Manager, Financial Planning & Project Accounting

Trilon Group•Rochelle, IL

21d•$100,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

Fehr Graham is seeking a Financial Planning and Project Accounting Manager to lead their project accounting and financial analysis team. This role involves strengthening financial planning and forecasting, and helping project managers and operational leaders understand the financial implications of their work. It is a hands-on leadership position for someone who enjoys analyzing project performance, improving reporting, and providing financial insights for better decision-making. The position is based in Rochelle, Illinois, and offers an opportunity to shape financial information for a growing professional services firm. The role involves direct collaboration with project managers, operational leaders, and the Chief Financial Officer to enhance project profitability, forecasting, and overall business performance. Additionally, the manager will lead and develop a team, refine processes, and contribute to building effective financial tools and reporting systems.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related field.
7+ years of progressive experience in project accounting, financial planning and analysis, or related finance work, including leadership or supervisory responsibility.
Experience in an architecture, engineering or construction (AEC), professional services or other project-based environment preferred.
Strong Excel skills and experience with Deltek Vantagepoint, Power BI or comparable systems.
Knowledge of project accounting, including project setup, revenue recognition, work in progress, billing, multipliers, backlog and project profitability.
Experience leading accurate, timely project accounting and financial analysis cycles.
The ability to balance recurring reporting deadlines with ad hoc analysis and business needs.
Strong budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, variance analysis and management reporting skills.
The ability to take complex financial and project data and turn it into clear recommendations for nonfinance leaders.

Responsibilities

Lead project accounting, project profitability reporting, budgeting and forecasting, management dashboards, key performance indicators and business analytics.
Lead and develop the project accounting and financial analysis team, including work assignments, feedback and professional development.
Partner with project managers and operational leaders to understand results, evaluate project performance and determine next steps.
Build and improve budgets, forecasts, profitability models, dashboards and leadership reporting.
Recommend improvements to financial planning, project accounting, data quality, reporting and business processes.
Make decisions about analytical methods, reporting approaches, team assignments and routine process improvements within established financial controls.
Flag significant financial risks, forecast concerns, control issues and project performance concerns to the CFO.
Work with the Controller to keep responsibilities and handoffs between project accounting and general accounting clear and efficient.