Senior Project Accountant

We are looking for a detail oriented Senior Project Accountant to join our SageWater team! We’re growing, and we’re looking for more great people to help us continue to grow! About Us: Founded in 1988, SageWater is the nation’s leading provider of turnkey plumbing and mechanical infrastructure solutions for condominium and apartment communities. We help diagnose and solve piping system problems with high levels of care and attention to detail—all while residents remain in their homes. Why Join Us? SageWater offers great pay with regular reviews and a commitment to career growth! Regular achievement-related bonuses 401(k) match Paid time off (PTO) and select paid holidays Zero premium quality health insurance for yourself Low premium quality health insurance for your family Low premium dental and vision insurance for you and your family Life and long-term disability insurance Valuable on-the-job training About THIS OPPORTUNITY: The Senior Project Accountant owns the lifecycle of construction projects from contract setup through closeout. This role is the bridge between the field and the back office — translating project activity into accurate job-cost data, revenue, and billings, and giving project managers and leadership a clear, timely picture of where each job stands. The ideal candidate combines deep construction accounting expertise with strong systems fluency and the judgment to flag risks before they become problems. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Project Cost Accounting & Job Costing Set up and maintain project budgets, cost codes, and contract values in NetSuite upon the contract signing. Record and reconcile job costs (labor, materials, subcontractor, and other direct costs) to the correct cost codes and projects. Monitor actuals, subcontractor contract values, estimates-to-complete and prepare recommendations and forecasts based upon data inputs from Operations personnel. Investigate cost coding errors and budget variances, and prepare reclassification entries as needed. Review subcontractor invoices and pay applications for accuracy, budget conformance, and proper documentation. Manage subcontractor compliance items including lien waivers, certificates of insurance (COI), and required licenses prior to payment. Account for change orders — both owner and subcontractor — and ensure contract values and budgets are updated accordingly. Revenue Recognition, Customer Invoicing & WIP Prepare monthly workbooks for Operations, review individual job cost reports and prepare entries for NetSuite to calculate revenue recognition using percentage of completion accounting. Apply revenue recognition in accordance with ASC 606 and company policy. Analyze gross margin by project and explain period-over-period and budget-to-actual movements. Support fluctuation analysis and provide WIP and backlog detail for surety, banking, and audit requests. Collaborate with Operations to prepare and submit monthly pay applications, including AIA-style applications for payment (G702/G703) and progress, milestone, and time-and-materials invoices. Track and account for retention/retainage on both receivable and payable sides. Monitor project A/R aging, support collections, and reconcile billed-to-date against contract and change order values. Month-End Close & Reporting Own the project accounting components of month-end close, including accruals and project-related journal entries. Reconcile project-related general ledger accounts (retention, over/underbillings, etc.). Produce project profitability reports, WIP summaries, and ad hoc analyses for project managers, the Controller, and executive leadership. Systems & Process Improvement Serve as a power user of NetSuite/FullClarity, helping maintain data integrity across project, AP, and AR modules. Identify and implement improvements to job-cost, billing, and reporting workflows, including automation and reporting enhancements. Help develop and document standardized project accounting procedures and controls. (This job posting is not intended as a complete list of activities, duties, or responsibilities for this position.) KEY REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 3 years in construction, engineering, or a project-based professional services environment. Strong working knowledge of construction accounting, including job costing, WIP, percentage-of-completion revenue recognition, and retention. Experience with AIA billing formats (G702/G703) and progress billing. Proficiency with construction accounting systems (NetSuite a plus) and advanced Microsoft Excel skills. Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to reconcile complex data and explain variances clearly. PREFERRED CANDIDATES: Experience with NetSuite and integrated reporting/automation tools (Excel, Power Query, SharePoint, or similar). CPA, CCIFP (Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional), or progress toward either. Exposure to surety bonding and lender reporting requirements. CORE COMPETENCIES: Ownership — takes full responsibility for assigned projects and follows issues through to resolution. Communication — translates accounting concepts for non-financial project teams and works effectively across the field-to-office divide. Accuracy under deadline — delivers reliable numbers within close and billing cycles. Process orientation — looks for ways to make recurring work faster, cleaner, and more controlled. Discretion — handles sensitive contract and financial information appropriately. WORKING CONDITIONS: Primarily an office or hybrid role, with occasional project site visits as needed. May require extended hours during month-end close, billing cycles, and audit periods. Compensation: Base salary range $80,000-$100,000 annually, depending on experience, certifications (CPA/CCIFP), and depth of construction-accounting expertise. Performance bonus: $5,000, tied to close-cycle accuracy and individual/company performance. Employment Authorization Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States and must be able to confirm their employment eligibility via E-Verify at the time of hire. We are unable to sponsor employment at this time. #J-18808-Ljbffr