Sr. Accountant - Construction

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Senior Accountant is responsible for maintaining accurate financial records and supporting the financial management of construction operations. This position plays a key role in the month-end close, general ledger management, job-cost accounting, project financial reporting, WIP accounting, and financial analysis.

The ideal candidate has strong construction-accounting experience and can work effectively with project managers, operations leadership, executive management, and clients.

Key Responsibilities

General Accounting & Financial Reporting

- Manage and maintain the general ledger and ensure transactions are recorded accurately and timely.
- Prepare journal entries, accruals, prepaid expenses, fixed-asset schedules, and account reconciliations.
- Perform bank, credit-card, and balance-sheet reconciliations.
- Support the monthly financial close process.
- Analyze financial results and identify unusual or inaccurate transactions.
- Maintain compliance with GAAP and company accounting policies.
- Prepare supporting schedules for audits, tax filings, bonding requirements, and banking relationships.

Construction & Job-Cost Accounting

- Maintain accurate job costs by project, phase, cost code, and cost type.
- Review labor, materials, subcontractor, equipment, and other project costs.
- Monitor actual costs against budgets and approved project forecasts.
- Review committed costs, purchase orders, subcontractor commitments, and change orders.
- Work closely with project managers to resolve job-cost discrepancies.
- Assist with project profitability analysis and cost-to-complete forecasting.
- Monitor project gross margins and identify potential cost overruns or margin issues.

WIP & Contract Accounting

- Assist in preparation of monthly Work-in-Progress (WIP) schedules.
- Analyze earned revenue, billings, costs incurred, and estimated costs to complete.
- Monitor overbillings and underbillings.
- Reconcile contract values, change orders, billings, retainage, and project costs.
- Support AIA/progress billing and subcontractor payment processes.

Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable

- Monitor accounts receivable, collections, retainage, and outstanding customer balances.
- Work with project teams to resolve billing, collection, and lien waiver issues.
- Record Accounts Receivable invoices in accounting system

Compliance

- Research sales tax requirements by state and jurisdiction.
- Ensure sales tax is calculated and included in project budgets and proposals to the client where required.
- Prepare and submit regular sales tax reports and payments by state and jurisdiction.

Cash Flow & Management Support

- Assist with annual budgets and periodic forecasts.
- Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes and internal controls.
- Support the Controller with financial analysis and special projects.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- 3+ years of progressive accounting experience within construction, contracting, engineering, or a related industry.
- Strong understanding of GAAP and financial statement preparation.
- Demonstrated experience with job-cost accounting.
- Experience with WIP schedules and percentage-of-completion accounting.
- Strong Excel skills, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, SUMIFS, and financial reporting.
- Experience with construction accounting software or ERP systems.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to meet month-end deadlines.
- Ability to communicate effectively with both accounting and non-accounting personnel.

Preferred Qualifications

- Construction accounting experience with a general contractor.
- Experience with Sage Intacct and Procore or comparable construction ERP/accounting systems.
- Experience with AIA billing, retainage, subcontractor accounting, and change orders.
- Experience preparing WIP schedules for multiple active construction projects.

Required Skills

Technical Skills

- General ledger accounting
- Month-end and year-end close
- Job-cost accounting
- WIP accounting
- Percentage-of-completion accounting
- Financial statement preparation
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Accounts payable/receivable
- Account reconciliations
- Construction billing and retainage
- Advanced Microsoft Excel

Professional Skills

- Strong attention to detail
- Analytical thinking
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Confidentiality and integrity
- Clear written and verbal communication
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to manage competing priorities
- Strong collaboration with project and operations teams

Compensation

Target Salary Range: $85,000–$105,000 annually, depending on experience, construction-industry expertise, and qualifications.

A competitive benefits package includes:

- Medical, dental, and vision insurance with company payment of 70% of cost
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off and holidays
- Company paid short-term and long-term disability coverage
- Performance-based bonus
- Professional development opportunities

Reports To: Controller