Staff Accountant

Haren Construction Company • Etowah, TN

20d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a blended, full-cycle accounting role that includes responsibilities in payroll administration, general accounting, and accounts payable functions within a high-volume, project-based construction environment. The position requires strong organizational skills, accuracy, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and high-volume transactional tasks. The role reports directly to the Controller and works closely with the accounting team, project managers, field supervisors, and company leadership.

Requirements

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Minimum of three years of experience in a combined or multi-function accounting role; construction industry experience strongly preferred.
• Hands-on experience with Sage 300 (Sage 300 CRE preferred) preferred; experience with ADP payroll processing preferred.
• Demonstrated experience processing or supporting full-cycle payroll in a multi-employee, multi-trade environment.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage high transaction volumes with accuracy, particularly in a paper-heavy document environment.
• Solid understanding of general ledger accounting, account reconciliations, and basic financial reporting.
• Ability to prioritize and manage competing deadlines, including weekly payroll processing alongside ongoing AP and accounting responsibilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and general office software.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work professionally with field supervisors, project managers, vendors, and company leadership.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with certified payroll, prevailing wage requirements, and job cost accounting concepts is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Collect, review, and audit weekly timecards from all field and office employees, verifying required signatures, completeness, and accuracy before processing.
• Identify and code timecard deviations, including holidays, vacation time, sick leave, personal days, unpaid leave, and other non-standard pay items to ensure proper capture in the payroll system.
• As needed, process weekly payroll for a multi-trade, multi-crew workforce using Sage 300 and ADP, ensuring timely and accurate disbursement.
• Reconcile payroll data between Sage 300 and ADP before each payroll run, resolving discrepancies with the Payroll Specialist before submission.
• Work closely with the Payroll Specialist on all payroll-related matters, including wage adjustments, garnishments, benefit deductions, prevailing wage compliance, and certified payroll reporting where applicable.
• Prepare and submit certified payroll reports for public or prevailing wage projects in accordance with applicable federal and state requirements.
• Manage the intake and processing of new employee files, including I-9 verification, W-4 elections, direct deposit enrollment, and state tax withholding forms.
• Setting up new employees in both Sage 300 and ADP, including entry of direct deposit banking information, pay rates, job cost coding, and applicable deductions.
• Maintain organized physical and electronic employee files, ensuring all documentation is current, properly signed, and retained in accordance with company policy and applicable regulations.
• Process employee terminations in Sage 300 and ADP, including final pay calculations, benefits termination, and required separation notices.
• Administer and track employee benefit deductions, including health insurance, dental, vision, 401(k), and any voluntary deductions, coordinating with HR or benefit providers as needed.
• Respond to employee questions regarding pay, deductions, direct deposit, and related payroll matters in a professional and timely manner.
• Prepare and file quarterly and annual payroll tax returns, including Form 941, state withholding returns, and FUTA/SUTA filings, in coordination with the Controller.
• Coordinate preparation and distribution of annual W-2 forms.
• Maintain audit-ready payroll records and support any internal or external payroll audits.
• Assist the Controller in the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial close processes, including journal entry preparation and account reconciliations.
• Reconcile general ledger accounts every month, investigating and resolving variances in a timely manner.
• Maintain job cost ledgers in Sage 300, coding transactions to the appropriate project, cost code, and cost type; work with project managers to ensure accuracy of project-level financial data.
• Assist in the preparation of monthly work-in-progress (WIP) schedules, tracking costs incurred versus estimated costs across active construction projects.
• Process and record journal entries for accruals, prepaid expenses, depreciation, and other adjustments as directed by the Controller.
• Reconcile bank accounts monthly, identifying and resolving any reconciling items.
• Assist with external audit and tax preparation by gathering supporting documentation, schedules, and reconciliations as requested.
• Support the preparation of financial reports and schedules for management, ownership, bonding companies, and lenders as directed.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes and assist in implementing procedural improvements, particularly given the paper-intensive nature of the company's operations.
• Receive, sort, and process a high volume of vendor invoices in a paper-based environment, matching invoices to purchase orders and delivery tickets or other supporting documentation.
• Code invoices to the appropriate general ledger account, project number, cost code, and phase in Sage 300, ensuring accuracy in job cost reporting.
• Route invoices for approval by the appropriate project manager or supervisor and track approval status, following up as necessary to maintain timely payment cycles.
• Process approved invoices for payment by check, ACH, or other methods; prepare check runs for Controller review and approval on a scheduled basis.
• Maintain vendor files and records, including certificates of insurance, W-9 forms, and subcontractor agreements, ensuring all documentation is current before payments are issued.
• Reconcile vendor statements to accounts payable records, resolving discrepancies with vendors or internal staff in a professional manner.
• Manage the AP aging report, flagging past-due invoices and escalating issues to the Controller as appropriate.
• Prepare and file annual 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC forms for applicable subcontractors and vendors, coordinating with the Controller and external accountants.
• Assist in maintaining lien waiver files, collecting conditional and unconditional lien waivers from subcontractors and suppliers in connection with payment processing.

Benefits

• Full-Time Position
• Competitive Salary
• Following 58 days of full-time employment, you may be eligible for benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision
• Following 90 days of full-time employment, employees are eligible for 401(k)
• After 6 months+ of continuous employment, paid vacation is offered
• Paid holidays and personal/sick leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees