What are the responsibilities and job description for the Project Accounting Manager position at Ellaway Blues Consulting?
Our client is an EPC company working on projects in the Oil and Gas, Chemicals and other industrial sectors. A fantastic opportunity exists for a Project Accounting Manager to join the team. Position can be based out of The Woodlands or one of their other offices in South Houston.
On offer is a competitive base salary, discretionary bonus, full benefits.
Responsibilities
- Own the monthly WIP schedule and percentage-of-completion revenue recognition process (ASC 606) across all active projects, consistent across lump-sum, cost-plus, and unit-rate contract types.
- Establish and maintain formal over/underbilling (contract asset/liability) tracking and monthly reporting, reducing amounts aged over 90 days and improving DSO.
- Develop formal ASC 606 revenue recognition process.
- Improve weekly and monthly cost management reporting — actual cost vs. budget by cost code — flagging variances for Project Manager and Project Controls follow-up.
- Lead the monthly margin variance review with Project Managers, Project Controls, and Estimating, tracking actual cost against budget for every active project.
- Partner with Project Controls leadership to align job cost structure with budget and implement a standardized, WBS-aligned job cost coding structure.
- Run a weekly cost and progress check-in with Project Managers and Project Controls, producing an indicative (unaudited, pre-close) revenue and margin trend by project.
- Build, manage, and mentor the project accounting team, including assessing current billing staff for upskill potential and hiring externally for experienced project accountants.
- Establish subcontractor and vendor billing, retainage, and lien-waiver tracking controls consistent with MSA and subcontract terms.
- Support external auditors and controllership with supporting schedules for percentage-of-completion, cost accruals, and contract asset/liability positions.
- Partner with IT/ERP teams to automate WIP and job cost schedule consolidation and retire manual, spreadsheet-based reporting.
- Develop and maintain a rolling cash flow forecasting model integrating project billing milestones, retainage release, and subcontractor payment timing.
- Directly supervises employees and carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
- Develop a project accountant onboarding and training program, including a defined career path within the finance organization.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Essential Skills and Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; CPA preferred.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in EPC or construction project accounting, including experience managing a project accounting function required.
- Vista Viewpoint ERP experience preferred.
- Deep knowledge of percentage-of-completion accounting (ASC 606) and EPC/construction contract types (T&M, fixed price, cost-plus, unit-rate).
- Experience with WIP schedules, over/underbilling (contract asset/liability) reporting, and job cost accounting.
- Strong understanding of change order/CCN processes and their cost and revenue recognition impact.
- Experience building or maturing a project accounting function, including staff development and training.
- Track record partnering with Project Controls, Estimating, and Project Managers on cost and margin reporting.
- Preferred experience in companies that deliver engineering and/or construction projects.
- Solid grounding in general accounting and controllership fundamentals (GAAP, month-end close, account reconciliations, internal controls, financial statement preparation) in addition to project-specific accounting.
Salary : $160,000 - $170,000