Construction Project Accountant: Path to Controller (Onsite)

Aston Carter; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 72,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

Aston Carter is seeking a Project Accountant for a permanent, on-site role in Mesa, AZ. You will own the financial side of multi-million-dollar construction projects, from setup to closeout, including budgeting, cost coding, invoicing, and payroll management.

You’ll work closely with leadership, project teams, and vendors to maintain accurate financials, forecasts, and profitability. This role offers exposure to high-profile projects and a clear path toward senior leadership as the organization

Qualifications

• 2+ years of construction accounting or project accounting experience.
• Experience within commercial construction.
• Strong background in: Job Costing, Project Accounting, AIA Billing & Progress Billing, Certified Payroll, Union Payroll, WIP Reporting, Forecasting, Cost Codes, Change Orders, Retainage, Subcontractor Accounting.

Responsibilities

• Manage project accounting activities from project setup through financial closeout.
• Set up and maintain project budgets, cost codes, contracts, commitments, and project accounting records.
• Track actual costs, committed costs, and budget-to-actual performance.
• Review project transactions to ensure accurate coding and cost allocation.
• Prepare job cost reports and identify cost concerns, discrepancies, and potential overruns.
• Reconcile project accounts and investigate financial variances.
• Maintain financial oversight throughout project lifecycles, typically lasting 18-24 months.
• Prepare and submit AIA billings, schedules of values, pay applications, and supporting documentation.
• Manage a 25-day billing cycle and ensure timely, accurate invoicing.
• Coordinate billing based on completed work and forecasted project progress.
• Track retainage, change orders, pending changes, and outstanding billings.
• Prepare forecasts, estimated costs to complete, and projected project financial results.
• Support WIP reporting, project financial reviews, and profitability analysis.
• Assist with final billing, collections, retainage release, and project closeout activities.
• Prepare project financial reports including actual costs, earned revenue, projected costs, and estimated profitability.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities, accruals, and reconciliations.
• Own weekly payroll processing with established review procedures.
• Review and process employee timecards accurately and on schedule.
• Prepare and submit certified payroll reports.
• Support union payroll reporting and compliance requirements.
• Maintain payroll records and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• Ensure payroll costs are properly allocated to projects and cost codes.
• Review subcontractor and vendor invoices for accuracy and compliance.
• Manage subcontractor commitments, payments, retainage, and outstanding balances.
• Verify subcontractor insurance compliance prior to payment release.
• Maintain Certificates of Insurance (COIs), lien waivers, and required documentation.
• Partner with subcontractors, vendors, and project teams to resolve billing and payment issues.
• Monitor subcontractor activity in support of project schedules and financial requirements.
• Partner closely with the Controller, Project Managers, subcontractors, vendors, and leadership team.
• Support audits, internal reviews, and project closeout documentation.
• Maintain organized payroll, billing, insurance, and project financial records.

Skills

Job Costing

WIP Reporting

Forecasting

Excel skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Tools

Acumatica ERP

MS Excel

MS Office

Job description

Aston Carter is seeking a Project Accountant for a permanent, on-site role in Mesa, AZ. You will own the financial side of multi-million-dollar construction projects, from setup to closeout, including budgeting, cost coding, invoicing, and payroll management.

You’ll work closely with leadership, project teams, and vendors to maintain accurate financials, forecasts, and profitability. This role offers exposure to high-profile projects and a clear path toward senior leadership as the organization