This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Project Accountantfor our Chicago, IL office.The following locations will also be considered: ND, SD, MN, WI, OH, MI, IN, KY, IL, IA, KS, NE, MO, OK, and AR Be involved in projects and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client’s objectives and solves their challenges.

Experienced project accountant professional providing accounting and financial specialist support to one or more Project Managers and/or project team(s). Tasks include reviewing and evaluating project charges for accuracy, completing cost transfers, establishing and updating funding as needed, instituting and maintaining project budgets, and ensuring that all project data is current for medium-sized and/or moderate-level complexity projects. Generates accurate and thorough financial documentation and reporting regarding infrastructure/transportation/professional services projects, working in tandem with project managers on pre-billing information review, cost estimates, and invoicing. Ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards, supporting the delivery of future-ready solutions to clients.

Your Impact

• For assigned project(s), manage and analyze the collection, recording, and allocating of project costs and revenue, ensuring accurate project profit and loss calculations, and communicating project financial performance and profitability to project/program management.
• Responsible for lifecycle project accounting from creating project accounts in Oracle, to tracking projects and project budget, validating invoicing, project close-out, and reconciling overall project payables and receivables to project budgets. 
• Perform detailed and involved accounting tasks related to managing project contract, billing events and billing transaction exceptions revenue for medium-sized and/or moderate-level complex projects.
• Partner with the Project Manager and project team to establish the project budget, updating budgets, and making project accounting recommendations as needed when contract modifications or budget changes arise.
• Generate project financial reports, evaluating the reports for any items, including labor breakage, that need to be escalated for review by the Project Manager as necessary.
• Authorize access to project accounts, and the transfer of expenses into and out of project-related accounts in compliance with established accounting practices and guidelines.
• Maintain quality control standards and procedures for generating accurate and precise project-related financial records using Oracle, spreadsheets, and software.
• For assigned projects, apply learned accounting expertise relating to project resources, labor and expenses, investigating project variances and submitting variance reports to management.
• Verify contract and change order characteristics for projects that are medium-sized and/or of a moderate-level of complexity, including reading and interpreting contract language, method of compensation, modifications, purchase orders, and subcontract/consultant terms.
• Monitor key indicators for managing and analyzing problem projects, keeping project managers and/or project accounting manager informed on any noted concerns.
• Responsible for ensuring draft invoices from billing are accurate based on the contract requirements agreed upon with the client; identifying any needed corrections, obtains Project Manager documentation and signature. Finalizes the invoice approval with the Project Manager/billing team and submits the invoice to the client.
• Subcontract management and coordination with Contract Administrators. This includes evaluating subconsultant invoice submittals for accuracy, establish and maintain purchase orders for subconsultants, and requests and follows up on subcontractor payment requests with Accounts Payable.
• Identify and record unpaid contract billings, following up on any delinquent accounts receivable and/or unbilled costs. 
• Respond to requests for more detail from clients, investigate all project expenses not billed to clients, and review and approve all project-related billings to clients.
• Attend project-related meetings to inform the team regarding the current status of project financials, articulating problem projects and following up on any identified actions as discussed.
• Create and submit government reports related to projects.
• Compile information for review by a more Senior Consultant prior to submitting for internal and external auditors as required.
• Interact with regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and clients in a confident and professional manner.
• Remain current in latest project accounting principles and subject matter.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Business, or closely-related discipline (or demonstrated proven equivalent experience).
• 3 to 5 years of relevant post education experience in accounting, project contracts and change management documents.
• Working knowledge of project accounting principles, practices, and methods and their application to project work-related issues. 
• Analytical mindset with an ability to exercise sound independent judgement in evaluating situations and making decisions with financial implications to the company. 
• Ability to initiate and coordinate efforts with various stakeholders around contract and project requirements.
• Effective/Strong Capable interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an accounting and non-accounting audience.
• Effective self-leadership with attention to detail, results orientation, and managing multiple priorities in a dynamic work environment.
• Ability to learn new techniques, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, follow instruction, work independently, and comply with company policies.
• Proficiency with technical writing, office automation and accounting software, technology, math principles, spreadsheets, MS Excel, pivot tables, formulas, data format/sort/filter, VLOOKUP, predictive models, and tools.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply learned subject matter and technical knowledge to reach conclusions from data collation, documentation, statistical analysis, and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solution.
• Awareness of and adherence to WSP USA’s Project Delivery Handbook.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• This is a professional role and as such work deadlines and work hours may extend beyond a typical workday.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Oracle preferred (but not required).