Project Cost Accountant

CS Erickson•Grand Rapids, MI

10h

About The Position

The Project Cost Accountant is the accounting partner to project teams from contract award through closeout. Working with Project Managers, Superintendents, and Purchasing, this role ensures accurate tracking of labor, material, equipment, and subcontract costs against budgets; prepares monthly work-in-progress (WIP) and cost-to-complete forecasts; and provides teams with information to identify and address issues early. The position also supports job setup and compliance, month-end and year-end financial activities, and project financial closeout.

Requirements

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Strong understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, reconciliations, and cost allocation.
Knowledge of job costing, project budgets, cost-to-complete forecasting, and WIP reporting.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, and data analysis.
Ability to learn and effectively use project management and accounting software, including Procore.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including identifying discrepancies, investigating variances, and recommending corrective actions.
Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and organizational skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain financial information to people with varying levels of accounting knowledge.
Ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate with Project Managers, Superintendents, Purchasing, and Finance teams.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive financial information professionally.
Demonstrated initiative and accountability, and ability to work independently while contributing to a team environment.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience supporting electrical construction, commercial construction, or related trades.
Experience using Procore or similar construction project management and accounting software.
Familiarity with construction contracts, change orders, schedules of values, retainage, and progress billing.
Experience preparing or supporting WIP schedules, percentage-of-completion reporting, and project profitability analysis.
Knowledge of construction-related compliance requirements, including lien waivers, certificates of insurance, and certified payroll.
Experience supporting month-end close, financial reconciliations, and audit preparation.
Understanding of construction project lifecycles, from initial job setup through financial closeout.

Responsibilities

Provide accurate project financial reports to project teams through Procore.
Ensure project teams follow company procedures for job setup, purchasing, cost coding, timesheets, change orders, and billing.
Track compliance items, including lien waivers, certificates of insurance, retainage terms, and certified payroll requirements.
Assist in training new Project Managers and field staff on accounting procedures and system use.
Review weekly labor, material, equipment, and subcontract charges for correct job and cost-code assignment, and correct misposted costs.
Reconcile purchase orders, receipts, and vendor invoices to job costs.
Confirm job budgets and schedules of values match the estimate and contract.
Check that billings, approved change orders, and retainage are recorded correctly against each job.
Prepare the monthly WIP schedule using project team forecasts, including over/under billings and projected margin.
Support month-end close with accruals and job-cost reconciliations.
Assist with year-end audits and bonding-company and lender schedules.
Support financial job closeout, including final billing, retainage release, and final cost review.