Project Accountant

About the role

The Project Accountant position supports the project team throughout the completion of a project. This includes providing regular updates regarding project profitability, sub-contractor compliance, and any outstanding risk management issues requiring the team's attention.

Responsibilities

• Support construction operations with accurate financial data
• Assist project managers with project cost projections and reconciliations through project cost reports
• Support executive project financial status review through Project Financial Status Reports (PFSR)
• Ensure compliance with company risk management practices by collecting and tracking signed contracts, builder's risk insurance policies, trade contractor insurance, waivers, sworn statements, bonds, and notice of furnishings
• Maintain accurate and detailed project financial records including client, trade contractor, and project information files to a quality level expected by auditors
• Serve as a personal point-of-contact with trade contractors, providing orientation conversations for trade contractors working with Christman for the first time and answering questions regarding payments and contract compliance
• Process project financial transactions including managing all financial transactions performed in the normal course of a construction project between the company, project owner, and trade contractors using the database system
• Manage project start-up; load project budgets, issue subcontracts, and perform all other activities required to appropriately structure accounting systems for the project type
• Process owner invoices; reconcile job costs, load schedule of values, billing rates, and other information needed to support the contractual invoicing procedure and company risk management and accounting standards
• Process trade contractor invoices; reconcile trade contractor invoices, batch, cut and post trade contractor payments, and print checks
• Manage and process all financial transactions generated by changes to the original project contract and scope (owner change orders and trade contractor change orders)
• Manage project close-out including final billing adjustments, subcontract finalization, archiving, and other processes that confirm complete execution of the project contract

Schedule & work environment

• Full-time position, onsite in the Lansing or Grand Rapids office
• Minimal travel required; majority of travel done during work hours; overnight stays may be required

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in business, accounting, or related field
• Two (2) or more years of accounting/project accounting experience
• Equivalent combination of the above education, training, and experience may be considered
• Proven ability to maintain the highest levels of integrity, and handle, update, and maintain sensitive information in a confidential, timely, and professional manner
• High level of accuracy and advanced attention to detail
• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, set priorities and see projects through to completion
• Ability to employ problem-solving skills and analysis and report problems to the Project Leader and/or Controller
• Strong service orientation and knowledge of the project structure in a client/consultant business environment
• Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.; sponsorship is not available

Preferred qualifications

• Associate or bachelor's degree in accounting or business
• Detailed knowledge of project contracts and change order documents
• Knowledge of the construction industry and industry terminology
• Three (3) years of experience in project accounting

Benefits

• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• HSA contribution
• 401K contribution
• Professional development and tuition reimbursement