Project Accountant

Discovered Search•Costa Mesa, CA

8h•Onsite

About The Position

Project Accountant Costa Mesa, CA | Full-Time | Onsite Are you the person who naturally brings order, accountability, and efficiency to project-based businesses? We are a highly respected professional AEC firm seeking a Project Accountant to oversee the financial and operational flow of projects from contract setup through billing, collections, reporting, and closeout. This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys improving processes, partnering with project managers, and ensuring projects move smoothly from start to finish. You'll have a direct impact on cash flow, project profitability, operational efficiency, and client satisfaction.

Requirements

Experience in project accounting, project controls, finance, or operations within a professional services, engineering, architecture, consulting, or project-based environment.
Strong understanding of project billing, WIP reporting, contract administration, and project financial management.
Experience with Deltek Ajera, Vantagepoint, Vision, or a comparable project accounting ERP system.
Comfortable communicating with project managers, executives, clients, and accounting teams.
Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Process-oriented mindset with a desire to improve systems and operational efficiency.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
Experience supporting engineering, architecture, construction, consulting, or other project-driven organizations.
Knowledge of utilization reporting, labor forecasting, project profitability, and financial performance metrics.

Responsibilities

Manage project setup, billing structures, and financial controls within the firm's ERP system.
Generate and review pre-bill reports, WIP analysis, and labor utilization data.
Coordinate invoice reviews with project managers and issue accurate client invoices.
Support project profitability reporting and financial performance tracking.
Monitor aging reports and proactively manage collections.
Communicate professionally with client accounting departments regarding outstanding balances.
Help improve cash flow through disciplined follow-up and payment tracking.
Assist with contract setup, fee schedules, project phases, and change order administration.
Maintain accurate project records and ensure operational consistency across projects.
Support proposal-to-project transitions and project closeout activities.
Coordinate invoice approvals and vendor payment workflows.
Review consultant and vendor expenses for proper coding and project allocation.
Assist with office operations and administrative support as needed.
Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, reporting, billing processes, and project controls.
Develop practical systems and accountability measures that improve efficiency across the organization.