Project Accountant

SUMMARY: The Project Control Accountant responsibilities are to assist and support management and accounting in cost management services including budgeting, bid management, cost forecasting, and reporting, budget management and control, change management, contract administration, close out administration, procurement management, earned value management and value engineering. The specific work assignment may include duties or activities that assist and support the project and functional management in one or more of the following functional areas, in addition to other duties as assigned.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Project Ownership

• Provide support and communications to project managers and project team members to ensure that all contracting, financial, and administrative aspects of their projects are compliant. Compile information for internal and external auditors, as required.
• Complete project controls concepts such as project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring & controlling, and closeout are needed. Authorize access to project accounts in accounting systems and file server. Complete the revenue, billing and contract data setup and modifications for the contract in the accounting system in a timely and accurate manner. Closeout project accounts upon project completion.

Contractual Support

• Complete cost engineering concepts such as project estimating, forecasting, cost control, and variance reporting are also needed.
• Develop and maintain project budgets.
  • Monitor and report on cost control performance; continuously update actual expenditures and forecast budget impact.
  • Review account totals related to project labor costs and expenses; initiate account transfers as needed.
  • Investigate project variances and submit variance reports to management.
  • Report on project profitability to management.
  • Investigate all project expenses not billed to customers.
  • Create and submit monthly, annual and periodic reports related to projects. Prepare a regular status report on invoices which are 60 days past due and notify the client when spending of obligated funds has exceeded funding thresholds of 75%.
  • Provide various project information reports. Maintain project-related records, including contracts, modifications, and insurance.

• Complete accrual processes, invoice review, and accurate and timely issuance of invoices as well as calculating monthly revenue recognition.
  • Prepare invoices, ensuring they reconcile to revenue and system reports, reviewing support documentation; obtain Project Manager’s approval and send to the customer in a timely fashion.
  • Investigate and report the write-off of any project-related billings that cannot be billed to or collected from customers.

Reporting and Communication

• Responsible for managing multiple projects concurrently.
• Must be comfortable working independently to obtain the status of project information.
• Providing change order and claims review, including review and recommendation of entitlements in accordance with the contractual terms and conditions.
• Review scopes and estimates prepared by third parties, or contractor quotes and contracts for extra work/change order pricing validation.
• Prepare monthly, annual and ad-hoc reports as needed by the Project Manager, Finance or the customer.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This position does not have supervisory responsibilities

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from a four-year college or university required
• 3 years related work experience. Experience working with government contracting or construction-based projects, a plus.
• Highly proficient in advanced functions of Excel required.
• Strong working knowledge of standard PC software (Outlook, Word, Adobe).
• Ability to interact/learn complex financial systems (MS Dynamics NAV/Deltek). Experience with a scheduling software a plus.

COMPETENCIES:

• Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs work flows and procedures.
• Communication – Oral and Written communication skills - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings. Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is:

• Regularly required to sit
• Regularly required to utilize hand and finger dexterity
• Regularly required to talk or hear
• Frequently required to reach with hands and arms
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl
• Occasionally required to taste or smell
• The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job.  It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements.  Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.