Project Accountant

Department: Accounting Location: Charlotte, NC Compensation: $75,000 - $85,000 / year Project Accountant Position Talbert, Bright & Ellington, LLC (TBE) is a full‑service professional aviation engineering firm focused on planning, design, and construction for airports in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Florida. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina for over 30 years, TBE employs more than 95 professionals. This role is in office 5 days a week and is fully responsible for managing and coordinating all aspects of project accounting, including project setup, budgeting, accurate revenue recognition, and billing. The successful candidate will professionalize a lean accounting function to support rapid organic and inorganic growth and must have experience using accounting software to manage project financials, including budgeting, invoicing, and reporting. Key Responsibilities Lead and manage day‑to‑day operations of project accounting, driving process improvements and implementing best practices to meet diverse contract requirements and ensure operational efficiency. Provide strategic support to leadership via clear communication regarding contract documents, change orders, contract modifications, approvals, and billing and revenue generation, ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Review and validate the accrual process to ensure accuracy, reasonableness, and compliance with accounting standards, proactively identifying discrepancies and implementing corrective actions. Analyze variances in project performance by researching and identifying root causes, optimizing revenue generation, and maximizing billing opportunities to enhance profitability during each period. Coordinate year‑end audit support by conducting research, reconciliations, and addressing auditor requirements, ensuring a seamless and accurate audit process. Oversee adherence to governmental contract requirements, ensuring full compliance with all regulatory and agency standards. Resolve complex contract and billing issues, taking ownership of escalated inquiries and exercising sound judgment to ensure timely and effective account resolutions. Standardize and enforce billing procedures across the organization, ensuring consistency and compliance with established billing policies and practices, while also improving process efficiency. Provide education and training to the organization on accounting practices and the Vantagepoint software system, ensuring all team members have a clear understanding of financial procedures and protocols. Develop and enforce comprehensive policies for all project accounting activities, report on project profitability, approve charges from billable projects to overhead, and ensure timely invoicing through the development of metrics and an invoicing tracking system. Ad hoc projects as needed. Skills, Knowledge and Expertise Bachelor’s degree or associate’s degree in accounting or business preferred. At least 7+ years of equivalent financial accounting experience required. Deltek VantagePoint experience preferred. Intermediate to advanced computer literacy, including experience in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel. Thorough knowledge of standard contract terms, including hourly, lump sum, not‑to‑exceed and how they are applied in the billing process. Ability to lead a team well under deadline situations and respond to changes in priorities. Strong written and verbal communication skills and strong organizational skills. Ability to work independently, take initiative and prioritize complex analytical tasks. Employ problem‑solving skills and analysis, and report problems to the Director of Finance & Accounting, as necessary. Strong service orientation and self‑starter. Able to work in a fast‑paced environment with numerous deadlines. Well organized, with good analytical skills and a high level of attention to detail. Support all divisions providing timely and accurate financial reporting, analysis and assistance as needed. Benefits Excellent compensation package. Outstanding holiday and paid‑time‑off programs. 401(k) plan and match. Career path development program (management & technical career tracks). Mentorship program. Tuition reimbursement. Competitive health and dental insurance premiums. Variety of voluntary benefit options. Short‑term disability / long‑term disability. Company‑furnished life insurance. Employee assistance program (EAP). Flexible spending account. and more. #J-18808-Ljbffr