Senior Project Accountant

SSR Career • Nashville, TN

1d

About The Position

SSR is seeking a Senior Project Accountant to lead complex project accounting and billing. The role trains and advises Operations Accountants, prepares complex invoices, and partners with Project Managers to improve billing, collections, and project financial performance. The Senior Project Accountant also advances process improvements and automation and provides reports to support timely leadership decisions.

The position develops and applies approaches to complex project accounting, including contract review, project budgets and billing protocols, billing rate schedules, project approvals, invoice review, project closeout, and month-end analysis. It advises Project Accountants and trains new Project Managers on project setup, billing, and project and cash management tools. The role partners with accounting colleagues and Operations to improve processes, investigate projects at risk of exceeding budget, and support accurate project financial records and reporting.

Additional project accounting duties include maintaining project setup and records; preparing and delivering accurate invoices under contract terms; tracking job costs, time, materials, and expenses; supporting accounts receivable collections; monitoring subconsultant contracts and invoices; maintaining electronic project files; assisting with audits and client vendor requests; coordinating Certificates of Insurance; and preparing or notarizing lien releases. The position is performed indoors and frequently involves extended computer use, with occasional exposure to bright lighting and elevated noise levels.

Requirements

• Ten years of experience using the accounting system of a professional services firm or similar organization; alternatively, an accounting degree and five years of relevant experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel and Outlook.
• Knowledge of cost accounting principles and project accounting concepts.
• Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple activities efficiently and maintain clear records.
• Customer-focused, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with internal and external partners.
• Strong analytical judgment.
• Clear written and verbal communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop approaches for complex project accounting, including reviewing new client contracts and determining appropriate billing treatment.
• Enter project budgets and client- and project-specific billing and collections protocols and procedures.
• Develop complex billing rate schedules and partner with Project Managers to assess the reasonableness of employee billing rates.
• Review and approve new projects, complex invoices, and billing voids in BST for Project Accountants.
• Close projects by reviewing and resolving project work in process and labor backlog.
• Review month-end expense effort against revenue, investigate discrepancies, and correct budgets when appropriate.
• Advise and train Project Accountants on complex project accounting and billing matters.
• Train and partner with new Project Managers on project setup, billing, and project management and cash management portals.
• Partner with Project Accounting colleagues to improve processes and support automation, workflow enhancements, and efficiency initiatives.
• Support Operations Accounting Analysts in identifying and investigating projects at risk of exceeding budget.
• Review project setup documentation, contracts, and proposals for accuracy, completeness, billing terms, and rate schedules.
• Enter project budgets and billing information into the accounting system and update project records for changes in fees, multipliers, statutory overhead rates, and other terms.
• Prepare and deliver accurate, complete client invoices on time and in accordance with contract terms.
• Maintain accurate project job-cost information, including time and material charges, in accordance with labor-hour and project expense budgets.
• Support and advise Operations on accounts receivable collections with Project Managers, document collection activity, and work directly with clients as required.
• Review items in the overpayment account spreadsheet following updates by the Operations Accounting Analyst.
• Monitor subconsultant contracts, invoices, and budgets and work with Project Managers to support timely billing and payment.
• Maintain electronic project files, including contract agreements and invoices; review files and coordinate with Project Managers to obtain fully executed contracts.
• Review posted project expenses for appropriate reimbursable or non-reimbursable treatment.
• Partner with Project Managers on overall project needs and related analysis.
• Provide accurate project documentation for financial and project audits.
• Complete client vendor information requests and coordinate distribution of project Certificates of Insurance.
• Prepare lien releases and notarize lien releases prepared by other Project Accounting team members.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 100% employee-owned, with ownership from day one and immediate ESOP vesting.
• 401(k) with immediate vesting and a company match.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus company-funded HSA contributions for HDHP plans.
• Company-paid life insurance, AD&D, and short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Flexible schedules, paid parental leave, generous PTO, and paid company holidays.
• Tuition reimbursement and ongoing professional development support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed