Senior Project Controls Accountant
At Salas O’Brien, we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That’s why we’re committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.
Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career—and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.
About Us:
Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.
We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.
Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.
Summary:
We are seeking a dedicated and proactive Senior Project Controls Accountant to play a pivotal role in managing project accounting, billing, budgeting, and contracting/subcontracting. This position will involve direct collaboration with Project Managers to develop and monitor project budgets, billing schedules, and Work in Progress (WIP). The ideal candidate for this role is an experienced Project Accountant or Cost Analyst looking to advance their career. We are seeking someone who takes ownership of their work, embraces a "Client-First" and fast-paced work culture, enjoys a hands-on role, and possesses direct experience in job costing, billing, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), state/local government contracting, and cost accounting. This is an onsite role located in Manhattan, NY.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Project Set-Ups: Review Contracts and Proposals upon award of new projects and set up projects in the accounting system with appropriate billing rate tables.
- Project Billing: Prepare and finalize monthly project invoices in strict accordance with PM billing instructions and contract requirements within the monthly deadlines. Review monthly project details to ensure the appropriateness of billable costs. Pull appropriate timesheet back-up for client invoices.
- WIP Management: Monitor and manage aged Work in Progress (WIP) and maintain detailed documentation.
- Project Financial Analysis: Conduct monthly monitoring, assessment, and reporting on project financial performance. Review and summarize project financial performance, including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), with management and Project Managers.
- Reporting and Training: Present project reports at Project Manager meetings. Provide training for newly hired Project Managers.
- Project Reviews: Manage the scheduling of Project Kick-off Meetings and Project Reviews to ensure timely project milestones and milestones are met.
- Contract Administration Support: Assist in the development of subcontracts and Purchase Orders, and oversee the maintenance of contract documents, including modifications, in electronic folders.
- Procurement Support: Track, organize, and report on procurements for select projects to ensure efficient procurement processes.
- A/R & A/P Support: Monitor the aging of client billings and follow up as required. Submit weekly reports on Accounts Receivable (A/R) Aging to the Regional Accounting Manager. Review project Accounts Payable (A/P) to ensure correct coding and entry.
- Cash Receipts: Reconcile and record client payments to appropriate project invoices.
- Employee Expense Reports: Review, approve and process payment for employee expense reports.
- Audit Support: Provide support for year-end and ad-hoc audits. Prepare necessary supporting schedules and documentation.
- Monthly Close: Assist with the parent company's monthly close process as needed.
- Process Improvement: Continuously identify and implement more efficient procedures and resource utilization to improve workflow while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
- Other Duties: Perform other related duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibility:
None initially. In the future, this role may involve supervising 1-2 direct reports.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in finance, accounting, or business administration preferred.
- 5-7 years of progressive and related project accounting experience.
- Job Cost Accounting experience required.
- Experience in project billing required.
- Experience in project financial analysis preferred.
- Project billing or accounting experience within engineering industry preferred.
- Expert Microsoft Excel skills required.
- Experience working with Deltek Vantagepoint accounting software is strongly preferred.
- Experience working with Local, State and Federal Government clients is a plus.
Competencies:
- Analytical—Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs workflows and procedures.
- Problem Solving—Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
- Customer Service—Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.
- Interpersonal Skills—Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
- Oral Communication—Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
- Written Communication—Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
- Teamwork—Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
- Confidentiality—Maintains strict confidentiality with payroll and employment information.
- Ethics—Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
- Judgment—Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
- Motivation—Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
- Planning/Organizing—Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
- Professionalism—Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
- Quality—Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
- Attendance/Punctuality—Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
- Dependability—Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
- Initiative—Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.
Location: New York, NY
Company Benefits Include:
- Annual discretionary bonus
- Five weeks of paid time off (base amount, including three weeks PTO and 10 office closure days)
- Parental leave for births, adoptions, and foster placements
- Retirement plan
- 401(k) employer match up to 3.5%
- Additional employer contribution up to 1%, paid in shares of the company stock fund based on annual company performance
- RRSP employer match for Canada-based team members
- Multiple medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents, including $0 medical plan for individuals
- Employer-paid short- and long-term disability, life, and AD&D insurance
- Accident and critical illness insurance (voluntary)
- Pet insurance
- Flexible spending accounts
- Continuing education through Salas O’Brien Academy and professional development tracks
- Licensing support
- International sponsorship
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement:
Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.