Project Accountant

MKL Careers; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Annual performance bonus

Growth path to senior roles

Job summary

MKL Careers is seeking a Construction Accountant for a Bay Area general contractor. You will manage job cost accounting, subcontractor billing, and compliance across multiple projects, partnering with project managers and the finance team to keep financials accurate and audit-ready.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years of construction accounting experience with GC exposure, strong knowledge of WIP, AIA billing, and lien waivers, and proficiency with leading construction software.

Qualifications

• > 3+ years of accounting experience in the construction industry with project accounting experience at a general contractor is strongly preferred.
• "> Knowledge of job costing, percentage-of-completion revenue recognition, WIP schedules, retainage, and AIA billing.
• "> Familiarity with California lien law, lien waivers, and public works requirements a plus.
• "> Proficiency with construction accounting software (Sage 300 CRE/Timberline, Viewpoint Vista, Foundation, Procore Financials, or similar).
• "> BA/BS in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience).
• "> Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• "> Clear communication skills and ability to collaborate with project teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage job cost accounting for assigned projects, including setup, cost coding, and budget maintenance.
• Process and review subcontractor and vendor invoices, pay applications, and lien waivers.
• Prepare and submit owner billings and pay applications (AIA G702/G703 or similar), including retention tracking.
• Track change orders, commitments, and contract modifications in the accounting system.
• Reconcile job cost reports to the general ledger and resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare monthly work-in-progress (WIP) schedules, over/under billing analysis, and cost-to-complete forecasts in coordination with project teams.
• Monitor subcontractor insurance certificates, licenses, and compliance documentation.
• Support certified payroll and prevailing wage reporting on public works projects, as applicable.
• Assist with month-end close, accruals, and financial reporting.
• Support internal and external audits, insurance audits, and bonding/surety reporting.
• Collaborate with project managers on budget reviews, cost forecasting, and financial performance.

Skills

Project accounting

Job costing

WIP schedules

AIA billing

Subcontractor billing

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

Sage 300 CRE/Timberline

Viewpoint Vista

Foundation

Procore Financials

Job description

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA Reports to: Controller / Director of Accounting Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

Our client, an established general contractor with an active project portfolio across the Bay Area, is seeking a Construction Accountant to support the financial health of their projects and the company. This role is ideal for an accounting professional with project accounting experience in a general contractor environment who understands how job costing, subcontractor billing, and contract compliance work in the field.

You'll partner closely with project managers, project executives, and the finance team to keep project financials accurate, timely, and audit-ready.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage job cost accounting for assigned projects, including setup, cost coding, and budget maintenance.
• Process and review subcontractor and vendor invoices, pay applications, and lien waivers.
• Prepare and submit owner billings and pay applications (AIA G702/G703 or similar), including retention tracking.
• Track change orders, commitments, and contract modifications in the accounting system.
• Reconcile job cost reports to the general ledger and resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare monthly work-in-progress (WIP) schedules, over/under billing analysis, and cost-to-complete forecasts in coordination with project teams.
• Monitor subcontractor insurance certificates, licenses, and compliance documentation.
• Support certified payroll and prevailing wage reporting on public works projects, as applicable.
• Assist with month-end close, accruals, and financial reporting.
• Support internal and external audits, insurance audits, and bonding/surety reporting.
• Collaborate with project managers on budget reviews, cost forecasting, and financial performance.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of accounting experience in the construction industry, with project accounting experience at a general contractor strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of job costing, percentage-of-completion revenue recognition, WIP schedules, retainage, and AIA billing.
• Familiarity with California lien law, conditional/unconditional lien waivers, and public works requirements a plus.
• Proficiency with construction accounting software (e.g., Sage 300 CRE/Timberline, Viewpoint Vista, Foundation, Procore Financials, or similar).
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience).
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Clear communication skills and comfort working directly with project teams.

What's On Offer

• Stable role with an established Bay Area general contractor
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Annual performance bonus
• Growth path toward Senior Project Accountant, Assistant Controller, or Controller