Construction Accounting Lead (WIP & Project Costing)

Atalnt Llc

Santee (CA)

On-site

USD 90,000 - 130,000

Full time

2 days ago

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Job summary

Our client, a construction organization, seeks an experienced Accounting Manager to oversee project financial reporting, WIP, and financial controls, partnering with operational leadership. This hands-on role ensures accuracy of job cost reporting, cash flow, and GAAP compliance, while coaching staff and coordinating with the Corporate Controller.

Based in Santee, California, this full-time, onsite position offers exposure to multi-entity accounting and strategic decision-making with senior

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field, or equivalent progressive accounting experience.
7+ years of progressive accounting experience.
4+ years of hands-on construction accounting experience.
Experience with a general contractor, specialty contractor, or similarly project-based construction organization.
Demonstrated experience preparing, reviewing, and analyzing construction WIP schedules.
Strong understanding of cost-to-complete, margin analysis, underbillings, overbillings, change orders, committed costs, and revenue recognition.
Hands-on experience with month-end close, financial reporting, account reconciliations, and accounting controls.
Strong knowledge of cost-to-cost revenue recognition, ASC 606, retention, change orders, and construction billing.
Hands-on experience with an ERP accounting system covering job costing, general ledger, and month-end close.
Advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables, VLOOKUP, and XLOOKUP.

Responsibilities

Serve as the onsite accounting delegate and primary accounting contact for assigned operating companies.
Lead, develop, and support accounting staff.
Establish priorities and ensure accuracy and timely completion of accounting activities.
Communicate material accounting issues, project margin changes, cash flow concerns, and control deficiencies to the Corporate Controller.
Partner with company presidents, project managers, and department leaders.
Support management decision-making with accurate financial information.
Provide coverage for the Corporate Controller on delegated accounting matters.
Lead the monthly WIP process for assigned operating companies.
Validate contract values, change orders, job costs, committed costs, billings, retention, and revenue recognition.
Review cost-to-complete forecasts and project assumptions.
Identify unusual trends, unsupported estimates, margin changes, and project reporting inconsistencies.
Analyze original versus forecast margin, underbillings, overbillings, unapproved change orders, budget variances, backlog changes, and project cash exposure.
Ensure accurate job setup, cost coding, contract and budget changes, billing, retention tracking, and job closeout in the ERP.
Lead assigned month-end and year-end close activities.
Prepare and review journal entries, account reconciliations, intercompany activity, accruals, and supporting schedules.
Ensure transactions and reporting comply with GAAP, ASC 606, company policies, and accounting procedures.
Coordinate with AP, AR, payroll, compliance, and operations to resolve discrepancies.
Support consolidated reporting and reconciliation of entity balances to supporting subledgers and related companies.
Support cash flow forecasting by evaluating collections, billing timing, retention, vendor and subcontractor commitments, payroll, and other cash requirements.
Monitor project receivables and billing issues and work with operations to resolve collection barriers.
Design, document, implement, and maintain effective internal controls.
Standardize accounting procedures across assigned companies.
Identify opportunities to improve accounting workflows, reporting, accountability, and ERP utilization.
Coordinate accounting support for external auditors, CPA firms, banks, bonding agents, and sureties.