:
Primarily
office-based with regular interactions with project teams and finance
departments. Occasional travel to project sites or client meetings may be
required.