Accountant - Operational Finance

Turner Construction•Columbus, OH

1d•$85,000 - $125,000

About The Position

The Accountant performs, manages, and leads day-to-day accounting operations and financial reporting for construction projects. The role guides project teams in complying with Turner financial policies and procedures and maintains transparent communication about project financial health with Finance and project management teams. The position serves as a primary Finance contact for project accounting questions and escalated issues, supports and develops accounting staff, and coordinates with Shared Services on Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable. It also leads implementation of finance procedures that meet client contract requirements, audits billing and project ledgers, manages project cash position, monitors Work-in-Progress schedules, and supports forecasting and month- and year-end close activities. The role contributes to improvements in project accounting processes, including the use of AI and other innovative technologies. The role is based in San Antonio, Texas. The work environment is regularly an office setting with usually quiet to moderate noise. The role involves frequent computer use and sitting, occasional travel, and compliance with company safety policies and applicable laws.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, plus at least 3 years of related experience; an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience is also accepted.
Advanced knowledge of accounting policies, procedures, and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), including journal entries and the general ledger.
Working knowledge of Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable best practices, including invoice exception resolution and vendor or customer account maintenance.
Ability to understand the accounting implications of contract terms.
Understanding of construction lien laws, retainage requirements, and prevailing wage regulations as applicable to project accounting.
Ability to maintain internal controls and confidentiality when handling sensitive financial information.
Ability to follow established procedures and complete directions without management follow-up.
Self-starter who is adaptable and flexible, can work with minimal direction and supervision, and can operate in a fast-paced, changing environment.
Ability to educate others and reinforce compliance with company financial practices and policies.
Analytical ability to review financial data, identify risks, interpret trends, and recognize inconsistencies.
Knowledge of cash flow and procedures to optimize profitability.
Knowledge of Work-in-Progress reporting and percentage-of-completion accounting methods for construction projects.
Ability to manage competing activities, requests, and short-cycle deadlines.
Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion, identify problems, recommend resolutions, and resolve or escalate issues promptly.
Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to maintain accuracy, check own work and others’ work, and meet deadlines.
Customer-service mindset and professional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to tailor communication to different organizational levels and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary contact for project Finance accounting questions and escalated issues, providing guidance and promoting best practices.
Follow company and Finance policies, procedures, system workflows, approval requirements, record-retention processes, and project coding practices.
Mentor and guide the Accounting team on financial policies, project accounting procedures, and system workflows.
Train and support accounting staff using established materials, resource guides, and on-the-job instruction.
Provide timely and accurate audit deliverables, retrieve supporting documents, and organize documentation as directed.
Coordinate with the Shared Services Organization on Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable activities.
Participate in continuous improvement reviews to reduce manual effort, improve accuracy and timeliness, standardize workflows, and incorporate AI and other innovative technologies.
Lead implementation of finance procedures that ensure compliance with client contractual billing and accounts receivable requirements.
Analyze client contracts for billing deadlines, payment terms, billable and non-reimbursable expenses, insurance and fee billing agreements, and approved staff or trade labor billing rates.
Audit client billing and project ledgers for compliance with contract requirements, GAAP, and company policy, and confirm billings align with cost reporting and project forecasts.
Manage project cash position, including over- and under-billing, payment status, and profitability; identify risks and coordinate with client finance teams, vendors, and project stakeholders.
Analyze Accounts Payable activity and review project cost trends, statements, and ledgers; resolve risks, gaps, and inconsistencies.
Review invoice coding and workflow approvals for compliance with Finance policies, contract terms, and Signing Authority and Approval Matrix requirements.
Monitor Work-in-Progress schedules and percentage-of-completion assessments in accordance with GAAP and Turner policies; compare forecasted WIP with actual results, investigate variances with Operations, and report insights to financial leadership.
Analyze client billing line-item budget-to-actual variances and identify cost exposures to improve forecasting accuracy and compliance.
Lead month-end close activities for assigned projects and generate owner invoices.
Ensure timely and accurate expense recognition for owner invoicing, including accrual support, journal-entry preparation, and intercompany charge review.
Manage project accounting tasks supporting year-end activities, such as gross-up reports and account reconciliations.