Accountant - Operational Finance

Turner Construction Company; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner Construction Company seeks an experienced accounting professional to manage day-to-day project accounting operations, ensure GAAP-compliant financial reporting, and guide project teams on policy and procedure adherence.

The role emphasizes strong collaboration with Finance, project management, and Shared Services, with responsibilities spanning invoicing, accruals, audits, and process improvements to optimize profitability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting/Finance with minimum of 3 years of related experience or equivalent
• Advanced knowledge of Accounting policies, procedures, and GAAP (e.g., journal entries, general ledger)
• Understanding of Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable best practices (invoice exceptions, vendor/customer accounts)
• Understand accounting implications of various contract terms
• Understand construction lien laws, retainage, and prevailing wage regulations as applicable to project accounting
• Maintain internal controls and confidentiality of sensitive financial information
• Follow procedures and execute directions to completion with minimal supervision
• Educate others and reinforce compliance with company financial practices and policies
• Analyze financial data, identify risks, interpret trends, and recognize inconsistencies
• Knowledge of cash flow and WIP reporting and percentage of completion methods

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary point of contact for project finance accounting questions and escalated issues.
• Mentor accounting staff on Turner policies and procedures.
• Provide training and support to accounting staff using established materials.
• Provide timely deliverables for audit requests and organize supporting documentation.
• Collaborate with SSO on AR/AP activities and coordinate communication with stakeholders.
• Lead month-end close activities for assigned projects and ensure accurate expense recognition.
• Manage project cash position, including over/under billing and profitability analysis.
• Audit client billing and project ledgers to ensure GAAP compliance and cost reporting accuracy.
• Review invoice coding and workflow approvals for alignment with contracts and signing authority.
• Monitor WIP schedules and percentage of completion; analyze variances and report insights to leadership.
• Conduct client billing analysis and identify cost exposures to improve forecasting accuracy.
• Support project year-end activities and reconciliations.
• Drive continuous improvement in accounting processes, incorporating AI and new technologies.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

AP/AR knowledge

Analytical ability

Communication skills

Self-starter

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting/Finance

Job description

Division: Dallas Main
Project Location(s): Dallas, TX 75231 USA
Job Type: Regular
Job Classification: Experienced
Job Family: Finance
Compensation: Salaried Exempt

Position Description

Perform, manage, and lead day-to-day accounting operations and generate financial reporting for construction projects guiding project teams for compliance with Turner financial policy and procedures. Maintain transparent communication of project financial health with Finance and project management teams.

Essential Duties & Key Responsibilities

• Serve as primary point of contact for project Finance accounting questions and escalated issues, providing guidance and promoting best practices across project stakeholders.
• Follow company and Finance policies, procedures, financial system workflows, approvals, record retention processes, and know project codes.
• Mentor and guide Accounting team on Turner financial policies, project accounting procedures, and system workflows to support team development and operational consistency.
• Provide training and support to accounting staff using established training materials, resource guides, and on-the-job instruction.
• Provide timely and accurate deliverables for audit requests, pull back-ups, and organize documentation as directed.
• Collaborate with Shared Services Organization (SSO) on Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable activities, provide timely communication, coordination, and feedback.
• Participate in continuous improvement reviews for project Accounting processes and activities focusing on reducing manual efforts, improving accuracy and timeliness of deliverables, and standardizing workflows, while incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other innovative technologies.
• Lead and manage implementation of finance procedures to ensure compliance with client contractual requirements for billing and accounts receivable across construction projects.
• Perform client contract analysis to determine billing deadlines, payments terms, billable and non- reimbursable expenses, agreements for insurance and fee billings along with approved billing rates for staff and/or trade labor.
• Regularly audit client billing and project ledger to ensure compliance with contract requirements, GAAP and company policy, and confirm that current billings align with cost reporting to support accuracy of project forecasts.
• Manage project cash position, including over/under billing, payment status, and profitability, while proactively identifying risks and coordinating with client finance teams, vendors, and project stakeholders.
• Conduct Accounts Payable analysis and review cost trends and accuracy of statements and ledgers for projects, and resolve risks, gaps, and inconsistencies to keep accounts up to date.
• Review and verify invoice coding and workflow approval for alignment with Finance policies, contract terms, and abide by established Signing Authority and Approval Matrix (SAAM) requirements.
• Monitor Work-in-Progress (WIP) schedules and assess percentage of completion for assigned projects aligned with GAAP and Turner financial policies. Analyze forecasted WIP against actual posted results. Collaborate with Operational team to identify and understand variances and report key insights to financial leadership.
• Analyze client billing line item budget-to-actual variances and identify cost exposures to support improvement of forecasting accuracy and compliance.
• Lead month-end close activities for assigned projects to generate owner invoice Ensure timely and accurate expense recognition for owner invoicing, including accrual support, journal entry preparation, and intercompany charge review.
• Manage accounting tasks in support of project year end activities (e.g., gross-up reports, reconciliation of accounts).

#LI-CH2

#LI-CH2

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from accredited degree program in Accounting, Finance, or related field of study, with minimum of 3 years of related experience, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Advanced knowledge of Accounting policies, procedures, and General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) (e.g., journal entries, general ledger)
• Working knowledge of Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable best practices (e.g., invoice exception resolution, vendor/customer account maintenance)
• Understand accounting implications of various contract terms
• Understand construction lien laws, retainage requirements, and prevailing wage regulations as applicable to project accounting
• Able to maintain internal controls and confidentiality requirements when handling sensitive financial information
• Follow established procedures and execute directions to completion without need of follow up by management
• Must be self-starter, adaptable and flexible to operate with minimal direction and supervision while working in fast-paced and changing environment
• Ability to educate others and reinforce compliance with company financial practices and policies
• Analytic ability to review and assess financial data, identify risks, interpret trends, and recognize inconsistencies
• Knowledgeable of cash flow and able to implement procedures to optimize profitability
• Knowledge of Work-in-Progress (WIP) reporting and percentage of completion accounting methods applicable to construction projects
• Ability to manage competing activities, requests, and short-cycle deadlines
• Exercise independent judgment and discretion with ability to identify problems, make recommendations for resolution, and able to resolve or escalate issues in a timely manner
• Highly organized, detail oriented, maintain accuracy, self-check work and work of others, and meet deadlines
• Customer service mindset with professional verbal and written communication skills, ability to deliver and tailor communication to various organizational levels and stakeholders

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands, talk, and hear. The employee frequently views a computer monitor and frequently uses a computer keyboard. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is occasionally required to be mobile, and the employee occasionally travels both short and long distances via a variety of conveyances. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting. The noise in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate in an office setting. The employee is required to work in compliance with company safety policies, procedures, and applicable laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Turner is an Equal Opportunity Employer - race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.