Cost Accountant

Andrews & Cole, LLC; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid parking

Job summary

Andrews & Cole, LLC is seeking a Cost Accountant to support project costing and financial reporting across multiple construction and development projects. The role includes collaboration with project managers, CPAs, and ownership to ensure accurate cost tracking and sound financial decisions.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in construction or real estate accounting, a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and strong independence to manage tasks from billing to month-end close.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and 5+ years of accounting experience with cost and job costing focus.
• Experience preparing financial statements and supporting month-end close.
• Strong understanding of WIP reporting, project accounting, and construction accounting principles.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and analyze job cost reports across active construction and development projects.
• Monitor project budgets, costs, commitments, and WIP activity.
• Ensure labor, materials, subcontractor costs, and overhead are allocated to projects.
• Partner with project managers to review project financial performance and assist with billing.
• Support estimating and forecasting through accurate cost tracking and reporting.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and assist with close processes.
• Record journal entries, accruals, and adjusting entries; perform reconciliations.

Skills

Cost accounting

Job costing

Project accounting

Construction accounting

Financial reporting

WIP reporting

Independent worker

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

CPA preferred

Job description

Cost Accountant

We are partnering with a growing real estate development, construction, and property management organization seeking a Cost Accountant to join its lean, collaborative accounting team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an accounting professional who enjoys wearing multiple hats and wants broad exposure across project accounting, job costing, financial reporting, payroll, and operational accounting. The role offers visibility to company leadership and the opportunity to be a trusted financial resource within a close-knit organization.

The ideal candidate will bring strong construction or real estate accounting experience and be comfortable working independently while partnering with project managers, external CPA firms, and ownership.

Key Responsibilities

Project & Cost Accounting

• Maintain and analyze job cost reports across multiple active construction and development projects
• Monitor project budgets, costs, commitments, and work-in-progress (WIP) activity
• Ensure labor, materials, subcontractor costs, and overhead are accurately allocated to projects
• Partner with project managers to review project financial performance and assist with billing activities
• Support estimating and project forecasting efforts through accurate cost tracking and reporting

Financial Reporting & Accounting

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements
• Manage general ledger activity and assist with month-end and year-end close processes
• Record journal entries, accruals, and adjusting entries
• Perform account reconciliations and maintain financial accuracy across multiple entities
• Assist ownership and leadership with financial analysis and reporting requests

Accounts Payable, Cash Management & Payroll

• Process vendor invoices and coordinate payment activities
• Manage check runs, deposits, and cash activity
• Assist with payroll processing and labor allocations
• Support intercompany accounting and billing activities
• Help maintain accurate records across multiple legal entities and partnerships

Audit & Compliance

• Coordinate with external CPA firms and provide requested financial information
• Assist with annual audit and tax preparation activities
• Support insurance audits and compliance reporting
• Manage certificates of insurance (COIs) and other project-related documentation
• Ensure accounting records comply with established policies and procedures

Process Improvement

• Evaluate existing accounting workflows and recommend process improvements
• Assist with the development and implementation of accounting SOPs and best practices
• Help leadership improve financial visibility, reporting accuracy, and operational efficiency

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 5+ years of accounting experience with a strong focus on cost accounting and job costing
• Experience preparing financial statements and supporting month-end close
• Strong understanding of WIP reporting, project accounting, and construction accounting principles
• Experience developing or improving accounting processes and SOPs
• Ability to work independently in a hands-on environment
• Strong communication and organizational skills

Preferred

• Construction, land development, real estate development, or property management accounting experience
• CPA designation
• Payroll and intercompany accounting experience

What Success Looks Like

• Gain a thorough understanding of the company's job cost structure and project portfolio
• Review the general ledger and financial reporting processes to identify areas for improvement
• Establish confidence in project reporting and financial statement accuracy
• Help create greater visibility into project profitability and company performance
• Become a trusted resource for leadership, project managers, and external accounting partners

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Broad exposure across accounting, project finance, and operations
• High visibility role working directly with leadership
• Collaborative, family-oriented culture with long employee tenure
• Flexible and trusting work environment focused on outcomes rather than micromanagement
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a growing organization

Location: Bethesda, MD Area (Onsite)

Schedule: Monday-Friday | 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Compensation: $80,000 - $100,000 + Benefits + Paid Parking