Accounts Payable Accountant, Capital Programs

Lusternational; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 89,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited flexible time off

Paid holidays

Paid parental leave

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan with employer contribution

Wellness stipend

Phone reimbursement

Meal planning support

Employee discounts

Referral bonus

Job summary

Lusternational is seeking an experienced Accounts Payable Accountant, Capital Programs, to support major heavy‑civil infrastructure programs including highways, bridges, transit, and airports. You will manage contractor and consultant invoices, ensure grant reimbursements are accurate, and maintain audit‑ready records.

This is a long‑term, full‑time hybrid role in the San Francisco Bay Area (3 days on‑site, with potential for up to 5 days).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of professional accounting experience.
• Experience processing accounts payable, including complex vendor invoices and voucher exceptions.
• Experience preparing journal entries, financial reports, and statements for month-end/year-end close.
• Knowledge of governmental accounting principles, budgeting, and public fiscal operations.
• Experience with ERP/financial systems (Oracle/PeopleSoft/SAP) and MS Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Review contractor and consultant invoices against contracts and documentation before disbursement.
• Process progress payments, retention, change orders, and track payment deadlines.
• Verify expenditures are coded, authorized, allowable, and documented per grant requirements.
• Prepare cash receipts, journal entries, accruals, and reconciliations for close.
• Prepare financial statements and ledgers, post tax and debt service entries, and support schedules.
• Reconcile bank statements, petty cash, and cash reports; report variances to management.
• Prepare 1099 adjustments and file quarterly sales/use tax returns.
• Prepare work papers and reports for federal, state, local funding agencies.

Skills

Accounts payable

Financial reporting

Budgeting

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

GAAP knowledge

Public sector accounting

Internal controls

Vendors management

Journal entries

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance

Master’s degree in accounting/finance

CPA/CGFM/CAPP certifications

Tools

Oracle

PeopleSoft

SAP

Job description

About the Position

We’re seeking an experienced Accounts Payable Accountant, Capital Programs to support large, heavy-civil infrastructure programs, including highways, roads, bridges, transit (both rail and bus), international airports, and water/wastewater projects delivered through both traditional and alternative methods. Your primary focus will be accounts payable for a major transit capital program, where accurate contractor and consultant payments, clean grant reimbursements, and audit‑ready records keep construction moving and funding flowing. You’ll work directly with the chief financial officer and finance staff across the full accounts payable cycle and support month‑end and year‑end close, 1099 and sales and use tax reporting, and reporting to funding agencies.

This is a long‑term, full‑time, hybrid position (3 days per week on‑site, with willingness to report up to 5 days per week as required), in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Responsibilities

• Review contractor and consultant invoices and progress payment applications against contract terms, schedules of values, and supporting documentation before disbursement.
• Process progress payments, retention withholding and release, and change order payments, and track prompt payment deadlines to closure.
• Verify that expenditures are properly coded, authorized, allowable, and documented to contract terms and state and federal grant requirements.
• Process complex vendor invoices, employee expense reports, and payroll documents, and resolve voucher exceptions with multiple departments.
• Prepare cash receipt vouchers and month‑end and year‑end journal entries for accruals, corrections, and adjustments, analyze accrual accounts against budget, and reconcile accounts for periodic close.
• Prepare financial statements, general and subsidiary ledgers, and supporting schedules, maintain expenditure and budgetary control accounts, and post property tax, inventory, and debt service fund entries.
• Reconcile bank statements, petty cash accounts, and daily cash handling reports, and report variances in cash collections to management.
• Reconcile and prepare 1099 adjustments before issuance, and prepare and file quarterly sales and use tax returns.
• Prepare work papers, reimbursement support, and financial reports for federal, state, and local funding agencies, including reporting on grant‑funded expenditures and monthly and quarterly performance reports.
• Maintain capital‑funded payment files and fixed asset system input so records are complete and audit‑ready.
• Analyze financial management system reports for accuracy, make correcting entries, and recommend procedure improvements.
• Interpret and apply agency policies and government regulations, provide technical support to project and department staff, and resolve accounting questions with vendors and outside agencies.

Attributes

• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent multi‑tasking and organizational skills.
• Collaborative mindset that fosters teamwork, trust, and positive relationships.
• Natural curiosity, problem‑solving abilities, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Strong attention to detail and sound independent judgment when applying accounting standards, internal controls, and regulations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of increasingly responsible professional accounting experience.
• Experience processing accounts payable, including complex vendor invoices, employee expense reports, and voucher exceptions, and verifying proper authorization and documentation for disbursements.
• Experience preparing journal entries, financial reports, and statements, and analyzing, posting, balancing, and reconciling accounts for month‑end and year‑end close.
• Experience reviewing, interpreting, and verifying the accuracy of complex financial reports, ledgers, records, and contract documents.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and terminology of general, commercial, fund, and governmental accounting.
• Knowledge of budgeting principles and the laws and regulations governing public fiscal operations.
• Knowledge of payroll processing and wage and benefit plan concepts.
• Experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) or financial management systems for processing and analyzing accounting data (e.g., Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP, etc.).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite/Office 365 (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in accounting or finance.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) (Association of Government Accountants), or Certified Accounts Payable Professional (CAPP) (Institute of Finance and Management).
• Experience processing contractor and consultant payments on capital construction programs, including progress payments, retention, and change orders.
• Experience with large (>$500M), complex, heavy‑civil infrastructure projects that include highways, roads, bridges, transit (including rail and bus), and/or airport projects.
• Experience processing and reporting on FTA or other federal and state grant‑funded capital expenditures.
• Accounting experience with a governmental or public agency.
• Familiarity with Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Power BI, Oracle Cloud Analytics, or other dashboard KPI reporting software.

Compensation Details

Expected Salary: $89k-$125k/year ($43-$60/hour). Luster provides the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might offer for this position based on the successful candidate’s level and years of experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, education, certifications, licenses, geographic location, etc. Luster reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range depending on circumstances not related to any status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

Just LOOK at the Benefits We Offer!

• Unlimited flexible time off
• Paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending accounts (healthcare and dependent or elder care)
• Long‑term disability insurance
• Short‑term disability insurance
• Life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment
• 401(k) plan with guaranteed employer contribution
• Formal career planning and development program
• $2,500 annually toward professional development
• Wellness program with monthly wellness stipend
• Company cell phone or cell phone plan reimbursement
• Free personalized meal planning and nutrition support with a registered dietitian
• Free personal financial planning services
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discounts
• Employee referral bonus

Specific plan details and coverage for each benefit noted above will be provided upon offer. #IN-LNJS

Luster is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to criminal history, race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. This employer participates in E-Verify. The employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee's I-9 to confirm work authorization.

All positions may be subject to a background check and drug test once a conditional offer of employment is made for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities, in accordance with all applicable local, state, and/or federal regulations.

This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.