Project Accountant

Core States Group•Kent, WA

22d•$70,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Project Accountant will serve as a key member of the accounting team and is responsible for the full lifecycle of assigned projects, including project setup, contract review, billing, financial reporting, receivables, and closeout. Under the supervision of the Division Controller, this role partners with Project Managers and other stakeholders to ensure project accounting records, invoices, and reports are accurate, and contract-compliant, and completed by established deadlines. The role is also expected to embrace emerging technology, including AI-enabled tools, and proactively identify opportunities to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of accounting processes.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field.
3-5 years of project accounting experience, including billing and receivables, in a professional services firm; architecture, engineering, or construction experience is preferred.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information professionally to accounting and non-accounting audiences.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the judgment to escalate significant issues to the Controller as necessary.
Intermediate to advanced computer literacy, including proficiency with AI, Microsoft Excel and Word.

Nice To Haves

Experience applying AI or automation tools to accounting, billing, reporting, or other business processes is preferred.
Practical experience using generative AI or other AI-enabled productivity tools in a professional setting, including the ability to develop effective prompts, evaluate outputs for accuracy, and apply appropriate data privacy and confidentiality safeguards.
Experience with engineering or architecture industry-specific accounting software is preferred; experience with Deltek Vantagepoint, Vision, or Ajera is a plus

Responsibilities

Manage monthly billing in conjunction with Project Managers. Issue draft invoices, verify compliance with contract terms, resolve discrepancies, document changes and approvals, and finalize invoices.
Submit final invoices and statements to Project Managers and clients in accordance with internal accounting and billing deadlines.
Prepare monthly pay applications and lien waivers and upload required documentation to client-specific portals.
Review and interpret contracts, including methods of compensation, billing and payment requirements, purchase orders, and subcontractor or subconsultant terms; ensure compliance with company policies.
Set up projects and apply contract requirements to revenue, cost, and forecast budgets by task, billing rate tables, and related job cost settings.
Manage the project accounting lifecycle, including project creation, tracking, budgets, invoicing, outstanding work in process and accounts receivable, and closeout.
Research unbilled items, monitor project milestones to prompt billing, transfer billable labor and expenses, and update activities and rates as required.
Monitor project receivables, and support collection follow-up as needed.
Maintain organized project and client records, including purchase orders, work orders, change orders, billing packages, approvals, and supporting documentation.
Assist with month-end and quarter-end close, including job cost entries and intercompany transfers.
Assist with monthly revenue recognition using percentage-of-completion accounting.
Monitor and measure job costs against budget, analyze trends, and report variances.
Generate job cost reports and prepare ad hoc financial reports and analyses for Project Managers, and other stakeholders; answer general and project-specific financial inquiries.
Perform job cost reconciliations and resolve outstanding work in process or accounts receivable items for project closeout.
Develop and maintain contract tracking tools for clients and programs.
Serve as a financial and accounting liaison between project and accounting teams and develop strong, customer-focused relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Recommend and implement improvements to the billing cycle and related project accounting processes.
Proactively identify, evaluate, and implement appropriate uses of AI and automation to streamline project accounting and billing processes, reduce manual effort, and improve accuracy and consistency.
Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations and perform other duties as assigned.