Project Accountant

Ecolab • Calgary, AB

3d

About The Position

The Project Accountant is responsible for the financial management of customer implementation projects involving equipment installation, commissioning, engineering services, and ongoing service agreements. This role ensures accurate project costing, revenue recognition, financial reporting, and project profitability throughout the project lifecycle. As a trusted business partner to the Professional Services, Program Management, and Finance teams, the Project Accountant ensures project financials are complete, accurate, and compliant with U.S. GAAP and company policies. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing and maintaining scalable Project Accounting and Field Service Management (FSM) processes while driving continuous process improvement, financial visibility, and operational excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Analytics, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of progressive experience in project accounting or financial accounting.
• Experience within manufacturing, technology, engineering, industrial, or professional services environments is preferred.
• Strong understanding of project accounting methodologies, cost allocations, and project profitability analysis.
• Experience with ERP systems such as NetSuite (preferred), SAP, Oracle, or similar platforms.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with strong analytical and financial modeling capabilities.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective relationships across Finance, Professional Services, and Operations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Nice To Haves

• CPA designation or progress toward designation is considered an asset.
• Experience supporting installation projects, engineering services, or project-based costing is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Manage the financial accounting for customer projects from contract execution through project completion and closeout.
• Ensure project revenue and associated costs are recognized accurately in accordance with U.S. GAAP and company accounting policies.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities related to project accounting, including accruals, work-in-progress (WIP), project reconciliation, and financial reporting.
• Assist with internal and external audit requests related to project accounting, revenue recognition, and project costing.
• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of revenue recognition requirements for various contract components, including: Professional Services, Equipment Commissioning Services, Service Level Agreements (SLA), Extended Warranty Services (EWS).
• Review customer contracts to ensure revenue is recognized appropriately based on contractual terms and performance obligations.
• Partner with Professional Services and Program Management to ensure contract structures support accurate financial reporting and revenue recognition.
• Ensure all project-related costs are captured, allocated, and matched to the appropriate projects and revenue streams.
• Track and monitor labour, materials, subcontractors, travel, freight, installation expenses, and overhead allocations.
• Support Revenue Management Team with project cost forecasts and estimate-at-completion analyses.
• Monitor project financial performance throughout execution, identifying cost overruns, missing costs, profitability concerns, and financial risks.
• Support Revenue Management Team with variances between forecasted and actual project results and recommend corrective actions where appropriate.
• Partner with Professional Services, Program Management, and Revenue Management Team to improve project financial reporting, cost accuracy, and overall project profitability.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of project and financial data flows within NetSuite and supporting business systems.
• Serve as the Finance subject matter expert for Project Accounting and Field Service Management (FSM) processes.
• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of project accounting workflows and processes.
• Identify automation opportunities, strengthen financial controls, and improve the efficiency and accuracy of project accounting processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on ERP enhancements, system implementations, and process optimization initiatives as it relates to accounting for operations.
• Collaborate with FP&A and Revenue management team on development of financial reporting, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs) that provide visibility into project performance, profitability, and operational effectiveness.

Benefits

• Vacation and flex days
• Paid company-wide shutdown during the holiday season
• Comprehensive benefits including Dental, Drugs, Optical, Paramedical and Health Spending
• Retention rewards like “The Big Coffee Break” that reward tenure with additional vacation time and a monetary bonus.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level