Project Accountant

Founded in 1954, Keck + Wood, Inc. is a growing and dynamic employee-owned consulting firm with three offices in Georgia and South Carolina. Our 80+ employees serve Community Development, Transportation and Utility clients across the Southeast by providing quality engineering, planning, landscape architecture, and land surveying.

“Collaboration By Design” is not just a tagline, it is the essential foundation of how Keck + Wood serves clients, improves communities, and strengthens its employees.

As Keck & Wood, the Project Accountant is a vital member of the Finance Department, serving as the key financial partner for our engineering project teams. You will be responsible for ensuring the financial integrity, profitability, and compliance of a portfolio of projects from contract award through final closeout.

Key Accountabilities

• Maximize Project Profitability:
  Drive cost control and accurate reporting to maximize project margins and ensure proper revenue recognition.
• Streamline Cash Flow:
  Optimize the billing and collections cycles to maintain healthy working capital.
• Ensure Compliance:
  Uphold financial compliance with client contracts, company policies, and GAAP.
• Accurately set up new projects in the Deltek Vantagepoint ERP system, ensuring alignment with the contract regarding budget, contract type, and invoicing requirements.
• Routinely consult with Project Managers to review and analyze project financial performance. This includes, but is not limited to, providing detailed labor and expense reports and assessing revenue accrual.
• Perform continuous job cost analysis. Investigate budget-to-actual variances and incorrect cost allocations, advising the project team on necessary corrective actions or potential margin risks.
• Handle and complete vendor and client documentation requests, some examples include: W9 forms, ACH authorizations, and providing necessary certificates of insurance or affidavits.
• Manage the full billing cycle, including preparing and distributing draft invoices for Project Manager review and submitting accurate final invoices to clients according to varied contract terms (e.g., T&M, Lump Sum, and Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee).
• Proactively monitor A/R aging and assist in collection efforts. Maintain a collaborative, problem-solving relationship with clients and PMs to ensure prompt payment.
• Serve as the primary point-of-contact for customer inquiries and disputes concerning invoices and/or payments, troubleshooting issues, and escalating complex matters to senior management.
• Participate in project kick-off meetings when necessary to provide proactive financial insights and control requirements, particularly regarding contract documents, change orders, and modifications that impact billing.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with accounting contacts at client organizations, subconsultants, and vendors, ensuring all financial inquiries are promptly addressed.
• Coach and mentor other team members on project accounting procedures and best practices.
• Assist with other departmental billing and general accounting tasks as needed.

Company Conformance Standards

• Comply with all company policies, procedures, and safety standards, including regular attendance and punctuality.
• Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
• Interact professionally with employees, clients, and suppliers.
• Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work effort with teams, other employees, clients, vendors, and other organizations.

Minimum Education, Knowledge, Experience, and Professional Certifications

• Associates degree in Accounting , Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, plus one year of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work under pressure to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines
• Good knowledge of basic accounting principles
• Intermediate knowledge of Google Workspace and/or Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience with and the…