Director of Project Accounting

Position Summary

The Director of Project Accounting leads all aspects of project financial operations from project setup and budgeting through forecasting, invoicing, reporting, and project closeout. This role provides strategic leadership overall project-level financial operations ensuring accurate revenue recognition, contract compliance, and actionable financial insight across project lifecycles. This role partners closely with Project Managers, Finance, and Operations leadership to optimize project performance and support firm-wide profitability.

Position Responsibilities

• Strategic Oversight
• Drive the continuous evolution of the project accounting function, aligning financial operations with business goals and fostering a culture of innovation and accountability
• Lead and develop the project accounting team, in partnership with the CFO, setting performance standards, and providing mentorship
• Support the development of financial acumen within project and operations teams through coaching, training, and ongoing business partnership
• Establish and enforce project accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls aligned with GAAP and FAR
• Drive consistency in revenue recognition, IP analysis, and percent-complete methodologies across all projects and offices
• Project Financial Management
• Oversee project setup, budgeting, forecasting, billing, and close-out processes
• Monitor project profitability, backlog, and cash flow; identify risks and recommend corrective actions
• Review and approve complex contract terms, change orders, and billing arrangements
• Ensure timely and accurate invoicing in compliance with contract requirements (T&M, lump sum, cost-plus, etc.)
• Oversee estimates-at-completion (EAC) processes and project forecasting to ensure accurate assessment of project financial performance and margin attainment
• Partner with operations and finance leaders to improve billing efficiency, collections performance, and overall DSO metrics
• Reporting & Analysis
• Deliver predictive project performance analytics that identify emerging risks and opportunities and support achievement of profitability targets
• Support month-end and year-end close processes related to project revenue and unbilled/deferred revenue
• Partner with CFO and FP&A on forecasting, budgeting, and long-range planning
• Business Development
• Partner with Operations and Business Development teams to support project pricing, fee development, and contract profitability analysis
• Collaboration & Process Improvement
• Serve as a strategic advisor to Business Unit Leads and Project Managers on financial performance, contract compliance, and risk mitigation
• Champion continuous improvement in processes, systems and tools
• Own the automation and dashboard roadmap for project financial reporting, partnering with FP&A and IT on execution
• Support audit requirements related to project accounting
• Develop and implement training programs that enhance project accounting capabilities across the organization

Qualifications

• Experience/Education Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 10+ years of progressive project accounting experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role
• Experience in A/E, consulting, or professional services project accounting
• Strong command of revenue recognition, contract accounting, and WIP management
• Experience with ERP systems (Deltek Vision/Vantagepoint preferred)
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and scale a high-performing team
• Preferred:
• CPA or MBA
• Familiarity with multi-entity or multi-office operations

Skills & Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Partners with Operations while serving as an independent voice for financial discipline
• Builds business acumen across project and operations teams, not just within Finance
• Excellent communicator who is able to translate financial data into actionable insights for non-financial stakeholders
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and deadline-driven
• Collaborative leader who builds trust across departments
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving change in a growing organization

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform work in a professional office environment, including prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Ability to use standard office equipment, including a computer, keyboard, mouse, telephone, scanner, copier, and printer
• Ability to occasionally stand, walk, bend, reach, and retrieve or file documents in an office setting
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move office materials or files weighing up to fifteen pounds

Work Environment & Travel

• Occasional travel or in-person meetings may be required based on business needs.
• The role may require flexibility during month-end, billing cycles, or other deadline-driven finance activities.

What You Will Get

• This is a full-time role with compensation commensurate with experience and expertise.
• Aventia offers a robust and competitive benefits package that includes a 401(k) with company match, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending account options.
• You’ll also benefit from a generous paid time off program that includes nine paid holidays annually, vacation time, and wellness leave, along with strong support for continuing education and professional development.