Project Accounting Manager

Job Description

As the Project Accounting Manager, you will manage and coach a team of project accountants and you will also perform the day-to-day work as a project accountant. This is a true "player/coach" role designed for someone who enjoys the hands-on work of a project accountant and enjoys managing a team. In this role, you will direct and coordinate the project accounts assigned for all contracts that include subcontractor and/or Time and Material (T&M) billings. As a project accountant, you will review, track and process invoices from subcontractors for projects within assigned business units and accumulate, process, and track the owner’s billings and payments on a timely basis.

Reports to the CFO.

PROJECT ACCOUNTANT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prepare, process and follow-up on invoices to clients.Specific duties include assisting project personnel in establishing billing format for client approval, preparing billings to client in conformance with the terms and conditions of the contract, inputting invoice information into the computer for tracking, and contacting client and/or project personnel to expedite payment.
• Enforce Company and client schedule and documentation requirements, such as billing cutoff dates and receipt of executed insurance certificates, subcontracts/change orders, waivers, affidavits, supporting waivers, etc.
• Review and tag information appropriately in accounting systems. Open the billing draws on Textura and assist subcontractors with billing processes.
• Import and export contractual information between UKG, JDEdwards, and Textura.
• Receive, review, obtain approval and process subcontractor invoices for payment.
• Review and approve subcontractor backup documentation as required by Company policy for release of payment, authorize final subcontractor packages for payment after receipt of owner payment and importing a finalized package for filing into Textura.
• Confer with project management and subcontractors / 2nd tier suppliers to verify subcontractor's listing of lower tier suppliers and contract values. Monitor proper submittal of current waivers from them.
• As part of the process of continually investigating the 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.
• Assist project personnel in quantifying extras for incorporation into change requests or billings to clients.
• Facilitate information gathering for auditors on projects within assigned business units.
• Perform additional assignments per supervisor’s request.
• Oversee customer billings, review customer's contract and related correspondence at award of contract and verify that project accountants understand and meet customer billing requirements.

MANAGER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a “player/coach” to both “do the doing” and provide effective direction, coaching, guidance, and performance feedback to direct reports to accomplish their functional responsibilities.
• Serve as the main point of contact for the project accounting team and senior leadership.
• Lead to completion all project job audits with help from the project accounting team.
• Review monthly billings for quality and timeliness, pursue late/missed billings with project accountants and project managers, and monitor transmittal of waiver/affidavit packages.
• Subcontractor payables work of project accountants, by verifying that Company and customer requirements are conveyed to subcontractors, assisting project accountants to obtain approved invoices and change orders from project managers as required, monitoring timely and accurate processing of subcontractor invoices, enforcing trailing subcontract and lower tier waiver requirements, reviewing subcontractor checks for proper payment based on backup support, previous payment information and Company receipt of payment from customer, monitor via transaction reports that all reimbursable costs are billed.
• T&M work of project accountants, by verifying that Company and customer requirements are aligned, assisting project accountants to obtain timesheets and other expenses from project managers, monitoring timely and accurate processing of maintenance invoices, previous payment information and Company receipt of payment from customer, monitor via transaction reports that all reimbursable costs are billed.
• Develop a thorough understanding of the forecasting process; review forecasts for accuracy, reasonableness and completeness; and identify and resolve potential discrepancies.
• Support all aspects of the month-end close process, including analyzing, reconciling and clearly explaining work-in-progress and advance-billing balances.
• Demonstrate understanding of multiple contract types and expertise associated to self-performance and subcontracting.

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of ten years of previous accounting experience required; minimum of six years of construction project accounting (both field and office) experience required.
• An undergraduate degree in accounting or relevant discipline required.
• Strong customer service orientation and communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to partner effectively with all levels of staff and management with varying degrees of financial knowledge.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities; strong organizational skills.
• Well-developed management skills required including ability to direct, delegate, and develop staff through coaching, performance evaluation and goal setting.
• Strong time management skills, sense of urgency and initiative to achieve timely, quality results in a fast-paced environment.
• Advanced Excel skills required. Previous experience with JD Edwards, Crystal Report Writer, Great Plains, iCIMS, or Timberline software is a plus. Experience using financial report writer tools is beneficial. Ability to quickly adapt to new reporting/systems platforms.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint) required.
• Minimal travel to various offices and job sites.