Senior Accountant

SpectrumCareers; Maryland; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SpectrumCareers seeks a Senior Government Contracting Accountant to lead federal contract accounting and compliance in a fast-growing government contractor environment. You will manage general ledger, month-end close, cost pools, and government billing while ensuring DCAA, FAR, CAS compliance and accurate ICS preparation.

You will partner with the Controller/CFO, Contracts, HR, and FP&A to deliver timely financial reporting, audit readiness, and strong internal controls across DoD/CAS programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in federal government contracting.
• Strong knowledge of FAR Part 31, CAS, and DCAA requirements.
• Hands-on experience with Deltek Costpoint or GovCon ERP.
• Experience with indirect cost pools and rate structures (fringe, overhead, G&A).
• Experience supporting government contract billing and project accounting.
• Experience with month-end close, reconciliations, journal entries, and financial reporting.
• Strong understanding of GAAP.

Responsibilities

• Ensure accounting practices comply with FAR, FAR Part 31, CAS, and DCAA requirements.
• Maintain documentation and audit trails for government contract costs.
• Support DCAA, DCMA, external, and internal audits.
• Lead and/or support monthly, quarterly, and year-end close activities.
• Prepare journal entries, accruals, allocations, prepaid expenses, and other adjustments.
• Perform balance sheet and general ledger reconciliations.
• Maintain accurate supporting schedules and account documentation.
• Assist with monthly financial statements and management reporting.
• Analyze account and project variances and investigate discrepancies.
• Calculate and monitor fringe, overhead, G&A, and indirect cost rates.
• Assist with ICS preparation.
• Monitor indirect rate trends and communicate variances to Finance.

Skills

FAR knowledge

CAS knowledge

DCAA requirements

Deltek Costpoint

GAAP

Excel – advanced

Cost accounting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Tools

Deltek Costpoint

Microsoft Excel

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Government Contracting Accountant to support the financial operations, accounting, and compliance requirements of a growing federal government contractor.

The Senior Accountant will be responsible for general ledger accounting, month-end close, project and contract accounting, indirect cost allocations, government contract billing, financial reporting, and audit support. The ideal candidate has strong hands-on experience with FAR, CAS, DCAA requirements, and Deltek Costpoint and understands how accounting practices translate into compliant government contract cost structures.

This individual will work closely with the Controller/CFO, Program Management, Contracts, HR, Payroll, and FP&A to ensure accurate financial reporting, proper labor and cost charging, and continued audit readiness.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure accounting practices comply with applicable FAR, FAR Part 31, CAS, and DCAA requirements.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and audit trails for government contract costs.
• Support DCAA, DCMA, external, and internal audits.
• Lead and/or support monthly, quarterly, and year-end close activities.
• Prepare journal entries, accruals, allocations, prepaid expenses, and other accounting adjustments.
• Perform balance sheet and general ledger reconciliations.
• Maintain accurate supporting schedules and account documentation.
• Assist with preparation of monthly financial statements and management reporting.
• Analyze account and project-level variances and investigate discrepancies.
• Calculate and monitor fringe, overhead, G&A, and other indirect cost rates.
• Assist with preparation of the Annual Incurred Cost Submission (ICS).
• Monitor indirect rate trends and communicate significant variances to Finance leadership.
• Maintain accurate project and contract accounting records.
• Review direct and indirect labor, material, subcontract, travel, and other project costs.
• Support accounting for FFP, T&M, cost-plus, and other federal contract types, as applicable.
• Serve as a key accounting user and subject-matter resource for Deltek Costpoint.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, preferably with at least 3 years in a federal government contracting environment.
• Strong knowledge of FAR Part 31, CAS, and DCAA requirements.
• Hands-on experience with Deltek Costpoint or a comparable GovCon ERP system.
• Experience with indirect cost pools and rate structures, including fringe, overhead, and G&A.
• Experience supporting government contract billing and project accounting.
• Experience with month-end close, reconciliations, journal entries, and financial reporting.
• Strong understanding of GAAP.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, and financial analysis.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and recurring deadlines with a high degree of accuracy.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA or CPA eligibility.
• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business.
• Experience preparing or substantially contributing to an Incurred Cost Submission.
• Experience supporting DCAA accounting, billing, or incurred-cost audits.
• Experience with Deltek Costpoint 8 or later.
• Experience with DoD contracts or other complex federal contracting environments.
• Familiarity with DFARS, CUI, and federal compliance requirements.
• Prior experience in a Controller or Assistant Controller capacity.
• Experience mentoring or supervising accounting personnel.