RENEE JONES
PERTH,WA
Summary
Results-oriented Project Accountant with 19 years of experience managing diverse financial projects. Improved DSO from 75 days to 57 days, enhancing working capital efficiency. Closed two major LNG capital projects, managing complex costing structures and various stakeholder reporting requirements.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Project Accountant
Wood Group
01.2023 - Current
- Achieved savings of over $1 million during client audit by employing investigative methods and addressing challenging audit findings.
- Improved DSO from 75 Days to 57 Days, thus unlocking working capital tied up in the balance sheet.
- Provide leadership and guidance to project accounting and cost control team members.
- Overseeing and preparing of all contract budgets and forecasts for multiple operations contracts across APAC West group.
- Active management of cash to ensure payment is received from the client in line with payment terms, and optimisation of DSO.
- Work closely with project controls to ensure adequate change management and billing optimisation.
- Overseeing and preparing of monthly, bi-annual, and annual reporting for APAC West.
- Cash flow forecasting
- Month-end close activities, including calculation and analysis of financials.
- Journal preparation and review & approve team accruals for all contracts
- Ensured revenue and cost recognition aligned with accounting standards and company policy for the West team.
- Oversight and preparation of client billing to ensure alignment to contractual terms
- Extensive experience of contract commercials to understand rate build-ups and recovery of costs to ensure maximised cash position.
- Ensure compliance with accounting, credit risk, and code of conduct policies.
- Ensure all contracts process and procedures used on contracts are fully documented.
- Facilitate and liaise with internal and external auditors for client audits.
- Provide a balance of support and challenge to the business in all areas of financial performance including gross margin reviews, indirect and overhead spend, cash collection & forecasting assumptions.
- Senior Project Accountant: Wood Group Nov 2018 Dec 2022
Project Accountant
Clough Amec Pty Ltd
09.2017 - 11.2018
- Showcased significant project impacts
- Contributed valuable insight and influence with the setup and establishment of the project task structure, resulting in a more streamlined and efficient costing framework.
- Summarized core responsibilities
- Preparation of monthly project financial reports
- Month end journals, adjustments & provisions
- Review & analysis of cost & revenue
- WIP analysis
- Budgeting and forecasting of the project; cost & revenue
- Cash flow forecasting; cost and revenue
- Client billing
- Assist project controls manager with project setup
Finance Analyst, Costing
Alcoa Australia
03.2017 - 07.2017
- Key Achievements:
- Automated fixed asset depreciation calculations in MS Excel across 8 locations, streamlining reporting and significantly reducing processing time within Finance Support Group.
- Key Responsibilities:
- Raw Materials & Chemicals, WA Operations;
- Month-end adjustments & costing, including; swaps & gas adjustments, in-transit movements & FX rate adjustments, energy accruals & general journals.
- Monthly reporting & costing
- General ledger reconciliations
- General financial services support for site accountants
- Conducted asset inventory counts and evaluated fixed capital expenditures to support financial analysis and decision-making.
Management Accountant, Project Accountant & Assistant Accountant
Woodside Energy Ltd
01.2009 - 04.2015
- Key Achievements:
- Successfully closed $7 billion of fixed assets & 2600 cost objects for the Pluto LNG Project through effective problem-solving & collaboration with both finance & non-finance personnel.
- Closed remaining cost objects of NR2 Project 3 months ahead of target by developing strategies and promptly gathering & interpreting information.
- Key Responsibilities:
- Prepare and present: annual budgeting, monthly (projects) & quarterly forecasting at varied FX rates.
- Analysing project expenditure.
- Prepare and Present Monthly variance reporting & analysis to various stakeholders.
- Prepare quarterly & bi-annual variance reports to executive management.
- Review, calculate and post month-end adjustments, accruals, and allocations.
- Reviewing and calculating allocations residuals and time-writing rates.
- Reviewed and processed cash calls and non-operator JV billing statements.
- Closed 2600 primary WBS cost objects by investigating, collaborating, and correcting fixed assets, contracts, commitment spend, work orders, expenditure, and GL balances across multiple companies and JV assets.
- Reconciling contracts (Including+$100 mill Contracts) and subsequent commitments at varied FX rates.
- General accounting support to management, project personnel & business support staff.
- Assist project managers to set up work breakdown structures.
Assistant Accountant
George Weston Foods (Watsonia Smallgoods)
01.2007 - 12.2008
- Key Achievements:
- Prepared weekly variance analysis reports on manufacturing operations for executive management, enhancing decision-making at junior level.
- Key Responsibilities:
- Produce weekly variance analysis reports relating to materials, labour and overhead.
- Month-end reporting relating to materials, labour, and overhead.
- Month-end adjustments including journals, accruals, and overhead allocations.
- Monthly general ledger reconciliations
- Evaluated work-in-progress status to identify bottlenecks, facilitating improved workflow efficiency.
- Assisting with COGS maintenance
- Monitored and recorded manufacturing key performance indicators to track throughput efficiency.
Telesales Operator & Distribution Clerk
George Weston Foods
07.2003 - 02.2006
Accounts Payable/Administration Assistant
Challenger TAFE
12.2002 - 06.2003
Data Entry Clerk (TEMP)
Australian Taxation Office
06.2002 - 12.2002
Education
Certified CPA -
CPA Australia
01-2012
Bachelor of Commerce - Prof. Accounting
Murdoch University
01-2006
Skills
- Budgeting and forecasting lead
- Reporting and variance analysis
- Project and Management Accounting
- Finance business partnering
- Understanding of commercial contracts
- Management reporting and presentation
- Microsoft Excel and Power BI
- Oracle and SAP
- Change management
- Team management
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Leeming and District Lions Club, Review/Audit Financials, 2017, 2018
- West Leeming Primary School P&C Assoc, Treasurer, 2016, 2017
Timeline
Lead Project Accountant
Wood Group
01.2023 - Current
Project Accountant
Clough Amec Pty Ltd
09.2017 - 11.2018
Finance Analyst, Costing
Alcoa Australia
03.2017 - 07.2017
Management Accountant, Project Accountant & Assistant Accountant
Woodside Energy Ltd
01.2009 - 04.2015
Assistant Accountant
George Weston Foods (Watsonia Smallgoods)
01.2007 - 12.2008
Telesales Operator & Distribution Clerk
George Weston Foods
07.2003 - 02.2006
Accounts Payable/Administration Assistant
Challenger TAFE
12.2002 - 06.2003
Data Entry Clerk (TEMP)
Australian Taxation Office
06.2002 - 12.2002
Certified CPA -
CPA Australia
Bachelor of Commerce - Prof. Accounting
Murdoch University