Service Senior Accountant (WIP & Project Analysis)
About The Position
The Service Senior Accountant - WIP & Project Analysis owns the month-end close process for Upchurch's Service department and is responsible for accurate Work-in-Progress (WIP) reporting across Service locations. The role is scoped to the Service department and its locations, rather than the full company. It analyzes project performance, forecasts final margins, and provides Service operations and leadership with clear insight into job status. Working with the Service GL Staff Accountant, who ensures costs are coded to the correct entity, location, and division, this role turns that data into reliable WIP schedules, revenue recognition, and actionable project analysis. The role leads the Service department close calendar; prepares and reviews close entries, reconciliations, and financial packages; and produces monthly WIP schedules tied to the general ledger. It monitors over/under billings, revenue recognition, job costs, change orders, retainage, backlog, and project profitability. It also partners with project managers and operations leaders on cost-to-complete estimates, communicates emerging risks, maintains audit-ready records and procedures, supports audits, and provides review support to the Service GL Staff Accountant. The position is typically performed in a hybrid office environment on a full-time basis. Additional hours may be needed during month-end close, audit periods, or peak cycles, and occasional travel to Service locations, meetings, or training sessions may be required. The role requires prolonged sitting and computer use, along with data review, reporting, communication, confidentiality, and deadline-driven coordination.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.
- At least 4 years of accounting experience, including month-end close responsibility.
- Hands-on experience with WIP schedules, percent-complete revenue recognition, and over/under billing calculations.
- Strong understanding of job costing, GAAP, and revenue recognition principles.
- Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, and financial modeling.
- Experience with a construction or job-cost accounting system, such as Sage, Viewpoint/Vista, Foundation, NetSuite, or similar.
- Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills.
- Confidence working directly with project managers and operations leaders.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in the HVAC, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, or industrial contracting industry.
- CPA or CPA candidate.
- Experience with multi-location reporting in a service or contracting environment.
Responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate the month-end close calendar for the Service department and ensure deadlines are met at each Service location.
- Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, and adjustments, including revenue, cost, payroll, and subcontractor accruals.
- Perform and review balance sheet reconciliations, including accounts receivable, retainage, billings in excess/costs in excess, and accrued liabilities.
- Review inter-location activity within Service and work with the Service GL Staff Accountant to resolve coding issues before close.
- Deliver timely, accurate Service month-end financial packages to the Controller.
- Prepare monthly WIP schedules for open Service projects, including contract value, approved change orders, costs to date, estimated cost to complete, percent complete, and earned revenue.
- Calculate and record over/under billings and reconcile WIP to the general ledger each month.
- Apply GAAP (ASC 606) revenue recognition to long-term and project-based contracts.
- Track change orders, pending change orders, and unapproved work, ensuring they are properly reflected in contract values and forecasts.
- Monitor retainage, billing status, and backlog by project and Service location.
- Analyze job cost reports to evaluate actual versus estimated costs, labor productivity, material usage, and subcontractor spend.
- Identify and communicate margin fade, cost overruns, and underbillings to project managers and leadership early.
- Partner with project managers and operations leaders to review and challenge estimated costs to complete each month.
- Prepare project- and location-level profitability analysis for Service work, including HVAC, plumbing, and industrial service lines.
- Conduct post-completion job reviews, compare final results against original estimates, and capture lessons learned.
- Support preparation of Service department financial statements and management reporting by location.
- Prepare WIP and backlog reporting for leadership and external auditors.
- Develop and document WIP and close procedures, and recommend process improvements to improve accuracy and speed.
- Support internal and external audit requests related to WIP, revenue recognition, and job cost.
- Provide guidance and review support to the Service GL Staff Accountant as needed.
- Maintain organized, accurate, complete, and professionally presented documentation, records, reporting, and work areas.
- Handle financial records and project, contract, job-cost, and internal business information with discretion, confidentiality, and sound judgment.
Benefits
- Competitive pay based on experience.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Paid time off and holiday pay.
- Opportunities for professional development and certification assistance.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
