Project Finance and Contracts Administrator

This role plays a key part in supporting the day-to-day administration of contracts, maintaining accurate data, and acting as a professional point of contact for both clients and suppliers.

You must possess strong attention to detail and demonstrate the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively along with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

We have staff of approximately 300 talented architects, designers, heritage consultants and surveyors across 14 offices, in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia. Winners of Architect Employer of the Year 2022.

Collaboration is central to our employee-ownership culture, providing opportunities to work on some of the finest buildings; from meticulous heritage and conservation schemes to bold contemporary design. We offer a rewarding and supportive environment for personal and professional development and our employee-owned ethos empowers everyone to use their voice. We believe in creating an equitable and inclusive culture, founded on our values, which celebrates knowledge sharing and our successes, to build an inspiring work environment.

It is our distinctive employee-owned working culture that has contributed to our status as a World Architecture Top 100 Practice, renowned for our excellence in architecture and heritage consultancy.

Our benefits package includes

• Agile, flexible and hybrid working, (a minimum of 3 days in office, up to 2 days WFH)
• Annual leave increasing with long service
• Life assurance
• Study sponsorship with paid study leave
• Sabbaticals
• Employee assistance programme
• Season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Virtual GP service
• Subscription fees
• Company day out
• A volunteering scheme
• Enhanced learning & development opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate project financial management, including planning and forecasting, budget monitoring, and variance analysis.
• Oversee payment certification, invoicing, debtor control, and compliance with all contractual and reporting requirements.
• Ensure full compliance with NEC4 requirements by:
• Overseeing overall contract administration, including issuing instructions and managing changes.
• Applying NEC early warning procedures to proactively identify and manage risks.
• Supporting the assessment of compensation events by preparing and reviewing quotations before client submission.
• Raising, tracking, and managing purchase orders in line with procurement guidelines and deadlines.
• Manage sub-consultant appointments, including issuing contracts, purchase orders, contract changes, and addendums

Systems & Reporting

• Keep accurate records and databases related to project setup, budgeting, resourcing, financial record-keeping, contracts, suppliers, client interactions, making sure information is reliable and up to date.
• Produce clear monthly and quarterly financial reports.

Team Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with internal and external teams on all financial aspects of projects and contracts.
• Contribute to financial controls, policy development, and improve administrative processes where possible.

Skills & Experience Required

Essential

• Experience working with architectural or design-led consultancy businesses.
• Knowledge and practical experience with NEC4 contracts (preferably ECC and PSC forms).
• Proficiency in CMap or similar project management/ERP tools.
• Excellent numerical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain financial matters to non-financial stakeholders.
• High attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Use business software tools such as Excel, Outlook, and internal systems to support contract and project-related tasks.

Desirable

• Proven experience in financial management within the architecture, engineering, or construction sector.
• Familiarity with RIBA work stages and architectural project workflows.
• Knowledge of other project management software (e.g., MS Project, Primavera, or equivalent).

Please email a copy of your CV and portfolio referencing job code P0071 to [email protected]. Please include details of your Right to Work in the United Kingdom, as well as an available start date.

This job description is a guide to the duties the post holder will be expected to undertake. It is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive and will be subject to change as working requirements dictate and to meet the organisational requirements of Purcell.

Don’t meet every single requirement? That’s okay.

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented backgrounds can be less likely to apply unless they meet every criteria listed. At Purcell, we are committed to building an inclusive, transparent, and welcoming team. If you’re enthusiastic about the role and excited to grow and learn with us, we warmly encourage you to apply.

When applying, please feel free to use your preferred name — we don’t require full or birth names at this stage.
We are proud to foster a culture of kindness, respect, and authenticity, where everyone can thrive and bring their whole selves to work.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback. If you have not heard from us within 6 weeks of your original application, then you have been unsuccessful. Please continue to look at our vacancies and apply where relevant. We wish you all the best in your job search.

As world leaders of heritage and conservation, Purcell is committed to embracing diversity and equal opportunity within our international teams, reflective of the society in which we work and live.

We welcome people from all backgrounds and celebrate differences through our culture of employee ownership.