Area Accounting Manager

HDR; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking an Accounting Manager to lead multi-office accounting functions and project accounting, ensuring accuracy and internal controls across business groups. You will work closely with area leadership to monitor budgets, invoicing, and reporting, while mentoring accounting staff and contributing to audits.

The role emphasizes on-site collaboration and requires a strong background in accounting principles, with preference for project accounting within the architectural/engineering sector.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a closely related field or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience; an advanced degree may offset years of experience.
• Proficiency with MS Office including Word and Outlook.
• Excellent verbal and written communication including grammar, punctuation, proofreading, spelling and telephone skills.
• Flexibility and ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and collaborate with various managers in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated, well-organized and detail-oriented.
• Ability to handle confidential information.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must.
• Solid understanding of accounting principles; project accounting experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage accounting functions for multiple offices and Business Groups in the managed Area, including project accounting duties.
• Establish internal controls for accounting procedures and practices in line with policies and contracts.
• Coordinate department and project accounting systems and budgets with Area Accounting and Business Group Leaders.
• Audit compliance with contractual, financial and accounting requirements including invoicing and reporting formats.
• Advise management on financial performance, metrics, KPIs and trends.
• Supervise and mentor Project Accountants, GL Accountants and Accounting Leads.
• Make staffing recommendations and participate in hiring/training.
• Participate in monthly business reviews for all Business Groups.
• Support Project Managers with monitoring budgets, AP/AR, and reporting; ensure contracts and budgets are updated.
• Ensure timesheets follow policies and corp reporting metrics.
• Prepare and coordinate internal/external audits.
• Review and analyze financial statements/forecasts and revenue recognition.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Multitasking

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field

Advanced degree may offset years of experience

Tools

MS Office (Word, Outlook)

Job description

At HDR, our employee‑owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

At HDR, our employee‑ownership model shapes everything we do, including how we support and care for our people. Our diverse service lines, including Water, Architecture, Building Engineering Services, Field Services, Power, Waste, Industrial, and Transportation, reflect our commitment to shaping resilient, sustainable, and forward‑thinking communities around the world. Across these disciplines, our teams design and deliver solutions that safeguard public health, enhance quality of life, power innovation, and drive responsible growth. Whether advancing clean water, creating healing and learning environments, engineering next‑generation facilities, or building the infrastructure that moves people and energy, our work is rooted in technical excellence and a shared sense of purpose. Our employee‑owners collaborate across specialties, combining creativity, precision, and deep expertise to solve the most complex challenges facing our clients and communities.

In the role of Accounting Manager, we'll count on you to:

• Responsible for accounting functions for multiple offices and Business Groups in the managed Area, including Project accounting duties for two Business Groups in support of Project Managers.
• Perform specialized accounting functions and establish internal controls for accounting procedures and practices in accordance with company policies, accounting procedures and contractual obligations.
• Work directly with Area Accounting, Operations Manager, and Business Group Managers/Leads/Administrators to manage and coordinate department and project accounting systems and manage departmental budgets.
• Audit compliance with contractual, financial and accounting requirements, which may include invoicing and reporting format, cost accounting, and financial quality control.
• Advise management on financial performance of Business Groups and Projects. Analyze and explain the underlying reasons and implications for current financial results, metrics, KPI’s, and trends with Area Leadership.
• Supervise, mentor and train Project Accountant(s), GL Accountants and Accounting Leads specific to area accounting and project accounting obligations.
• Make staffing recommendations to management and participate in hiring/training.
• Participation in monthly business reviews for all Business Groups (virtual or in-person).
• Support Project Managers with monitoring project budgets, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and other related financial information for projects and groups of projects; ensure contracts, amendments, and cost budgets are updated in our financial system accurately and in a timely manner; communicate and correspond with clients with respect to invoicing and project reporting as needed.
• Ensure timesheets are following timekeeping policies and corporate reporting metrics.
• Prepare and coordinate for internal and external/client financial audits.
• Review and analyze financial statements/forecasts and revenue recognition.
• Perform other duties as needed.

This role is required to work primarily in-office due to the level of on-site collaboration, employee interaction, and operational support required to successfully perform the job.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Accounting
• 15 or more years in experience; an advanced degree may offset years of experience
• Leadership and management skills necessary to effectively orchestrate accounting support activities for a variety of operational driven processes and initiatives.
• Solid understanding of accounting principles is a must, preferably with project accounting experience in Architectural/Engineering industry.
• Present a demeanor, approach and attitude that focuses on customer service, creates a respectful and effective work environment and a commitment to being an active participant in our employee‑owned culture.
• Professional maturity and the ability to comfortably communicate and collaborate with individuals at all levels of the organization and appropriately handle confidential and sensitive information.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a closely related field or combination of education and relevant experience
• A minimum of 5 years of experience; an advanced degree may offset years of experience
• Proficiency with MS Office including Word and Outlook
• Excellent verbal and written communication including grammar, punctuation, proofreading, spelling and telephone skills
• Flexibility and ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and collaborate with various managers in a fast-paced environment
• Self‑motivated, well‑organized and detail‑oriented
• Ability to handle confidential information
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location: United States-Kentucky-Louisville

Other Locations: United States-Tennessee-Brentwood, United States-Kentucky-Paducah, United States-Tennessee-Chattanooga, United States-Kentucky-Lexington, United States-Kentucky-Elizabethtown

Industry: Accounting

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

BusinessClass: Marketing and Admin

Job Posting: Aug 28, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Aff… (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.