Interim Project Accountant

Eaton Syalon are partnering exclusively with an organisation where an opportunity has arisen for a highly analytical Project Accountant to support a critical finance project focused on the recovery of complex aged debt across a large and multifaceted sales ledger. This role will take ownership of a forensic accounting assignment, investigating and resolving historic discrepancies following a major systems change. The Role You will play a key role in identifying, analysing, and recovering significant aged debt. This will involve deep data mining, reconciliation, and significant stakeholder engagement to resolve long-standing billing inconsistencies. A core part of the role will be working directly with local authorities (funders) to review, challenge, and agree commercial terms, ensuring alignment between contracted rates, billing, and funding received.,

• Conduct detailed forensic analysis of aged receivables dating back to 2019
• Reconcile discrepancies between internal billing rates and local authority funding agreements
• Investigate variances arising from system changes, annual uplifts, and rate misalignment
• Analyse self-billing arrangements and resolve issues where funders have not recognised invoices
• Identify, validate, and align backdated care package changes and additional service charges
• Undertake detailed financial analysis of income per resident vs cost of care
• Identify gaps where historic uplifts (e.g. 2-3% annually) no longer reflect the underlying cost base
• Review long-standing placements and funding arrangements across a complex population
• Engage directly with local authorities to:
• Review contractual agreements and historic rate changes
• Challenge discrepancies in funding vs billed amounts
• Agree commercial positions on uplifts, backdated adjustments, and contract variations
• Lead discussions to resolve complex, often disputed balances and drive agreement on recoverable debt
• Support the end-to-end recovery process of outstanding balances
• Deliver clear reporting, audit trails, and insights to senior stakeholders
Key Challenges
• Navigating complex, historic data with limited initial processes or controls
• Resolving mismatches between agreed funding rates and billed amounts over multiple years
• Leading commercial discussions with local authorities on contract interpretation and rate changes
• Balancing financial recovery with commercially viable long-term funding positions
• Unpicking self-bill arrangements where documentation and clarity are limited
  
  Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent)
• Strong experience in forensic accounting, reconciliations, or complex ledger reviews
• Proven ability to analyse large datasets and identify financial discrepancies
• Experience dealing directly with external stakeholders, ideally local authorities or public sector funders
• Comfortable leading commercial conversations and negotiating outcomes
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to link cost of care to funding levels
• Resilient, detail-oriented, and solutions-focused with strong communication skills
Desirable Experience
• Background in healthcare, social care, or public sector funding environments
• Experience reviewing contracts, funding agreements, or commercial terms
• Exposure to billing system transitions or legacy data remediation
• Experience in self-billing environments