Chief Accountant, Antigua

Team: 4 to 5 finance and procurement staff
Package: US$80,000 to US$100,000 net per annum, plus vehicle and bonus

The role

An established Antigua-based construction contractor is building a stronger in-house finance team and needs a Chief Accountant to lead it. This hire will own the accounts and payroll, run the day-to-day finance team, and become the person the owners rely on for a clear, accurate picture of the business.

It is a hands-on, full-time role based in Antigua. The title is Chief Accountant, though the right person may equally see it as a Lead Accountant position. It suits a qualified accountant with Caribbean construction experience who wants to run the whole function, and it would also suit a finance director or CFO who prefers a closer, more practical seat. There is a genuine route to CFO as the business grows.

The business

Our client is a well-established, owner-led main contractor with a long track record on high-end private residences and commercial projects across the Eastern Caribbean. Individual projects range from under US$1 million to the mid-teens of millions, and the company employs a large direct workforce alongside a regular network of subcontractors.

The business runs its own project administration, logistics, procurement and accounting in-house. It is growing, it has the scale to need a proper finance function, and the owners want someone who will build it properly rather than simply keep it ticking over.

What you will be doing

Your first priority is to take full ownership of the accounts and payroll, get the ledgers, reconciliations and controls to a standard you are happy to sign off, and put a reporting rhythm in place that the owners can rely on. After that, the role is about running the function well and improving it.

• Owning the general ledger, month-end and year-end close, bank and balance sheet reconciliations, and the preparation of management and statutory accounts
• Running payroll for a large site-based workforce, working from digital timesheet data and making sure hours, allowances and deductions are right first time
• Managing accounts payable and receivable, cash flow forecasting and day-to-day treasury, with a sharp eye on supplier terms and client collections
• Supporting project cost control: tracking costs against budget by job, valuations and interim applications, retentions, and margin reporting the owners can act on
• Overseeing the procurement side of the team, so that purchase orders, approvals and supplier invoices tie together cleanly
• Handling tax, social security and other local statutory filings, and acting as the main point of contact for auditors, banks and advisers
• Reviewing the finance systems. The business currently runs QuickBooks and is open to moving to something better if you make the case
• Setting up the controls, policies and reporting cycle the business needs as it grows

Team, reporting and progression

You will lead a team of four to five covering accounts payable, accounts receivable and procurement, with some natural crossover between those areas. Part of the job is developing that team, setting clear responsibilities, and making sure the function does not depend on any one person.

You will report directly to the two owner-directors. There is no layer in between, so decisions are quick and your reporting will shape how the business is run. The role is designed to grow: as the company expands, the owners see the Chief Accountant stepping up into a CFO position.

What you will bring

The owners are clear on two things: construction and the Caribbean. You will understand how a contractor's finances actually work, from job costing and valuations to retentions and subcontractor payments, and you will have worked in the region, ideally in Antigua or elsewhere in the Eastern Caribbean, so local tax, payroll and banking practice is familiar ground.

• A recognised accounting qualification such as ACCA, CIMA, ACA or CPA
• Senior finance experience in construction or contracting, with responsibility for a full set of accounts
• Caribbean experience, either working in the region or with a Caribbean-based business
• Hands-on payroll experience for a sizeable hourly-paid or site-based workforce
• Strong QuickBooks skills, plus enough breadth to judge whether another system would serve the business better
• Experience leading a small finance team, and the confidence to report plainly to owners

Experience of building or strengthening an in-house finance function, or of a systems migration, would be a real advantage. So would a CFO or finance director background from a smaller business, or a strong number two who is ready to run the function outright.

Package and practical detail

This is an all-in package, with the salary paid net in US dollars. Accommodation is the employee's own responsibility, and the client is open to candidates relocating on their own or with a partner or family.

• US$80,000 to US$100,000 net per annum, dependent on experience
• Company vehicle
• Performance bonus
• Access to the local medical scheme, which is well regarded and used by most residents

Flights and international medical cover are not included.

This is a full-time, permanent position based in Antigua, with visits to active sites as needed. The start date is as soon as possible: the client wants the right person and will move quickly to secure them.

How to apply

This search is being handled by Thatcher Associates. For a confidential conversation about the role, contact James Griffin, at thatcherassociates.com. No details of your application will be shared with the client without your agreement.