Project Accountant

Modern Niagara; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 59,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

Defined contribution pension

Health and dental benefits

Health spending account

Employee assistance program

Vacation entitlement

Parental leave top-up

Community Day

Job summary

Modern Niagara is hiring a Project Accountant to oversee and manage a large hospital build project in Ottawa. This on-site role collaborates daily with the Operations team and reports indirectly to Finance.

You will coordinate daily accounting processes to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and contract compliance. Responsibilities include forecasting project costs, analyzing variances, maintaining cost records, and supporting audits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field.
• CPA or relevant certifications are a plus.
• Experience in construction project accounting preferred.
• Proficiency in accounting software and MS Excel.

Responsibilities

• Forecast project costs and analyze variances.
• Maintain detailed project cost records (materials, labor, subcontractors).
• Prepare financial reports, cash flow, and project summaries.
• Support audits and quarterly/year-end processes.
• Collaborate with project managers and Operations daily.

Skills

Strong analytical and problem-solving

Excellent communication

Attention to detail

Leadership potential

Team player

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance

CPA or relevant certifications (a plus)

Tools

MS Excel

Accounting software

Job description

Modern Niagara is currently hiring for a Project Accountant to oversee and manage a large hospital build project in Ottawa. The mission of the Project Accountant is to co-ordinate and oversee all daily accounting processes for the assigned project, to ensure they are carried out efficiently, effectively and within established timelines.This will be an on-site role dealing directly with the Operations team daily, with an indirect reporting to Finance structure.

Why This Role Matters to Modern Niagara

The Project Accountant is essential to ensuring the financial health, accuracy, and operational success of construction projects, where margins are tight and financial decisions must be based on timely, reliable data. By forecasting future costs, validating project assumptions, analyzing variances, and identifying financial risks, this role provides the organization with the clarity needed to make strategic decisions and prevent financial surprises. Their work strengthens project controls, enhances audit readiness, supports compliance with contract and accounting standards, and ensures leadership has accurate, actionable insights every month. As a trusted advisor to project managers and senior management, the Project Accountant helps bridge the gap between field operations and financial strategy, ultimately contributing to profitable project delivery and long‑term organizational success.

Key Impact / Purpose

• Strengthen financial predictability and project performance
• Improve cost control and risk management across projects
• Enable strong compliance, reporting quality, and operational decision‑making

Duties and Responsibilities:

Forecasting and Analysis:

• Collaborate with project managers to develop project spend plans.
• Provide support to Operations by analyzing monthly results, monitoring variances, identifying trends, and recommending actions to the management team.
• Work with the project team to ensure regular project reviews and that planned costs to complete and forecast at completion are validated and updated and that all financial issues relating to revenues, forecast, and profitability are addressed monthly.
• Challenges the financial and commercial health of projects during regular project reviews with operations.
• Identify opportunities to provide value to the Project and Leadership teams through a deep understanding of the project and business requirements.
• Assess the financial risks and opportunity of projects and participate in updating the risk list. Recommend corrective actions to mitigate potential risk.
• Ad hoc analysis as required including labour and material forecasting.

Cost Management:

• Maintain detailed records of project costs, including materials, labor, equipment, and subcontractor expenses.
• Review and verify invoices, purchase orders, and receipts for accuracy.
• Analyze cost data to identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Collaborate with project managers to identify financial risks and ensure proactive management of those risks.
• Track and report on key financial performance indicators (KPIs).
• Generate financial reports, including profit and loss statements, cash flow analysis, and project financial summaries.
• Provide regular financial updates to project managers and senior management.
• Support quarterly reporting and year-end audit, including preparation of year-end files, certain working papers, analysis, and other support as required.
• Maintain accurate and organized financial records and documentation.
• Ensure all financial transactions are properly documented and filed.

Compliance and Process Improvement:

• Ensure that financial transactions and documentation comply with contract terms and legal requirements.
• Work with legal and compliance teams to address any contractual issues or disputes.
• Ensure compliance with organizational financial policies and accounting standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Work closely with project managers, procurement teams, and other stakeholders to ensure financial data is accurate and up-to-date.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to support decision-making processes.
• Assist in the preparation of financial documentation for project audits.

Must-haves:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field (CPA or relevant certifications are a plus).
• Experience in construction project accounting is highly preferred.
• Proficiency in accounting software and MS Excel.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational abilities.
• Knowledge of construction industry regulations and contract terms.
• Ability to skillfully challenge assumptions and ask the hard questions
• Organized self-starter with a strong work ethic who can succeed both independently and collaboratively within a team environment
• Able to be flexible and manage multiple objectives, likely with competing priorities.
• Ability to build strong relationships with and serve as a trusted advisor to our internal business partners including Project Managers (PM) and the Management team.
• Ability and willingness to lead people - People leadership and management experience will be a definite asset.
• Team player with strong communication skills
• Integrity
• Resourceful, energetic, and strong work ethic
• Ability to meet deadlines with a high level of accuracy.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability and willingness to learn and develop professionally and personally.

This is a replacement position. The salary range is between $59,000 - $70,000

• Performance based bonus opportunities
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with a generous employer contribution
• Flexible Health and Dental benefits with tiered options to meet the needs of you and your family
• An annual health spending account to support your overall wellness
• 24/7 confidential support through our Employee and Family Assistance Program with access to comprehensive resources and professional services
• A competitive vacation package with additional vacation granted throughout your tenure with the organization.
• Employer Paid Parental Leave Top Up
• Annual Community Day dedicated to volunteering and giving back to the communities where we live and work
• Corporate Discounts through various vendors across Canada for programs such as fitness, mobile phones, travel, home and auto insurance and many others
• Here at Modern Niagara, because we know our people are the best in the industry, we pride ourselves on providing a total compensation package that rewards employees for their hard work and supports employees and their families in their overall wellbeing.

About Modern Niagara

Who We Are
Modern Niagara helps building owners, managers, and general contractors meet the mechanical, electrical, integrated building technology, and building services needs of their buildings across Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Southwestern Ontario, and Ottawa.

We are committed to having a positive and meaningful impact on Canada’s infrastructure — and on the communities where we live, learn, work, and heal. We build for life.

Our Culture & Values
We value passion, initiative, determination, professionalism, and teamwork.

Health and safety are embedded in everything we do, and our award-winning safety culture consistently performs well above industry standards.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Modern Niagara
We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization where everyone has access to opportunity, feels a sense of belonging, and can thrive.

We actively work to remove barriers faced by members of equity-seeking groups (including women, Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities, and newcomers to Canada) in the construction industry.

We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and lived experiences and are committed to a barrier-free hiring process.

If you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail] so we can make appropriate arrangements.

We appreciate every applicant’s interest in joining Modern Niagara. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.