Manager, Project Accounting

This Opportunity

WSP is currently seeking a Project Accounting Manager to join our team. This position can be based out of any city where WSP USA has an office location. The role is supervisory‑level and senior, overseeing financial responsibilities such as accounting, subcontractor payables, project administration, contract billing, and client support for one or more Project Managers and/or project teams. The incumbent will develop project work breakdown structures, project budgets, margin analysis, and create associated funding in Oracle for larger and/or multi‑site/phase, complex projects.

Additional responsibilities include evaluating project charges, completing cost transfers, ensuring that all project data in Oracle remains up to date, generating robust project accounting reporting for infrastructure, transportation, and professional services projects, and working with project leadership on recommendations to address problem projects. The role also collaborates with the Billing function, project managers, and associate‑level project accountants on pre‑billing information review, cost estimates, and invoicing.

Overall the Project Accounting Manager will uphold quality standards that meet or exceed industry expectations, supporting the delivery of future‑ready solutions to clients.

• For assigned project(s), manage and analyze the collection, recording, and allocation of project costs and revenue, ensuring accurate project profit and loss calculations, and communicating financial performance and profitability to program management.
• Responsible for lifecycle project accounting for larger and/or multi‑faceted complex projects, including creation of project accounts in Oracle, tracking performance, close‑out, and reconciling overall project payables and receivables to project budgets. This encompasses scheduled values, subcontractor pay applications, billing approved subcontractor costs, retention billing, and revenue recognition.
• Establish processes and key indicators for monitoring, managing, and analyzing problem projects; keeping managers and finance leadership informed of any concerns.
• Partner with project/program managers and project teams to set the project budget, update changes, handle contract modifications, and provide accounting recommendations on the financial implications of decisions.
• Create and generate regular or ad‑hoc financial reports and visualizations, evaluating presentations for accuracy. Analysis includes labor breakage, cost trending, earned value, margin analysis, and other project‑related financial reports, escalated for review by management.
• Oversee and authorize access to project records, and manage the transfer of expenses into and out of project‑related accounts in compliance with accounting practices.
• Maintain quality control standards for generating accurate project financial records in Oracle.
• Perform monthly review of job cost reports and project cost tracking reports for accuracy and budget alignment; make corrections as directed by managers.
• Apply accounting expertise to investigate project variances and submit variance reports to stakeholders.
• Verify contract and change order characteristics for complex projects, reviewing contract language, compensation methods, modifications, purchase orders, and subcontract/consultant terms.
• Ensure draft invoices from billing are accurate per contract, obtain necessary approvals, and finalize invoices to clients.
• Manage subcontractor invoice submittals, establish and maintain purchase orders for subconsultants, and coordinate with Accounts Payable on payment requests.
• Record unpaid contract billings and follow up on delinquent accounts receivable or unbilled costs.
• Respond to client requests for detailed financial information, investigate unbilled expenses, and approve all client billings.
• Coordinate project financial status meetings, articulate problem projects, recommend corrective actions, and follow up on identified actions.
• Compile information for internal and external auditors and formal audit responses.
• Work with cross‑functional finance teams (Billing, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Project Set‑Up) to…