Senior Accountant - Operational Finance (Des Moines)

Division: Des Moines Main

Project Location(s): West Des Moines, IA 50266 USA

Minimum Years Experience:

Travel Involved:

Job Type: Regular

Job Classification: Experienced

Education:

Job Family: Finance

Compensation: Salaried Exempt

If you picture yourself doing great things that make a difference in the lives of others, Turner is the place to be. Turner Construction is an industry leading commercial construction general contractor with a 120-year history spanning iconic projects around the globe, including 10 of the world's 100 tallest buildings. 

Turner’s rich Iowa history began with the construction of the iconic Hazen Water Tower in 1930 located at 48th and Hickman in Des Moines and continues today as Iowa’s leading General Contractor. Turner’s Des Moines office portfolio includes everything from healthcare, higher education, aviation, municipalities, commercial, sports, critical facilities, office buildings, and renovations. 

Turner is committed to sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where everyone feels connected, sees themselves represented at all levels of the company, and feels supported to reach their ultimate potential. Turner builds some of the most ambitious projects in the world. The technical expertise of our people makes us a recognized leader in many markets. Our projects are well known. Our people set us apart. We inspire greatness. Can you picture yourself at Turner? If so, apply and let’s do great things together!

This is not a remote/hybrid position and will be based in a Turner office or project location.

Position Description: Oversee and manage accounting operations for large-scale construction project(s) including those with complex contract structures, joint ventures, specialized building types, and national clients. Lead preparation and review of financial reporting, ensuring accuracy and compliance with Turner financial policies and procedures. Implement and monitor financial internal controls, and advise project teams on financial strategies, project fiscal health, profitability, and risk. Serve as a key finance partner to project management, proactively identifying issues, resolving complex accounting matters, and driving process improvements.

Essential Duties & Key Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and oversee procedures supporting accounting operations for complex construction projects. /li>
• Maintain and update project-specific training materials to support project accounting staff and teams for consistency in processes and procedures. /li>
• Provide clear communication to Finance and project management teams regarding financial strategies, project financial performance, profitability and risk profile utilizing project-level finance dashboard. /li>
• Oversee and provide strategic direction on client contract analysis, ensuring accurate interpretation of billing terms, payment conditions, reimbursable structures, insurance provisions, and approved billing rates. Serve as a subject matter expert and escalation point for complex contractual matters. /li>
• Implement and enforce effective financial internal controls to ensure A/P and A/R accuracy, policy compliance and accountability across finance and project teams. /li>
• Strengthen segregation of duties and approval workflows per Signing Authority & Approval Matrix (SAAM), periodically review access, delegation of authority, and control documentation; escalate control gaps and recommend solutions. /li>
• Establish and direct audit and review processes for client billing and project ledgers for compliance with contract requirements, GAAP, and company policy. Oversee alignment between billing, cost reporting, and project forecasts, and drive corrective actions for discrepancies. /li>
• Oversee revenue recognition and job cost accounting for complex arrangements (e.g., joint ventures, change orders, claims, and contract modifications) ensuring alignment with GAAP and company policy. /li>
• Manage and review deliverables for internal and external audits (including joint venture and client audits), ensuring timely responses, complete documentation, and effective implementation of remediation actions. /li>
• Own and manage project cash flow strategy, including oversight of over/under billing positions, payment performance, and profitability. Proactively identify financial risks and lead cross-functional coordination with client finance teams, vendors, and internal stakeholders to mitigate issues and optimize financial outcomes. /li>
• Oversee subcontractor invoice processing and ensure financial and contractual compliance prior to payment release, including validation of approvals, insurance, payroll requirements, and lien waivers. Manage risk-related documentation and ensure appropriate approvals for subcontractors under financial risk plans. /li>
• Oversee and manage month-end close activities for assigned projects to support accurate and timely owner invoicing. Direct and review expense recognition processes, including accruals, journal entries, and intercompany charges, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established financial controls and reporting requirements.
  
  
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree from accredited degree program in Accounting, Finance, or related field of study, with minimum of 4 years of related experience, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Construction industry experience, desired but not required
• Advanced knowledge of Finance policies and procedures with thorough application of General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) (e.g., journal entries, general ledger)
• Familiar with General & Administrative (G&A) cost allocation, budgeting, and forecasting methods applicable to construction office operations
• Knowledge of Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable best practices (e.g., invoice exception resolution, vendor/customer account maintenance)
• Experience as supervisor/team lead desired with ability to influence without authority, and partner with stakeholders
• Ability to manage competing activities, requests, and short-cycle deadlines
• Analytic ability to review and assess financial data, identify risks interpret trends, and recognize inconsistencies
• Ability to read and understand financial reports and understand accounting implications of various contract terms
• Experience managing cash flow and able to implement procedures to optimize profitability
• Exercise independent judgment and discretion with ability to identify issues (including profitability and risk), make recommendations for resolution, and able to resolve or escalate issues in a timely manner
• Must be self-starter, adaptable and flexible to operate with minimal direction and supervision while working in fast-paced and changing environment
• Able to maintain internal controls and confidentiality requirements when handling sensitive financial information
• Able to lead continuous improvement discussions and implement suggestions to improve overall finance operations Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands, talk, and hear. The employee frequently views a computer monitor and frequently uses a computer keyboard. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is regularly required to be mobile, and the employee occasionally travels both short and long distances via a variety of conveyances. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
  
  
  

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting. The noise in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate in an office setting. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works at construction work sites where the employee is exposed to moving mechanical parts, high precarious places, fumes, or airborne particles, outside weather conditions, and risk of electrical shock. The noise in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. The employee is required to work in compliance with company safety policies, procedures, and applicable laws.

Turner is an Equal Opportunity Employer - race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.