Project Accountant

Shive-Hattery; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Paid time off

401(k) retirement plan

Disability protection

Wellness incentives

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Shive-Hattery seeks a Project Accountant to support project finances from inception through closeout. You will partner with project leaders and collaborate with managers, engineers, and architects to ensure accurate billing and transparent financial reporting.

The role emphasizes understanding contracts, MSAs, and billing requirements, preparing timely invoices, resolving unbilled items, and maintaining thorough documentation across projects in a hybrid office setting.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in accounting or related field.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and excellent communication.
• Familiar with accounting principles and practices; experience with financial systems and tools.

Responsibilities

• Be a financial partner to the project leaders.
• Clarify project financials with managers, architects, engineers, and professionals; identify issues and opportunities.
• Understand client contracts, MSAs, and billing requirements; apply across multiple projects.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

3+ years experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

Tools

Accounting software

Job description

Description

Let's Do great things-Together

At Shive-Hattery, we believe great design starts with great people. We're a full-service architecture and engineering firm with a legacy of collaboration, innovation, and putting people first, our clients and each other. If you're looking for a place where your ideas matter and your growth is supported, you'll feel at home here.

Why This Role Matters

As a Project Accountant with 3+ years of experience you'll play a key role in supporting the firm and shaping projects that make a difference-from concept through completion. You'll collaborate with talented teammates, contribute your expertise, and help us deliver thoughtful, high-quality solutions for those we serve.

People trust us, ask for our perspective and value the expertise we bring to the table. I've had so many opportunities to learn, take on new challenges and then turn around and help someone else grow. That's probably the most rewarding part for me: seeing our Project Accountants become confident partners to their teams and knowing we're building something together.

-- Lindsey Mathews, Senior Project Accountant

What You'll Do

• You'll be a financial partner to the people leading our projects
• Working alongside project managers, architects, engineers, and other professionals, you'll bring clarity to project financials, uncover issues and opportunities, and help teams make decisions that lead to stronger outcomes
• Develop a strong understanding of client contracts, master service agreements, and project-specific billing requirements and put that knowledge to work across a portfolio of projects
• Prepare accurate, timely monthly client invoices that align with contract requirements, including supporting documentation for project manager review and approval
• Identify and resolve unbilled items, helping teams capture billing opportunities and keep projects financially healthy
• Monitor accounts receivable and partner with project managers to support timely client payments
• Maintain client and project financial documentation, including contracts, MSAs, invoices, and related records
• Make necessary adjustments to billable hours and expenses and open or close project phases as work evolves
• Help project teams navigate client agreements, billing requirements, and internal financial policies, identifying and addressing issues before they become larger problems
• Support project closeout by reviewing financials, reconciling work-in-progress (WIP), and closing project phases and accounting periods

Requirements

You don't need to check every box to succeed here. If your experience aligns with many of the items below and you're excited about the work we do, we encourage you to apply.

• 3+ years of experience
• Bachelors degree in accounting or related field
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills
• Familiar with accounting principles and practices and have experience working with financial systems and tools
• Comfortable working in a team environment, collaborating with project managers, engineers, architects, and other stakeholders to achieve project goals

What will make you stand out

• AEC industry experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• If you enjoy digging into the details, solving problems, building relationships, and seeing the impact of your expertise on meaningful work

Our Commitment to You

Great work happens when you feel secure in your future, confident in your support, and trusted to grow. That's why our benefits support your health, financial stability, and life beyond work - including medical, dental and vision coverage, paid time off and holidays, 401(k) retirement savings, disability protection, wellness incentives, and flexibility. When we succeed, you share in that success. Guided by truth, trust, mentoring, and care, we're committed to helping you build a lasting career.

Who We Are

Shive-Hattery is a privately held architecture and engineering consulting firm with design offices across the United States. Here, you'll work alongside multidisciplinary teams delivering integrated design solutions for clients across industries. You'll contribute to meaningful projects guided by our principle to design what matters and make our world a better place. You're looking to build something great. So are we.

Shive-Hattery is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

This position is primarily performed in an office or hybrid environment and may require travel to project sites, other Shive-Hattery office locations or to meet with clients. A full clean driver's license is required. The role involves sitting, standing, and working at a computer for extended periods. May also require lifting light to medium weight objects of up to 50 lbs., the wearing of PPE and navigating active construction sites. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

We are unable to provide visa sponsorship now or in the future. Candidates must have current and ongoing authorization to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.