Project Acountant

LF Studios / LifeFormations; Blue Ash (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

LF Studios in Blue Ash, OH, is seeking a methodical finance professional for a hybrid role spanning project accounting and cost analysis. You will partner with project managers and leadership to keep accurate records on multi‑year builds and provide forward‑looking financial insight.

This role requires an associate or bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, 3+ years of experience with job costing, and proficiency in Excel, QuickBooks or NetSuite.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
• 3+ years of progressive accounting experience, including hands‑on work in QuickBooks Online, Oracle NetSuite, or both.
• Demonstrated experience with job costing, project budgeting, or project‑based accounting.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including experience building financial models, forecasts, or management reporting from the ground up.
• Strong analytical judgment and ability to communicate findings clearly to leadership.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with comfort presenting findings to leadership.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and reconcile project budgets for labor, materials, and subcontracted services, maintaining supporting schedules with a high degree of accuracy.
• Work with Project Managers to calculate client billings, while helping develop monthly work‑in‑process (WIP) schedules.
• Perform account reconciliations and maintain accurate accounting records and supporting documentation.
• Oversee purchasing administration: track purchase requests, commitments, and spending against project budgets; review records for completeness, accuracy, and proper approval.
• Maintain vendor records such as tax forms, insurance certificates, compliance documentation.
• Support internal controls and purchasing procedures and recommend improvements where processes can be strengthened.
• Assist in building and maintaining financial models supporting cash flow forecasting, project profitability.
• Analyze project margins across the portfolio, helping to identify trends, estimate accuracy, overruns, and pricing performance to develop insight on how we bid future work.
• Assist in the development and review of KPI dashboards and management reporting that give leadership clear visibility into financial and operational health.
• Support the annual budgeting process and periodic reforecasts, partnering with department leads on assumptions and targets.
• Prepare presentation‑ready financial summaries and recommendations for executive and ownership review.
• Contribute to special projects and process‑improvement initiatives across Accounting and Operations.
• Support cross‑functional projects and perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Accounting software

Excel

Financial analysis

Communication

Multitasking

Education

Accounting or Finance degree

Tools

QuickBooks Online

Oracle NetSuite

Job description

About LF Studios

At LF Studios, we bring stories to life through world‑class animatronics, scenic environments, exhibits, and immersive experiences. For more than 30 years, we have partnered with leading theme parks, museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, and branded destinations around the world to create memorable guest experiences. Our team combines creativity, craftsmanship, and technical expertise to deliver one‑of‑a‑kind projects that inspire wonder and imagination. We are looking for talented people who thrive in a collaborative environment and want to play a meaningful role in supporting extraordinary work.

About LF Studios

At LF Studios, we bring stories to life through world‑class animatronics, scenic environments, exhibits, and immersive experiences. For more than 30 years, we have partnered with leading theme parks, museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, and branded destinations around the world to create memorable guest experiences. Our team combines creativity, craftsmanship, and technical expertise to deliver one‑of‑a‑kind projects that inspire wonder and imagination. We are looking for talented people who thrive in a collaborative environment and want to play a meaningful role in supporting extraordinary work.

The Role

We are seeking a positive minded, organized and analytically thinking professional to fill a hybrid role spanning project financial strategy and cost accounting. This position has significant career growth potential, reports to the CFO and is the critical link between accounting, project management, and executive leadership. You will be responsible for maintaining accurate financial records across complex, multi‑year projects and turning that data into forward‑looking insight that shapes how LF Studios prices, plans, and grows. To properly interact with the design and production teams, this is a 100% in office role.

What You'll Do

Project Accounting & Financial Operations

• Monitor and reconcile project budgets for labor, materials, and subcontracted services, maintaining supporting schedules with a high degree of accuracy.
• Work with Project Managers to calculate client billings, while helping develop monthly work‑in‑process (WIP) schedules.
• Perform account reconciliations and maintain accurate accounting records and supporting documentation.
• Oversee purchasing administration: track purchase requests, commitments, and spending against project budgets; review records for completeness, accuracy, and proper approval; and follow up internally to close documentation gaps.
• Maintain vendor records such as tax forms, insurance certificates, compliance documentation.
• Support internal controls and purchasing procedures and recommend improvements where processes can be strengthened.

Financial Strategy & Analysis

• Assist in building and maintaining financial models supporting cash flow forecasting, project profitability.
• Analyze project margins across the portfolio, helping to identify trends, estimate accuracy, overruns, and pricing performance to develop insight on how we bid future work.
• Assist in the development and review of KPI dashboards and management reporting that give leadership clear visibility into financial and operational health.
• Support the annual budgeting process and periodic reforecasts, partnering with department leads on assumptions and targets.
• Work with financial analysis helping to develop strategic initiative, capital investments, facility decisions, new service lines, and potential acquisitions.
• Prepare presentation‑ready financial summaries and recommendations for executive and ownership review.

Cross‑Functional Support

• Contribute to special projects and process‑improvement initiatives across Accounting and Operations.
• Support cross‑functional projects and perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
• Three (3+ years) years of progressive accounting experience, including hands‑on work in QuickBooks Online, Oracle NetSuite, or both.
• Demonstrated experience with job costing, project budgeting, or project‑based accounting.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including experience building financial models, forecasts, or management reporting from the ground up.
• Strong analytical judgment, the ability to move beyond recording transactions to interpreting what the numbers mean and communicating it clearly.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with comfort presenting findings to leadership.
• Dependable and self‑motivated, with a strong commitment to accuracy, organization, and follow‑through.

What Gives You An Edge

• A positive, proactive, and solutions‑oriented attitude with a passion for continuous improvement.
• Proven experience in FP&A, or financial modeling.
• Experience in manufacturing, fabrication, construction, or another project‑based environment.
• Familiarity with WIP accounting and percentage‑of‑completion revenue recognition.
• Experience supporting capital planning, and other strategic finance work.
• Experience with purchasing, procurement, or vendor management functions.

For more information about LF Studios, please visit www.lfstudios.com.