Project Accountant

The Hill Group; Franklin Park (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hill Group is seeking a Project Accountant in Franklin Park, IL to oversee project billing, invoicing, and collections, working closely with project managers and engineers to ensure accurate cost control and profitability.

The role emphasizes collaboration across finance and operations, preparing monthly invoices, waivers, and reports, while supporting cash flow forecasting and cost analysis.

Qualifications include an accounting background and knowledge of construction billing processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business preferred.
• Experience with AIA billings in a construction environment preferred.
• Knowledge of contract, subcontract, and purchase order terms in cost control.
• Strong written and verbal communication and organizational skills.
• Able to work independently and meet deadlines with adaptability.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel and Outlook.

Responsibilities

• Communicate with Project Team on contracts, changes, and billing.
• Prepare monthly invoices and cost‑plus billing with supporting docs.
• Send final invoices/waivers to clients and follow up on payments.
• Identify opportunities to maximize client billing with the team.
• Collaborate to maximize monthly project billing.
• Maintain billing folders with all documents per standard procedures.
• Generate ad hoc receivables and job profitability reports.
• Assist with cash flow projections and cost controls.

Skills

AIA billings

Construction accounting

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Written communication

Organizational skills

Independent work

Deadline management

Flexibility

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in accounting or business

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

General Job Description:

The Project Accountant plays a pivotal role in overseeing the project billing & collection process, as well as reviewing costs and gross profit on each project. This role interacts heavily with internal project managers and project engineers, and the client/general contractor/construction manager/owner. The project accountant is a key member of the construction team, contributing significantly to the financial success of each project.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Project Accountant performs a variety of accounting functions in an accounting department to include the following:

• Effectively communicate with Project Team regarding contract documents, change orders and other contract modifications, approvals, and any additional services-relatedto billing.
• Prepare monthly invoice package containing draft and final invoices for projects, particularly cost plus billings including all applicable expense backup.
• Send final invoices and waivers to the customer & follow up on client approval / payment.
• Assess and pursue opportunities for maximization of client billing; communicate with the Project Team, as to your observations and actions taken.
• Collaborate with Project Team to maximize monthly billing amounts.
• Maintain the billing folders for all projects with all the appropriate documents, including pay applications, waivers, certified payroll reports, vendor invoices, etc. in accordance with standard procedures.
• Generate and analyze ad hoc receivables reports and job profitability reports.
• Assist with the development and implementation of project cost controls.
• Manage/prepare subcontract waivers process.
• Manage certified payroll process on jobs where required.
• Recommend, assist with development and implement agreed process improvements to the billing cost control and billing processes.
• Prepare special project analyses for the Project Team and others.
• Participate in monthly and quarterly project review meetings with CFO, Controller, VP of Construction Operations, and Project Leaders.
• Assist with monthly Cash Flow projections

REQUIRED SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE:

• Bachelor’s Degree or some college courses in accounting or business preferred.
• Experience with AIA billings in a construction environment preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of standard contract, subcontract and purchase order terms, and how they are affected by and/or applied to the project cost control process.
• Thorough knowledge of Construction Accounting terms, processes and procedures.
• Ability to work well with others under deadline situations and respond to changes in priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and strong organizational skills.
• Strong accounting audit skills including data analysis, critical thinking and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, set priorities and see projects through to completion.
• Competency in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel and Outlook.