Senior Project Accountant

Aston Carter•Burnaby, BC

3d•CA$43 - CA$50•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Accountant plays a key role in establishing and leading the project accounting function within a global manufacturing organization. This contract position covers a leave and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of project-related accounting and reporting, partnering closely with business stakeholders and project management to support successful project delivery. The role focuses on understanding business and project changes, assessing their financial impact, analyzing and reporting on project cost variances, and developing project accounting policies, procedures, and best practices across the organization, while also supervising and mentoring project accountants.

Requirements

Professional accounting designation (CPA), with Canadian CPA strongly preferred.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in project accounting within a manufacturing or similarly complex industrial environment.
Proven experience working in multi-entity, intercompany, and multi-currency environments.
manufacturing industry or experience with a Big 4 public accounting firm.
Strong technical knowledge of ASPE and IFRS and their application to project accounting.
Hands-on experience with large ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle Fusion, Dynamics 365, or Workday.
Solid understanding of full-cycle accounting, including general ledger management, journal entries, reconciliations, month-end close, and balance sheet integrity.
Experience preparing consolidated financial statements and performing consolidation analysis.
Strong financial reporting skills, including preparation and analysis of financial statements.
Ability to interpret and apply accounting standards to complex project arrangements, including fixed assets and grant-related accounting.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively and provide clear financial insights to non-finance stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to supervise, mentor, and support other accounting professionals.
Comfort working in a dynamic, evolving environment with changing processes and priorities.

Nice To Haves

SAP experience is an asset, particularly in project and consolidation modules.
A mix of Big 4 public practice and industry experience is considered advantageous.
Experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries is an asset.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships across cross-functional teams.
Coachable, bright, logical, and a fast learner who can quickly understand new systems and processes.
Self-directed, proactive, and comfortable working in an environment undergoing transition and change.
Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining high accuracy and attention to detail.
Interest in working within a science-driven, mission-led organization focused on supporting life-science research.

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end accounting and reporting process for internal and external government projects, including ongoing refinement of project reporting and project-related KPIs.
Review project details to ensure appropriate accounting treatment in accordance with ASPE and applicable standards.
Review project details to ensure compliance with project agreements and contractual obligations where applicable.
Prepare, submit, and complete claims and other required reporting for government-sponsored projects in a timely and accurate manner.
Serve as a key finance partner to the Project Management team, responding to queries regarding project costs, payment status, and budget variances.
Design, set up, and maintain project-related master data in the ERP system to align with business needs, accounting procedures, and local regulations from project initiation through project closeout.
Act as the primary contact for all project-based external reporting, including reporting related to government-sponsored projects.
Provide periodic reporting and clear communication to project managers, project coordinators, executives, and other business stakeholders on the financial performance of projects.
Manage and maintain project-related documentation and requirements, including contracts, modifications, holdbacks, approvals, letters of credit, and other supporting records.
Ensure project-related invoicing is processed accurately and on schedule, supporting appropriate revenue recognition and cash flow.
Identify, investigate, and report on project variances and budget status to management and project stakeholders, and recommend actions to improve project spending efficiency.
Monitor and review all project transactions, costs, and related administrative activities for accuracy, completeness, and cost effectiveness.
Assist in reviewing and recommending modifications to accounting systems and procedures as they relate to project accounting functions.
Lead the technical accounting aspects of projects, including opex versus capex classification, grant accounting, and related technical matters.
Supervise, train, and coach project accountant(s), fostering strong performance and adherence to best practices.
Collaborate with the broader corporate accounting and reporting teams on month-end close, reconciliations, and consolidated financial reporting as needed.
Perform other duties as required by the business to support project accounting and corporate finance objectives.