Senior Accountant

Senior Accountant – Build the Future of Accounting Operations

Carlton Edwards | Asheville, NC Full-time

Make Accounting Better

We're an integrated architectural practice and residential construction company looking for an Staff Accountant who wants to improve how accounting gets done. You'll be the CFO's strategic partner—finding smarter ways to handle routine work, exploring tools that make your job easier, and building the financial infrastructure that lets our designers and builders focus on craft.

If you've ever thought "there has to be a better way to do this" while processing invoices or closing the books, this role is for you. Whether you're already automating workflows or just ready to learn, we'll support your growth.

What Makes This Different

Dual-company complexity as your playground: You'll work across two interconnected businesses—architectural design (Deltek Ajera) and residential construction (JobTread)—giving you exposure to multiple revenue models, WIP methodologies, and operational workflows that most accountants never see in a single role.

Automation is encouraged, not expected day one: We're exploring AI and automated workflows to eliminate tedious manual tasks. Your first-year goal is to help identify and improve 3–5 processes—whether that's setting up simple automations, streamlining workflows, or learning new tools alongside the team. You'll have direct access to tools, training, and leadership support to develop these skills.

From routine work to continuous improvement: This isn't a role where you inherit a perfect system and just maintain it. You'll help identify opportunities for improvement, troubleshoot integrations, and build dashboards and tools that make everyone's work easier. We value curiosity and problem-solving over existing expertise.

Your First Year Roadmap

Months 1–3: Foundation Own day-to-day AP/AR operations, master our tech stack (QBO, Ajera, JobTread), and deliver clean month-end close support. Zero reconciling items carried forward.

Months 4–6: Optimization Launch paperless ACH workflows, build job-cost accuracy into our JobTread?QBO sync, and create your first automated workflow (invoice capture, GL coding rules, or close checklist automation).

Months 7–12: Innovation Work on 2–3 process improvement projects, build real-time KPI dashboards for project managers, and document your solutions as repeatable processes. Explore AI-assisted tools with the Controller for tasks like meeting summarization, journal entry drafting, and anomaly detection.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Accounting Operations

• Process and code vendor invoices and employee expenses; manage approval routing and ACH payment runs
• Prepare client invoices, draw packages, and track retainage/lien waivers across architecture and construction projects
• Maintain vendor/client compliance files (W-9s, COIs, certificates)

Close & Reporting

• Own bank, credit card, loan reconciliations, AR/AP aging, prepaid and fixed-asset schedules
• Support WIP analysis: percent-complete updates, committed-cost tracking, variance reporting
• Build and maintain KPI dashboards (job gross margin, WIP aging, AR/AP current, labor utilization)

Systems & Automation

• Administer integrations across Ajera, JobTread, and QuickBooks Online
• Help identify opportunities to automate manual processes (we'll teach you the tools—OCR, Apps Script, workflow automation)
• Document processes, test cases, and SOPs for improvements you implement

Compliance & Business Partnership

• Prepare sales/use tax workpapers; support annual audits and CPA requests
• Collaborate with project managers, superintendents, and designers to ensure accurate job costing and billing

Work Arrangement & Benefits

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00–5:00 (in-person, Asheville, NC) Travel: Occasional day trips to other studios (<10%); rare job-site visits Compensation: $65,000–$80,000 base discretionary performance bonus

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• HSA with employer contribution
• Flexible spending account
• Life and disability insurance
• Generous PTO paid holidays
• Parental leave
• Professional development support (CPE, conferences, certifications)

Why Carlton Edwards

We're a design-build firm where architects and builders work under one roof. Our projects range from custom residential homes to commercial architecture, and our accounting operations support both creative design studios and active construction sites. You'll work with people who care deeply about craft—whether that's a timber frame detail or a perfectly reconciled job cost report.

We believe accounting should be as elegant and efficient as the buildings we design. If you're ready to build systems that matter, we'd love to hear from you.

Carlton Edwards Construction Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

What You Bring

Required

• 3–6 years accounting experience with job costing (AEC or construction strongly preferred)
• Hands-on proficiency with QuickBooks Online and either Deltek Ajera or JobTread (both preferred)
• Advanced Google Sheets/Excel skills: index/match, XLOOKUP, pivots, data transformation
• Solid GAAP fundamentals: accruals, revenue recognition, reconciliation discipline
• Clear communication style that translates field operations into accounting entries
• Curiosity about process improvement and willingness to learn new tools—we value problem-solving mindset over existing automation expertise

Preferred

• Experience with percent-complete revenue recognition (architecture or construction WIP)
• Familiarity with AIA billing, retainage, and lien waiver management
• Any exposure to workflow automation tools, OCR/document capture, or scripting—even if self-taught or exploratory
• Examples of process improvements you've made, whether high-tech or low-tech

Tech StackCore Systems

• QuickBooks Online (GL, AP/AR, banking)
• Deltek Ajera (architecture time & billing, WIP)
• JobTread (construction job cost, committed costs, billing)

Automation & Analytics

• Google Sheets/Excel (with Apps Script/Power Query—we'll train you)
• Workflow tools for document capture, approval routing, and task automation (we'll introduce you to these)
• AI-assisted tools for summarization, drafting, and anomaly detection (exploratory; training provided)