Accounting Specialist Lead

About the role

DOWL is a top-ranked, multi-disciplined consulting firm with over 60 years of experience in civil engineering and related services. Our in-house expertise spans Civil and Land Development, Construction-Related Services, Transportation and Structures, and Water and Environmental Services. The Finance and Accounting Department manages financial operations, ensures accurate reporting, and meets all compliance requirements, playing a vital role in sustaining the company's profitability and operational success.

The Accounting Specialist Lead serves as a senior resource for the Project Accounting Team, assisting with workload coordination, training, and process improvement while performing advanced project accounting functions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary technical lead and subject matter expert for the Project Accounting Team.
• Coordinate and facilitate training for the Project Accounting Team and Project Managers, ensuring consistent application of billing and project accounting practices.
• Partner with the Project Accounting Team to research and resolve invoice inquiries and special requests from clients and Project Managers.
• Coordinate and facilitate revenue generation and provide reports for period-end project adjustments.
• Manage monthly invoices and related reports for assigned billing group.
• Assist with project accounting group meetings.
• Advise Project Managers on client invoicing matters and collection-related issues.
• Research and analyze cash receipts, coding, and posting of receipts.
• Provide support for remote bank deposit processing.
• Coordinate project accounting activities with Project Managers, including project setup, project maintenance, and documentation governance.
• Review and validate monthly project financial reports to ensure accuracy of revenue recognition, billing, and client invoicing.
• Provide back-up assistance to Accounting Specialists.
• Assist with audit support activities, including preparation of audit support documentation for responding to auditor’s requests.
• Develop and recommend process improvements that enhance billing accuracy, revenue recognition, and financial controls.
• Monitor project financial performance and identify risks, trends, and corrective actions affecting revenue and billing outcomes.
• Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related discipline required.
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible accounting experience required, including at least 5 years of project accounting experience preferred.
• Experience in an architecture/engineering/construction environment preferred.

Skills

• Highly meticulous and organized in work.
• Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in resolving complex billing, revenue, and project accounting matters.
• Ability to self-motivate, act, and operate independently with minimal supervision.
• Proficient with Microsoft Applications.
• Experience with Deltek Vantagepoint preferred.
• Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with all levels of employees, management, and external parties to maximize performance, problem-solving, and achieve successful outcomes.
• Strong understanding of business office management.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly required to sit, talk, and hear.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to ten pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.