Construction Accounting Manager

Atalnt Llc; Santee (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

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.

Skills

Construction Accounting

WIP

Job Costing

ASC 606

Financial Reporting

Month-End Close

Cost-to-Complete

Revenue Recognition

ERP

Advanced Excel

Team Leadership

Account Reconciliations

Cash Flow

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

Viewpoint Vista

SAGE 300

CMiC

Foundation

Procore Financials

Job description

Key Skills: Construction Accounting, WIP, Job Costing, ASC 606, Financial Reporting, Month-End Close, Cost-to-Complete, Revenue Recognition, ERP, Advanced Excel, Team Leadership, Account Reconciliations, Cash Flow

Our client is an established construction organization with multiple operating companies and a lean corporate accounting team. We are seeking an experienced Accounting Manager to support accounting operations, project financial reporting, and financial controls while partnering closely with operational leadership. This is a hands‑on leadership role responsible for the accuracy and integrity of job cost reporting, WIP reporting, financial statements, account reconciliations, and accounting controls. The Accounting Manager will work closely with the Corporate Controller, company presidents, project managers, and accounting staff to identify financial risks, challenge project assumptions, resolve accounting issues, and support informed business decisions.

Why Join Us?

• Leadership opportunity within a growing construction organization
• Direct partnership with the Corporate Controller
• Opportunity to work closely with company presidents and project leadership
• Hands‑on ownership of construction accounting and financial reporting
• Exposure to multi‑entity accounting and operational decision‑making
• Long‑term opportunity for broader accounting and financial leadership

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

WIP & Project Accounting

• 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

Month-End Close & Financial Reporting

• 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

Cash Flow & Process Improvement

• 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

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
• Prior supervisory experience managing accounting staff
• Advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables, VLOOKUP, and XLOOKUP
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and elevate material risks appropriately
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Hands‑on experience with an ERP accounting system covering job costing, general ledger, and month‑end close

Preferred Experience

• Viewpoint Vista or another construction ERP such as SAGE 300, CMiC, Foundation, or Procore Financials
• Multi‑entity accounting
• Intercompany reconciliations and consolidated financial reporting
• Prevailing wage and certified payroll
• Union payroll
• Lien releases and subcontractor documentation
• Full‑time, in‑person position based in Santee, California
• Primarily office‑based
• Regular collaboration with corporate accounting and operational leadership
• Requires extended computer and desk work involving financial systems, spreadsheets, reports, and accounting documentation
• Occasional interaction with project teams, operating companies, auditors, banks, bonding agents, and other external partners