Project Cost Accountant

Position Overview

• The Project Cost Accountant is responsible for job‑level cost control, reporting, and billing on heavy civil construction projects in the $10–30 million range, ensuring accurate cost data, timely invoicing, and strong financial support to the Project Manager and Superintendent.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Construction Engineering, or Civil Engineering .

• 3–5 years of accounting or cost control experience, with at least 2 years in construction; heavy civil or infrastructure experience strongly preferred.

Key Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience with job cost accounting, project cost reporting, and construction billings (AIA pay apps, schedule of values, change orders).
  

• Proficiency with construction accounting or ERP software and advanced Excel skills for cost analysis and reporting.
  

• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a field‑driven environment.
  

• Effective communication skills and ability to work closely with Project Managers, Superintendents, estimators, and corporate accounting staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Track, code, and review all project costs (labor, equipment, materials, subs, rentals, trucking, indirects) for accuracy, proper cost code allocation, and compliance with company policies.
  

• Set up and maintain project job cost structure (cost codes, budgets, phases) in the company’s accounting and project management systems at project start‑up.

• Prepare monthly project cost reports, including cost‑to‑date, committed cost, cost‑to‑complete, and forecast at completion, and review them with the Project Manager.
  

• Monitor budget vs. actual performance at the cost‑code level, identify variances and trends, and flag potential overruns early to the project team.
  

• Support owner billing: assemble and prepare monthly pay applications (schedule of values, backup, lien waivers, change orders, stored materials, etc.) to meet contract and owner requirements.
  

• Administer subcontractor and vendor pay applications, verify quantities and backup, route for approvals, and coordinate timely payment consistent with contract terms.
  

• Manage the change management cost process: track potential change items, obtain and review subcontractor and supplier quotes, maintain a project change log, and ensure approved changes are reflected in budgets and forecasts.
  

• Assist with project cash‑flow forecasting by timing billings, receipts, and major cost events, and communicate impacts to project and accounting leadership.
  

• Maintain complete, organized project financial files for internal review, external audit, and tax documentation (including job cost reports, invoices, POs, subcontracts, change orders, and correspondence).
  

• Ensure revenue recognition and cost recognition on assigned projects follow company policy and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), including percentage‑of‑completion where used.

• Support certified payroll and other compliance reporting on public or DOT work, as required.

• Participate in project close‑out by reconciling final costs, verifying all billings and payments are complete, and preparing final cost summaries and margin analysis.