Project Accountant

Job Summary

The Project Accountant supports Project Management by overseeing the financial aspects of a project throughout its duration. This role involves analyzing labor efficiency, cost trends, under/overbilling, and other financial reports relevant to the project, providing regular and ad-hoc reports to the Project Manager.

About the role

Supports the Project Management team to conduct cost and revenue analyses for all projects. Handles all accounting functions related to assigned projects, including invoicing, payments, and compliance. Understands and ensures compliance with project requirements.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Project Management team to conduct cost and revenue analyses for all projects.
• Handle all accounting functions related to assigned projects.
• Oversee invoicing, payments, and compliance for assigned projects.
• Understand and ensure compliance with project requirements.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Aid the Project Manager with initial project setup in Viewpoint.
• Update data as needed based on contract changes or revisions.
• Review sub-consultant invoices and manage sub-consultant purchase orders.
• Guide billers on invoice preparation, format, and distribution, ensuring timely follow-up on any overdue accounts or unbilled costs.
• Participate in project review meetings, providing monthly updates to the Work in Progress (WIP) report for each project.
• Support project closeout processes.
• Review project charges and facilitate cost transfers as necessary.
• Maintain fully executed owner-contractor/purchase orders.
• Ensure compliance with owner requirements, such as billing deadlines, waivers, and certified payroll.
• Monitor the status of pending change orders and invoices, ensuring timely invoicing in the correct format.
• Monitor accounts receivable and assist project managers in collections.
• Track project budgets and assist with quarterly profit projections.
• Provide project managers and clients with timely financial reports, budgets, and forecasts.
• Prepare pre-billing reports for Project Manager review.
• Prepare contracts based on client requirements and report any related budget amendments.
• Prepare labor reports comparing current run rates to estimated figures.
• Perform cost analysis and reporting for the following: Job setups (including cost codes and budget sheets when required), re-budgeting based on job requirements, pencil requisitions, underbilling analysis to assess over/underbilling by cost code or SOV, change orders, requesting updates from Project Managers regarding the status of AWOs, quarterly cost-to-complete analysis, delay claims.

Qualifications/Skills

• Ability to handle sensitive situations tactfully with colleagues.
• Strong team-building and cooperative relationship skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
• Capability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Highly organized, excellent communication skills, and adept at prioritizing tasks.
• Ability to multi-task and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Quick to learn new systems and processes.
• Strong understanding of contracts and scopes of work.
• Integrity, honesty, and a strong drive for success.

Education/Training

• Average or Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, or Engineering is preferred but not required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in job cost, cost accounting, and/or construction accounting is preferred.
• Familiarity with Accounting systems such as Procore, Vista, or Timberline.
• Experience with Bluebeam, Adobe, and Document Control processes is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook applications.

About Hellman Electric

Hellman Electric LLC is one of New York City's leading electrical contractors. Over its long-standing history, Hellman Electric has expanded from its heavy construction roots to become a full-service electrical construction firm with Design-Build and Trade Management capabilities. Today, Hellman Electric offers an efficient, capable, and adept professional team for delivery of state-of-the-industry installations for every type of client. In other words, we're a full-service electrical contractor of turnkey solutions for heavy construction, interiors, core & shell, and datacom projects. A hands-on, client-focused firm that exudes speed, flexibility, and responsiveness, we offer a cradle-to-grave approach covering design, implementation, construction, and project management.