Experienced Professional, Project Accounting

WSP•Meridian, ID

12d

About The Position

WSP is seeking an Experienced Professional, Project Accounting in the United States. The position is contingent upon the ability to obtain and maintain a national security clearance, and US citizenship is required due to client and project requirements. The role provides accounting and financial specialist support to project managers and teams, including project work breakdown structures, budgets, margin analysis, funding in Oracle, project charge evaluations, cost transfers, project data maintenance, reporting, and corrective strategies for problem projects. The position also works with Billing and Project Managers on pre-billing reviews, cost estimates, and invoicing, supporting quality delivery and financial stewardship. The role manages the financial lifecycle of assigned projects, from creating Oracle project accounts and tracking budgets through invoice validation, project close-out, and reconciliation of payables and receivables. It involves analyzing project costs and revenue, monitoring project performance and risks, supporting contract and subcontract administration, reviewing and submitting invoices, and preparing project-related government reports. The position requires collaboration with project teams, clients, subcontractors, regulatory agencies, and auditors. Work deadlines and hours may extend beyond a typical workday, and occasional travel may be required depending on project needs. WSP USA provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. WSP is an engineering and professional services firm serving the buildings, transportation, energy, water, and environment markets. The company reports more than 15,000 employees across over 300 US offices.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, or a closely related discipline, or demonstrated proven equivalent experience.
3 to 5 years of relevant post-education experience in accounting, project contracts, and change management documents.
Working knowledge of project accounting principles, practices, and methods and their application to project work-related issues.
Analytical mindset and sound independent judgment when evaluating situations and making decisions with financial implications for the company.
Ability to initiate and coordinate efforts with stakeholders around contract and project requirements.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to express ideas professionally to accounting and non-accounting audiences.
Self-leadership, attention to detail, results orientation, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic work environment.
Ability to learn new techniques, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, follow instructions, work independently, and comply with company policies.
Proficiency in technical writing, office automation and accounting software, technology, math principles, spreadsheets, MS Excel, pivot tables, formulas, data formatting/sorting/filtering, VLOOKUP, predictive models, and tools.
Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to draw conclusions from data collation, documentation, and statistical analysis and identify effective, economical, and logical solutions.
Awareness of and adherence to WSP USA’s Project Delivery Handbook.
Track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety, drug/alcohol, and harassment policies.
Ability to work deadlines and hours that may extend beyond a typical workday.
Ability to travel occasionally depending on project-specific requirements.
US citizenship, due to client/project requirements.
Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government-issued Secret-level Security Clearance.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Oracle.

Responsibilities

Manage and analyze the collection, recording, and allocation of project costs and revenue; ensure accurate profit and loss calculations and communicate project financial performance to project/program management.
Manage lifecycle project accounting, including creating Oracle project accounts, tracking projects and budgets, validating invoicing, closing out projects, and reconciling payables and receivables against project budgets.
Perform accounting tasks related to project contracts, billing events, and billing transaction exceptions for medium-sized or moderately complex projects.
Partner with Project Managers and project teams to establish and update budgets and recommend accounting actions when contract modifications or budget changes occur.
Generate project financial reports and identify items, including labor breakage, that may need escalation to the Project Manager.
Authorize access to project accounts and transfers of expenses into and out of project-related accounts in accordance with accounting practices and guidelines.
Maintain quality-control standards and procedures for accurate project financial records using Oracle, spreadsheets, and software.
Investigate project variances and submit variance reports to management.
Verify contract and change-order characteristics, including contract language, compensation methods, modifications, purchase orders, and subcontractor or consultant terms.
Monitor indicators of problem projects and keep Project Managers and/or the Project Accounting Manager informed of concerns.
Review draft invoices for accuracy against contract requirements, identify corrections, obtain Project Manager documentation and signature, finalize invoice approval with the Project Manager and billing team, and submit invoices to clients.
Coordinate subcontract management with Contract Administrators, review subconsultant invoices, establish and maintain purchase orders, and follow up with Accounts Payable on subcontractor payment requests.
Identify and record unpaid contract billings and follow up on delinquent accounts receivable and unbilled costs.
Respond to client requests for detail, investigate project expenses not billed to clients, and review and approve project-related client billings.
Attend project meetings to report financial status, discuss problem projects, and follow up on agreed actions.
Create and submit government reports related to projects.
Compile information for review by a more Senior Consultant before submission to internal and external auditors, as required.
Interact professionally with regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and clients.
Stay current with project accounting principles and subject matter.
Make responsible and ethical decisions regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and follow WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Benefits

Medical coverage
Dental coverage
Vision coverage
Disability coverage
Life coverage
Retirement savings
Paid sick leave
Paid vacation or other personal time
Paid parental leave
Paid time off for bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings