What are the responsibilities and job description for the Accounting Manager position at Dewberry?
Job Description
The Accounting Manager leads core accounting operations and the monthly/year-end close; ensures accurate, timely financial reporting; and manages a team of three staff accountants. The role owns critical processes including general ledger management, allocations, reconciliations, payroll analysis, bank reconciliations, and lease accounting, while also leading coordination of annual audits.
Success requires strong leadership, project-based business acumen, excellent data literacy, and the ability to optimize processes and systems (ERP/EPM) in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
Dewberry is a leading, market-facing professional services firm with more than 60 locations and 2,500 professionals nationwide. What sets us apart from our competitors are our people. At Dewberry, we seek out exceptional talent and strive to deliver the highest quality of services to our clients. Whether you’re an experienced professional or a new graduate, you’ll have the chance to collaborate with the best and brightest and work on innovative and complex projects at the forefront of the industry. Our commitment to excellence stems from our personal integrity and from other defining attributes, which we call “Dewberry at Work,” that have inspired our employees to be successful for more than a half-century.
As we continue to scale toward our long-term growth vision, we are enhancing our corporate finance capabilities to support a more data-driven, efficient, and operationally connected organization. This role is a key part of that evolution.
Responsibilities
The Accounting Manager leads core accounting operations and the monthly/year-end close; ensures accurate, timely financial reporting; and manages a team of three staff accountants. The role owns critical processes including general ledger management, allocations, reconciliations, payroll analysis, bank reconciliations, and lease accounting, while also leading coordination of annual audits.
Success requires strong leadership, project-based business acumen, excellent data literacy, and the ability to optimize processes and systems (ERP/EPM) in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
Dewberry is a leading, market-facing professional services firm with more than 60 locations and 2,500 professionals nationwide. What sets us apart from our competitors are our people. At Dewberry, we seek out exceptional talent and strive to deliver the highest quality of services to our clients. Whether you’re an experienced professional or a new graduate, you’ll have the chance to collaborate with the best and brightest and work on innovative and complex projects at the forefront of the industry. Our commitment to excellence stems from our personal integrity and from other defining attributes, which we call “Dewberry at Work,” that have inspired our employees to be successful for more than a half-century.
As we continue to scale toward our long-term growth vision, we are enhancing our corporate finance capabilities to support a more data-driven, efficient, and operationally connected organization. This role is a key part of that evolution.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the monthly and annual close, including journal entries, accruals, allocations, reconciliations, and account analysis.
- Own the integrity of the general ledger and chart of accounts; ensure proper accounting treatment across entries.
- Review project financial performance and revenue recognition under ASC 606; partner with Project Managers to resolve issues.
- Ensure timely issuance of accurate internal financial statements and management reporting.
- Maintain, update, and enforce accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls in alignment with GAAP, FAR (as applicable), and tax requirements.
- Proactively identify accounting and compliance risks; design and implement mitigating controls.
- Lead and manage all external audits (financial, overhead, and others).
- Support government contracting requirements, including cost allowability, indirect rates, and audit-ready documentation.
- Map, standardize, document, and optimize core accounting processes; implement SOPs and controls to improve accuracy and efficiency.
- Support system enhancements and integrations in partnership with IT (ERP/EPM upgrades, lease accounting module, payroll/bank integrations).
- Identify and execute automation opportunities (e.g., templates, macros, Power Query/ETL tools) to reduce manual effort and shorten close cycles.
- Serve as a trusted financial partner to Operations and Project Management; interpret results, resolve issues, and drive financial accountability.
- Perform variance analyses (actuals vs. budget/forecast/prior year) and provide actionable insights.
- Collaborate with FP&A on budgeting, forecasting, and plan-to-actual analysis.
- Support development of scalable reporting and analytics using Power Query, Power BI, or similar platforms.
- Ensure data integrity across ERP (Deltek Vantagepoint), EPM (Planful), and key subledgers (AP, AR, Projects, Payroll).
- Comfort with advanced Excel tools (Power Query/Power Pivot) for data modeling and analysis.
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of three staff accountants; set clear goals and provide regular, constructive feedback.
- Manage workload allocation, build depth and succession, and support skill development and career growth.
- Build strong cross-functional relationships and communicate effectively across all levels of management.
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting required; CPA preferred.
- 8–10 years of progressive accounting experience; 3–5 years of people-management experience.
- Strong command of US GAAP, including ASC 606 and ASC 842; solid understanding of internal controls.
- Experience in a project-based, professional services, engineering, or AEC environment preferred.
- Government contracting/FAR exposure is a plus.
- Proven ability to develop and enforce accounting policies and procedures; excellent judgment and problem-solving skills.
- Advanced Excel skills (PivotTables, Power Query/Power Pivot, complex formulas); proficiency with Word and PowerPoint.
- Experience with Deltek Vantagepoint, Planful EPM, and Power BI strongly preferred.
- Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and time management skills; thrives under tight deadlines and organizational change.
- At this time, Dewberry will not sponsor a new applicant for work authorization.
- Dewberry is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation.
- Only recipients of an offer of employment from Dewberry, will be required to submit to a background screening which may include, but is not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, driving record check, criminal background check, and an investigative consumer report. These screenings will be conducted by Dewberry’s background vendor of choice and will be conducted in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law.