Cost Accountant, Construction

The Poole and Kent Corporation; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Job summary

The Poole and Kent Corporation is seeking a Cost Accountant to support construction projects in Richmond, VA. This role involves full cycle accounting, ensuring compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and managing payroll data accurately. Ideal candidates should have a bachelor's degree in accounting or related fields.

With responsibilities encompassing audit and preparation of pay applications, a keen attention to detail and communication skills are essential. Experience in the construction industry is preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1-3 years of related professional cost accounting experience.
• Proficiency in certified payroll requirements and accounting procedures.
• Ability to interpret certified payroll reports and ensure compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develop pay applications per contractual requirements.
• Audit accounts payable invoices for accuracy.
• Maintain confidentiality of employee payroll information.

Skills

Attention to detail

Professional communication skills

Independent thinking

Ability to work in a team

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or Construction Management

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Accounting software

Job description

About Us

We are one of the leading mechanical contractors in the eastern United States. Our construction and service (mechanical and electrical) experience includes a broad range of commercial and government projects, including data centers, hospitals, sports stadiums, convention centers, hotels, and research laboratories.

Job Summary

Job Title: Cost Accountant, Construction (Project Support)

Location: Richmond, VA 23227

Reports to: Project Management / Chief Financial Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Shift: Monday through Friday – 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Cost Accountant assists the company in meeting its objectives and goals by performing a full cycle accounting process as it relates to the pay application process for specific projects. This includes understanding and compliance with established accounting principles, practices, and procedures, and regulatory compliance with the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act and related federal and state laws, and the upstream contractual requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Review, understand, and develop pay applications in accordance with upstream contractual requirements through communication with the accounting and project operations departments and their related processes and technological resources.
• Review audit of accounts payable invoices specific to project pay applications. This includes vetting packing slips with vendor invoices for materials purchased for the applicable projects, equipment purchase orders vetting to vendor invoices, and the ability to discern errors in quantities, unit pricing, taxable vs. non‑taxable scenarios.
• Audit payroll and collect payroll related data for the pay application process. Interpret certified payroll reports and reporting obligations.
• Ensure all timesheets, time cards, and other means and methods of reporting of time are fully completed, accurate, and approved by authorized managers within the organization (e.g., payroll coding, employee classifications, and authorized signatures are on time cards) and/or processed correctly through the remote time entry software.
• Prepare and customize various Excel reports developing source documents for the feed of data to various rollup Excel workbooks.
• Develop the project pay application in a timely and accurate manner.
• Maintain employee confidence by protecting payroll information in confidence and within company best practices and policies.
• Flexibility to work overtime when necessary to meet exceptional deadlines.
• Ensure accounting compliance with accounting principles and practices, Sarbanes‑Oxley Act, and other federal and state law as required.
• Valid state driver’s license is required.
• Meet the fitness for duty requirements as may be required of upstream clients.
• Meet criminal background check requirements (seven prior years).
• This is not a remote work position.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

You must be work authorized in the United States on a full‑time basis without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future. The Company cannot offer employment to F‑1 (student) visa holders who require employer sponsorship in the future or cannot work now on a full‑time basis.

Preferred Education and Experience

• A bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or Construction Management.
• One to three years of related professional cost accounting experience is required, preferably in the construction industry.
• General accounting fundamentals and concepts required.
• Strong understanding of related accounting practices and procedures.
• Advanced working knowledge of accounting systems software.
• Professional experience with certified payroll requirements, and bona fide fringe benefits.

Computer Skills

• Advanced end user of Microsoft applications, particularly Excel.
• Proficient to advanced usage and knowledge of accounting platforms and interface with Microsoft Access.
• Advanced usage and knowledge of accounting software solutions and Microsoft Excel.
• Proficient user of automated accounts payable platforms.

Required Attributes

• Must possess a strong attention to detail and self‑proof work for accuracy.
• Must possess professional written and verbal communication skills.
• Must demonstrate professional emotional intelligence and steadfast composure.
• Must have the ability to discern work assignment priorities and utilize independent thinking within the scope of authority the position.
• Must demonstrate commitment to performing duties in a safe manner within the scope of company policies, state and federal laws.
• Must demonstrate ability to work collectively with peers and in a manner supporting teamwork in the workplace.
• Must demonstrate ability to effectively organize and manage information and processes as required with the position requirements.
• Must demonstrate commitment to company values.

Language Skills

Must have the demonstrated ability to effectively communicate, cooperate, and collaborate with multiple levels of employees, vendors and suppliers. Must be able to fluently communicate in English both verbally and in writing.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, see, talk, and hear. The employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is regularly required to walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty‑five (25) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Equal Opportunity Employer

As a leading provider of mechanical and electrical construction, facilities services, and energy infrastructure, we offer employees a competitive salary and benefits package and we are always looking for individuals with the talent and skills required to contribute to our continued growth and success. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Affirmative Action Policy

Please review our affirmative action policy.

Notice to Prospective Employees

There have been fraudulent postings and emails regarding job openings. EMCOR Group and its companies list open positions here. Please check our available positions to confirm that a post or email is genuine. EMCOR Group and its companies do not reach out to individuals to help with marketing or other similar services. If an individual is contacted for services outside of EMCOR’s normal application process – it is probably fraudulent.