Senior Project Accountant

LJC; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary Annual Bonus

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Generous PTO and paid holidays

401k

Paid time off

Holidays

Job summary

A leading construction and design firm is seeking a Senior Project Accountant in St. Louis, Missouri. This role involves overseeing project financial performance, ensuring contract compliance, and guiding Project Accountants. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance and 5+ years of project accounting experience, especially in Architecture and Engineering. Strong Excel skills are vital, along with proficiency in Deltek. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work on award-winning projects.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of project accounting experience required.
• Strong understanding of job cost, fee-based billing, and revenue recognition.
• Experience reviewing or mentoring junior accounting staff preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; ability to work with PMs and leadership.
• Experience reviewing or mentoring junior accounting staff preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee project financial performance and compliance.
• Lead setup of complex projects including budgets and contracts.
• Identify financial risks and trends proactively.
• Serve as primary accounting contact for assigned PMs
• Ensure contract terms, billing requirements, and revenue recognition standards are met
• Develop and standardize project accounting best practices
• Provide training and review support to Project Accountants
• Prepare and enter invoices timely and accurately
• Prepare and distribute job cost, labor, and other financial reports
• Maintain subconsultant and subcontract agreements in accounting systems
• Respond to vendor inquiries regarding invoice and payment status
• Prepare journal entries and month-end close adjustments
• Ensure data accuracy across Deltek, JD Edwards, DataServ, Textura
• Support special projects and strategic initiatives

Skills

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Strong communication skills

Project accounting experience

Experience in Architecture & Engineering

Hands-on experience with Deltek

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

Deltek

JD Edwards

DataServ

Textura

Job description

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential related building projects.

About LJC

LJC Design & Engineering is a full-service architecture, engineering, and design firm committed to enhancing the quality of the human experience through integrated design. We are a team of high-energy professionals who share a passion for design, a collaborative approach, and a casual culture. We solve challenges by leveraging the collective expertise and ingenuity of the best and brightest minds across development, design, and construction.

The Role We Want You For

The Senior Project Accountant is a trusted financial partner to Project Managers and firm leadership. This role oversees project financial performance, ensures contract and billing compliance, supports monthly close and revenue recognition, performs advanced accounting functions, and provides guidance to Project Accountants. The Senior Project Accountant plays a key role in maintaining financial integrity while helping improve systems, processes, and scalability.

The Specifics of the Role

• Lead setup of complex or high-value projects, including budgets, contracts, and billing structures in Deltek
• Monitor overall project performance and proactively identify financial risks, trends, and variances
• Provide recommendations to Project Managers and leadership to support informed business decisions
• Serve as primary accounting contact for assigned Project Managers
• Ensure compliance with contract terms, billing requirements, and revenue recognition standards
• Help develop and standardize project accounting best practices
• Provide training, guidance, and review support to Project Accountants
• Prepare and enter invoices into the accounting system accurately and timely in accordance with contract requirements
• Prepare and distribute job cost, labor, and other financial reports as needed
• Set up and maintain subconsultant and subcontract agreements in accounting systems
• Respond to vendor and subconsultant inquiries regarding invoice and payment status
• Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, and other adjustments as part of the month-end close process
• Ensure accuracy and consistency of project financial data across Deltek, JD Edwards, DataServ, Textura, and related systems
• Support special projects and strategic initiatives as the firm grows

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required
• 5+ years of project accounting experience required; experience in Architecture & Engineering or construction-related environment strongly preferred
• Strong hands‑on experience with Deltek preferred
• Strong understanding of project accounting, job cost, fee-based billing, and revenue recognition
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Strong communication skills with the ability to partner effectively with Project Managers and leadership
• Experience reviewing or mentoring junior accounting staff preferred
• JD Edwards experience preferred

Things You Should Know

• No other builder can offer the collaborative design‑build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award‑winning, high‑profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!

Why Clayco?

• 2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2025 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design‑Build Firms – Design‑Build Contractor (Top 5).
• 2025 ENR Top 25 Data Center Builders - Data Center Contractor (Top 3).
• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.