Project Accountant, Industrial Construction

About the role

The Project Accountant plays a key role in everyday accounting operations by acting as on-site liaison between the project management and accounting management teams.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, process and follow-up as needed on client billings / invoices.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with members of the construction project team(s) including project managers, project/field engineers, superintendents, and project coordinators.
• Enforce Company and client schedule and documentation requirements such as billing cutoff dates, insurance certificates, etc.
• Perform timekeeping duties including swipe verifications, balancing hours, and reporting to corporate payroll when the site’s payroll is ready to process.
• Collect, review, obtain approval and process sub/supplier/equipment invoices for payment.
• Code and approve Accounts Payable invoices in the Accounts Payable workflow.
• Serve as the point person for billing/PO issues for self-performed work, as assigned.
• Handle all billing issues such as change order increases, margin profit reviews, and PO’s, as needed.
• Assist project personnel in quantifying extras for incorporation into change requests or billings to clients.
• Provide site management with regular updates on open issues and AR concerns.
• For self-perform work, manage PO usage, labor usage, and ultimately profitability of the business as well as the risks associated with the work.
• Perform project audits to find and communicate system discrepancies / issues to the project accounting manager; assist with client-requested audits, as needed.
• Ensure all financial activities and requirements relating to project close-outs are carried out in a timely manner.
• Monitor conformance of subcontractors with payment requirements in their agreements, recommend remedial action such as joint or direct payments to downstream creditors to protect the company.
• Perform monthly reviews of project cost reports/contract status reports and demonstrate understanding of the over/under billings, which turn into WIP.
• Conduct monthly reviews/provide comments on Open AR & Open AP for continuous auditing to ensure all job costs in JDE are proactively billed to the clients.
• Respond to requests for information and analysis from the Project Managers on various job cost and subcontractor issues.
• Oversee craft onboarding and site orientation, addressing any questions and concerns about onboarding documents and their online user profile in the HRIS.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum of three years of relevant experience, preferably within the industrial, self-perform construction industry required; previous experience working in the field or in a plant environment strongly preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including strong listening skills.
• The ability to effectively prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• The ability to identify, analyze, and resolve problems and minor work issues.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work independently and effectively under deadlines and high pressure.
• Experience with self-perform work and knowledge of unions.
• Advanced computer skills with Microsoft Office (Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel) required.
• Previous experience with JD Edwards project costing system, TRACK time tracking software, and UKG Ready payroll/HR software (or similar) is a plus.