Senior Project Accountant/Accounting Manager - Construction (WIP Analysis)

Pave Talent; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Career growth opportunities

Collaborative team environment

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Project Accountant in San Diego to drive financial leadership in a growing construction company. The role involves overseeing project accounting, improving budget accuracy, and leading a high-performance team focused on sustainable processes and financial insight. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, strong cost accounting experience, and advanced Excel skills. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and significant growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of cost accounting experience in construction or project-based industry.
• Proven experience managing WIP analysis and job costing.
• Demonstrated leadership and coaching experience.
• Solid understanding of accrual basis accounting.

Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough cost analysis impacting project profitability.
• Manage owner billing cycle and subcontractor compliance.
• Lead project accounting team to build a high-performing culture.
• Drive month-end close process and financial performance reports.

Skills

Cost accounting experience

Leadership and coaching

Advanced Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field

Tools

Construction accounting software (Vista by Viewpoint, HCSS)

Job description

Base pay range

$100,000.00/yr - $120,000.00/yr

Job Description

Ready to build processes that drive profitability in a growing construction company? This is your opportunity to step into a high-impact financial leadership role where your expertise directly shapes project success.

Pave Talent is hiring on behalf of our client, an established mid-size general contractor based in San Diego County. With nearly 40 years of experience, this family-owned company values collaborative problem-solving, hands‑on leadership, and team members who thrive in building sustainable processes. Known for their safety‑first approach and commitment to continuous improvement, they’re positioned for strategic growth.

As Senior Project Accountant/Accounting Manager, you’ll serve as the financial backbone of the construction operations team. This dual role combines hands‑on project accounting expertise with team leadership responsibilities. You’ll partner directly with project executives, project managers, estimators, and superintendents to transform how financial data drives field decisions. Your work will directly improve budget accuracy, strengthen cost‑to‑complete forecasting, and create systems that translate complex project data into actionable insights for the operations team.

What You’ll Build and Own

• Conduct thorough cost analysis and budget‑to‑actual performance reviews that directly impact project profitability and help operations leaders make real‑time decisions in the field.
• Lead the complete owner billing cycle from preparation through collection, managing subcontractor compliance and requisition processes to ensure positive cash flow across all active projects.
• Take primary leadership responsibility for project accounting team members, building a high‑performing team culture where collaboration and continuous improvement are the standard.
• Partner with the Corporate Controller to develop and refine project accounting best practices, standardizing processes across the organization while remaining flexible enough to adapt to unique project requirements.
• Own project setup, labor rate maintenance, and financial data accuracy—the trusted advisor to project teams who rely on your numbers to guide their daily decisions.
• Drive the month‑end close process, including over/under billing analysis, cost accrual reporting, and financial performance presentations that tell the complete story of project health.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with estimating to understand revenue generation and cost implications during the bidding phase, then own backlog forecasting to keep leadership informed.
• Oversee project closeout processes, working with team members to ensure timely closure and collection of retention.
• Champion process improvements and change initiatives by building buy‑in across teams that’ve operated certain ways for years. Your ability to advocate for better systems while respecting institutional knowledge will be critical.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field (or CCIFP certification) with 5+ years of cost accounting experience, preferably in construction or a related project‑based industry.
• Proven experience managing WIP analysis, job costing, and project‑level financial reporting in a fast‑paced environment where accuracy and timeliness matter.
• Demonstrated leadership and coaching experience—you’ve successfully managed team members, provided mentorship, and built accountability within your sphere of influence.
• Advanced Excel proficiency including pivot tables, macros, and complex financial modeling capabilities.
• Solid understanding of accrual basis accounting with the ability to independently identify, analyze, and resolve complex financial issues.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate financial data into business language for non‑financial stakeholders and collaborate effectively across all organizational levels.

Preferred Qualifications

• Construction accounting software experience, particularly Vista by Viewpoint and HCSS—candidates with these tools will hit the ground running.
• Experience working in a small to mid‑size company environment where you’ve touched multiple facets of accounting rather than staying siloed in one function.
• Previous exposure to change management initiatives where you successfully implemented new processes despite initial resistance from long‑tenured team members.
• Track record of partnering with operations teams to improve project financial performance through better data, processes, or analysis.
• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience, plus comprehensive benefits package from Day 1 including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k). This full‑time, on‑site role offers stability with a nearly 40‑year‑old company while providing significant opportunity to grow into a Controller position as you demonstrate impact. You’ll work directly with senior leadership and gain exposure to all facets of construction finance—perfect for someone who wants to build their career rather than stay pigeonholed.
• This close‑knit finance and operations team values every member’s input and creates a collaborative environment where your recommendations will be heard and implemented. With ongoing projects across San Diego County, you’ll see the direct results of your financial leadership in the field.

Seniority Level

• Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

• Full‑time

Job Function

• Accounting/Auditing and Finance
• Industries: Construction

Pave Talent will contact qualified candidates directly. This is an on‑site position in El Cajon, CA (5 days/week). If you’re ready to combine technical accounting excellence with leadership impact, we want to hear from you.