Project Accountant

Cranshaw Construction; Newton (MA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision plans

Paid time off and holidays

Wellness incentives

Professional development and training

Opportunities to expand project-owner-

Job summary

Cranshaw Construction is seeking a Project Accountant to join our Construction Finance & Accounting team. You will partner with Project Managers, Operations, and Finance to support accurate project financial reporting, owner billing, subcontractor compliance, and project cost and revenue visibility from setup through closeout.

The ideal candidate has 2+ years of project accounting experience in construction, with strong Excel skills and the ability to collaborate across project teams, finance,

Qualifications

• 2+ years of project accounting experience required; construction industry experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Management, or related field preferred; associate degree with relevant experience will also be considered.
• Working knowledge of construction accounting concepts, including AIA billing, job cost accounting, revenue recognition, retainage, and lien waivers.
• Experience with construction accounting, ERP, or project management/payment platforms such as Sage, Procore, or TimberScan is a plus.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines independently.
• Analytical, proactive problem-solver with sound judgment, strong initiative, and commitment to continuous improvement.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to build effective working relationships across project teams, Finance, vendors, subcontractors, and owners.

Responsibilities

• Set up and maintain project budgets, including markups and staff billing rates, in alignment with corporate rates and contract terms.
• Prepare owner billings and track them through the job-specific approval workflow until fully executed and submitted.
• Examine client contracts for billing requirements, allowable markups, fee structure, retainage, lien waivers, tax requirements, and required backup documentation.
• Manage subcontractor compliance documentation, including insurance certificates, lien waivers, second-tier requirements, progress billings, and payment processes.
• Review, approve, and cost-code invoices while partnering with Accounts Payable and vendors to resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain monthly job projections in the accounting system using forecast meeting results provided by Project Managers.
• Evaluate project cost and revenue projections, identify fluctuations or exposure items, and escalated significant issues to the Accounting Manager as appropriate.
• Support audits, contract reconciliations, subcontractor closeout, retainage release, and organized project financial documentation.

Skills

Project accounting

Excel proficiency

Attention to detail

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical problem-solving

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance

Associate degree with relevant experience

Tools

Sage

Procore

TimberScan

Job description

Cranshaw is seeking a Project Accountant to join our Construction Finance & Accounting team. In this role, you will partner with Project Managers, Operations, and Finance to support accurate project financial reporting, owner billing, subcontractor compliance, and project cost and revenue visibility from project setup through closeout.

The ideal candidate will bring strong project accounting experience, preferably in the construction industry, along with exceptional attention to detail, sound judgment, strong Excel skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with project teams, Finance, subcontractors, vendors, and owners.

Cranshaw Construction is a fast-growing construction management company with over 40 years of experience building in some of the hottest market segments, including multi-family residential, including, senior housing, affordable housing, mixed-use, corporate, commercial, retail, hospitality, industrial, medical, and lab work. We build with purpose, consistently delivering exceptional projects through the integrity of our people, the trust of our partners, and the pride we take in fostering relationships that strengthen our teams, our clients, and our communities. Cranshaw is an affiliate of National Development, a leading vertically integrated real estate investment, development, and management firm.

Our people are the core of our company, we foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, continuous improvement, and excellence, all while staying true to our mission and values.

Primary Responsibilities

• Set up and maintain project budgets, including markups and staff billing rates, in alignment with corporate rates and contract terms.
• Prepare owner billings and track them through the job-specific approval workflow until fully executed and submitted.
• Examine client contracts for billing requirements, allowable markups, fee structure, retainage, lien waivers, tax requirements, and required backup documentation, including AIA G702/G703 format when applicable.
• Manage subcontractor compliance documentation, including insurance certificates, lien waivers, second-tier requirements, progress billings, and payment processes.
• Review, approve, and cost-code invoices while partnering with Accounts Payable and vendors to resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain monthly job projections in the accounting system using forecast meeting results provided by Project Managers.
• Evaluate project cost and revenue projections, identify fluctuations or exposure items, and escalated significant issues to the Accounting Manager as appropriate.
• Support audits, contract reconciliations, subcontractor closeout, retainage release, and organized project financial documentation.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of project accounting experience required; construction industry experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Management, or a related field preferred; associate degree with relevant experience will also be considered.
• Working knowledge of construction accounting concepts, including AIA billing, job cost accounting, revenue recognition, retainage, and lien waivers.
• Experience with construction accounting, ERP, or project management/payment platforms such as Sage, Procore, or TimberScan is a plus.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines independently.
• Analytical, proactive problem-solver with sound judgment, strong initiative, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across project teams, Finance, vendors, subcontractors, and owners.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and through virtual meetings.
• Ability to occasionally visit project sites and follow all required site safety protocols, including use of PPE when applicable.
• Initially onsite for training; hybrid schedule available after successful completion of training and demonstrated ability to work independently.

Travel

• Limited local travel may be required for project meetings, training, or occasional site visits.

The salary range for this position is $65,000 – $90,000. Compensation is part of a comprehensive total rewards package, including bonus, and final offers will be determined based on job-related knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience.

Cranshaw Construction offers a wide range of insurance options, programs, and benefits Including:

• Comprehensive and affordable health, dental, and vision plans
• Robust paid time-off benefits with PTO, sick time, and 12 paid holidays
• Employee wellness incentives
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Opportunities to expand project ownership and deepen construction accounting expertise
• A supportive, safety-focused, and team-oriented work environment

We support the personal and professional well-being of our team members with benefits that address career growth, family needs, and health and wellness. Beyond the work itself, you’ll find a team that supports one another when it matters most.

At Cranshaw, you can build not only buildings, but also a career.

Cranshaw is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Cranshaw has a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) mission that values all perspectives and strives toward inclusivity because we believe that equal opportunity and shared success strengthen both our firm and our community.