Interim Project Accountant (Forensic / Debt Recovery Focus)
3-6 Months
Derbyshire (1-2 days per week at site)
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.
Key Responsibilities
* 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:
o Review contractual agreements and historic rate changes
o Challenge discrepancies in funding vs billed amounts
o Agree commercial positions on uplifts, backdated adjustments, and contract variations
o Lead discussions to resolve complex, often disputed balances and drive agreement on recoverable debt
o Support the end-to-end recovery process of outstanding balances
o Deliver clear reporting, audit trails, and insights to senior stakeholders
o Navigating complex, historic data with limited initial processes or controls
o Resolving mismatches between agreed funding rates and billed amounts over multiple years
o Leading commercial discussions with local authorities on contract interpretation and rate changes
o Balancing financial recovery with commercially viable long‑term funding positions
o Unpicking self‑bill arrangements where documentation and clarity are limited
About You
* 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
* 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
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