Project Accounting Lead

Mark Thomas; California; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k & ESOP

PTO & Holidays

Hybrid/Remote

Job summary

Mark Thomas is hiring a Project Accounting Lead to support the Project Accounting Manager and lead a team of project accountants. The role focuses on financial health of projects, milestone assessment, and close collaboration with project managers to deliver accurate reporting and billing.

Responsibilities include training, supervising staff, and handling monthly billing and client invoicing. The candidate will contribute to process improvements and ensure compliance across designated divisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Business Administration (preferred).
• 10+ years of project accounting and billing experience in professional services.
• Highly proficient in Excel; experience with Deltek Vantagepoint is a plus.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to train, supervise and manage staff workload.
• Proactive, collaborative, and able to work in a team environment.
• Solid understanding of basic accounting processes.

Responsibilities

• Acts as a resource to project accountants for guidance.
• Directly supervises and mentors assigned project accountants; conducts career conversations.
• Develops training content for new team members and internal processes.
• Guides team through complex project issues; escalates when needed.
• Assists with monthly team meetings and month-end closing activities.
• Attends regional project financial review meetings and contributes to discussions.
• Works with Project Managers to ensure accurate financial reporting and billing.
• Monitors project financial performance and escalates issues to leadership.
• Provides analysis of budgets, spend rates, and profitability.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Deltek Vantagepoint

Strong communication

Team leadership

Financial reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Business

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Deltek Vantagepoint

Job description

Mark Thomas is hiring a Project Accounting Lead! The Project Accounting Lead is responsible for supporting the Project Accounting Manager with daily team responsibilities to maximize and ensure efficient and effective project delivery. This role assumes the responsibilities of the Project Accountant in addition to added lead tasks by playing an integral part in assessing key project measurements and milestones, as well as the project's overall financial health. The Project Accounting Lead interfaces regularly with project managers to provide financial insight on assigned project statuses. This position includes training and supervisory responsibilities in addition to preparing client invoices and providing billing support to project managers within designated divisions within the company. Mark Thomas is great place to grow your career - join us!

Responsibilities

• Acts as a resource to project accountants for project support questions and guidance.
• Directly supervises and provides mentorship to assigned project accountants; conducts career conversations for direct reports; may interview and select new team members.
• Creates content and provides support and training for new team members, including developing solutions to a variety of problems of moderate scope and complexity; may facilitate project accounting training internally (more broadly) outside of the team.
• Assists and provides guidance to project accounting team members when working through complex or difficult project issues; escalates as appropriate
• Assists with monthly team meetings and month-end closing activities
• Attends regional project financial review meetings, participates accordingly
• Works closely with Project Managers to ensure accurate and consistent financial reporting, revenue recognition, and project billing; clearly understands the overall schedule, phase, and timeline of each assigned project.
• Proactively monitors project financial performance (direct costs, effective multiplier, and profit, etc.) and addresses any concerns with Project Managers; escalates larger issues to Project Accounting Manager/COO/CFO as needed.
• Provides detailed analysis and reporting on project budgets, spend rates and variance analysis, and profitability.
• Reviews project expenses to ensure accurate posting to projects.
• Reconciles cost data between project cost ledgers and accounting systems.
• Leads monthly billing meetings with project accountants and project managers
• Performs the monthly billing function for all assigned projects; ensures final billing is complete and all costs have been recorded to project.
• Prepares and sends monthly invoices per contract to client(s); reviews documentation to ensure invoice is accurate and complies with contract, includes additional reports and/or utilizing special billing templates.
• Reviews and processes of subconsultant invoices with Project Manager approval; ensures timely release of subconsultant invoices for payment.
• Identifies and appropriately notifies the Project Manager of outstanding AR issues; works with the Project Manager to resolve outstanding AR items and Teams with accounts receivables on invoice payments/collections as appropriate.
• Participates in Project Reviews during life cycle of project; runs various project reports to include billing worksheets, labor detail reports, unbilled detail reports, etc. used for project review and analysis.
• Responsible for new project setup, including billing terms, rate updates, contract analysis and budget setup.
• Partners and collaborates with Project Coordinators; demonstrates depth and knowledge of budgets and projects.
• Responds to billing-related inquiries, questions, and concerns from internal or external clients
• Promotes and supports an inclusive work environment.

Education, Experience & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Accounting or Business Administration.
• 10 + years of project accounting and billing experience in a professional services firm, preferably in the A/E/C industry.
• Highly proficient in Excel; experience with Deltek Vantagepoint software is a plus.
• Strong organizational skills, high level of accuracy, and keen attention to detail.
• Ability to train, supervise and manage the workload of staff members.
• Positive attitude and ability to work in team environment, be proactive, and take initiative.
• Solid understanding of basic accounting process.
• Ability to effectively work in a high-volume environment under pressure with multiple tasks and strict deadlines.
• Willingness to embrace new technologies and constantly strive for greater efficiencies through process or technology.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, ability to work as a team and interact professionally with employees, clients, and vendors.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with a variety of unique and diverse people and personalities.

Benefits And Compensation

Mark Thomas offers a fantastic benefits and compensation package to include:

• Competitive salary and incentives to include employee referral bonuses, certification and licensing incentives (PLA, PLS, PE, LSIT, EIT), and eligibility for year-end performance incentives
• 401k and ESOP retirement benefits to include profit sharing and a 401k match
• Paid-time off benefits to include PTO, public holidays + additional holidays, bereavement leave, jury/civic time, licensing & certification exam time
• Employer-paid vision insurance, basic life insurance, short-term & long-term disability, inclusive family planning & fertility resources, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), travel insurance, and in-house wellness education & challenges
• Voluntary medical and dental insurance, life insurance, and pet insurance
• FSA programs for medical, dependent care, commuter & parking
• Reimbursements for certification and licensing exams and study classes and materials
• Tuition reimbursement, paid annual dues for industry professional/societal organizations, memberships, and events
• Budgeted time for training and career development
• Flexible schedules and hybrid and primarily remote work environments
• The offered rate of compensation (California locations only) will be based on individual education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and geographic location.

The offered rate of compensation (California locations only) will be based on individual education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and geographic location.

Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. The successful candidate selected for hire will need to submit to a background check due to client relationship responsibilities and interactions required for this position following the extension of a conditional offer.

Mark Thomas is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status. Mark Thomas welcomes all.