Client Accounting Services Manager (Construction & Real Estate)

Mowery & Schoenfeld LLC•Chicago, IL

1d•$110,000 - $140,000

About The Position

We are adding a Client Advisory Services (CAS) Manager to our growing Construction & Real Estate advisory niche. This role will work closely with privately held construction companies, real estate owners, developers, property managers, and other businesses to improve accounting processes, reporting, and decision-making. The ideal candidate has meaningful experience in construction and real estate accounting from either public accounting or private industry. This person should be driven, analytical, client-service oriented, and comfortable solving messy accounting and reporting challenges in practical ways. The role offers significant opportunity to grow over time in a team environment that is investing in industry specialization and CAS advisory growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
5+ years of progressive accounting experience in either public accounting or private industry
Meaningful experience with construction accounting, real estate accounting, property accounting, or project-based accounting.
Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP and accrual-basis financial reporting.
Experience with QuickBooks, Sage, Yardi, or other common industry platforms.
Ability to review monthly financial statements and identify issues, trends, inconsistencies, and opportunities for improvement.
Experience managing deadlines, client expectations, multiple priorities, and recurring deliverables.
Strong analytical, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, solve problems, and take ownership of client work.
Client-service mindset with the ability to communicate effectively with business owners, controllers, CFOs, and operational leaders.
Interest in helping grow the construction and real estate industry niche over time.

Nice To Haves

Intellectually curious – You think critically, ask better questions, and don’t settle for surface-level answers.
Hardworking – You bring determination and follow-through, especially when it matters most.
Personable – You build trust naturally—with clients and teammates alike.
Driven – You care about growth, accountability, and becoming exceptional at your craft.
Client Service Oriented – You understand that responsiveness, quality, and relationships are what define great firms.
Take initiative without waiting to be asked
Care about the details and the bigger picture
Communicate clearly and confidently
Are career driven and motivated
Want to be part of a team that pushes each other to be better

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary day-to-day advisor for construction and real estate clients, helping management teams improve accounting processes, reporting, and decision-making.
Review and oversee monthly financial reporting packages.
Advise clients on construction accounting matters, including WIP schedules, percentage-of-completion concepts, job cost reporting, over/under billings, and project profitability.
Advise real estate clients on property accounting matters.
Help clients develop reporting tools that provide clearer insight into project performance, property performance, working capital, cash flow, and profitability.
Translate technical accounting issues into clear, practical recommendations for owners and other non-accounting stakeholders.
Manage multiple clients and projects simultaneously.
Lead client onboarding, initial assessments, month-end close design, workflow development, and implementation of repeatable reporting processes.
Own engagement timelines, budgets, deliverables, review processes, and client communication.
Identify accounting process gaps and recommend improvements to increase accuracy, timeliness, and scalability.
Coordinate with tax, assurance, transaction advisory, and other teams to deliver integrated service to clients.
Proactively identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships through advisory, reporting, process improvement, and technology-related services.
Evaluate clients’ current accounting systems, workflows, reporting tools, and reconciliation processes.
Support implementation or improvement of accounting software and related applications.
Build scalable accounting workflows, reconciliations, reporting packages, and supporting documentation.
Leverage technology and automation to improve client reporting and reduce manual work.
Assist clients with multi-entity reporting, intercompany activity, and management reporting structures.
Manage and develop staff and senior accountants supporting client engagements.
Review workpapers, reconciliations, financial statements, reporting packages, and client deliverables for accuracy and quality.
Create and improve templates, checklists, reporting packages, training materials, and best-practice documentation.
Help build a repeatable service model for the firm’s Construction & Real Estate CAS niche.
Participate in internal training and knowledge-sharing.
Support business development activities, including client expansion opportunities, proposal preparation, networking, and industry visibility.

Benefits

Dedicated construction and real estate industry focus within a growing CAS advisory practice.
Opportunity to work with privately held businesses where advisory work has a direct impact.
Exposure to construction contractors, real estate owners, developers, property managers, and multi-entity client groups.
Ability to help design the service model, templates, reporting packages, and internal best practices for a growing niche.
Clear opportunity for advancement over time in a growing firm environment.
Entrepreneurial midsized-firm platform with access to firm leadership and cross-service collaboration.
Opportunity for a driven manager to move into expanded leadership responsibilities as the practice scales.
Comprehensive tax, assurance, transaction advisory, outsourced accounting, wealth management, international tax, and business advisory services.
Supportive environment focused on growth.
Opportunities to grow into leaders
A voice in shaping the firm’s future