Construction Accountant

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title:
Construction Accountant (Union Construction)

Industry: Industrial and Commercial Construction
Employment Type: Full-Time
Location: Canton, OH

Position Overview

We are seeking a Construction Accountant with demonstrated experience supporting union construction projects governed by multiple collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). This role requires hands-on experience managing complex union payroll structures
, job cost accounting
, AIA progress billing
, and WIP reporting under the percentage-of-completion method.

This role is not general accounting and not standard payroll
. Our projects involve dozens of union terms, benefit rates, craft rules, and reporting requirements that vary by trade, local, project, and agreement.

Core Responsibilities

Job Cost Accounting

• Maintain detailed job cost records by project, phase, cost code
• Allocate union labor costs accurately, including base wage, fringes, assessments, and labor burden
• Monitor cost variances and assist with job projections and cost-to-complete updates
• Post and reconcile costs to Construction-in-Progress (WIP) accounts

AIA Progress Billing

• Prepare monthly AIA billings using G702/G703 forms
• Maintain and update Schedules of Values (SOVs), incorporating:
• Approved change orders
  • Retainage
  • Material and Labor-driven progress impacts
• Coordinate with project managers to support accurate progress measurements and billing backup

Percentage-of-Completion & WIP Reporting

• Assist with Work-in-Progress (WIP) schedules using the cost-to-cost method
• Reconcile earned revenue vs. billed revenue
  , identifying over-billings and under-billings
• Support month-end revenue recognition entries and construction-specific financial reporting
• Provide job performance data for management, bonding, or banking review

Union Payroll, Fringe Benefits & Labor Compliance

• Process and support union payroll across multiple trades and locals
• Interpret and apply multiple collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with differing:
  • Wage rates
  • Fringe benefit structures
  • Overtime and premium rules
  • Shift differentials
  • Craft and classification requirements
• Calculate, track, and reconcile union fringe benefits
  , including but not limited to:
  • Pension
    • Health & Welfare
    • Annuity
    • Apprenticeship / Training funds
    • Industry or administrative assessments
• Prepare and submit weekly, monthly, or quarterly union reports in accordance with each agreement
• Assist with certified payroll and prevailing wage reporting
• Reconcile union benefit payables to trust statements and resolve discrepancies

Project & Accounting Support

• Work directly with project managers and field leadership to resolve labor cost issues and job variances
• Maintain organized project and payroll records, including:
  • Union agreements
    • Labor reports
    • Lien waivers
    • Change orders
• Assist with month-end close
  , audit support, and compliance documentation

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting required

CCIFP (Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional) recommended

• 5+ years of construction accounting experience in a union environment
• Proven experience working with multiple CBAs
• Hands-on experience with:
  • Union payroll and fringe benefit calculations
  • Job costing and labor cost allocation
  • AIA billing
  • Percentage-of-completion and WIP reporting
• Strong Excel skills for detailed job cost, labor, and reconciliation work
• High attention to detail and ability to manage frequent rate changes and agreement updates
• Experience with construction accounting systems such as:
  • Sage 100 Contractor
  • Sage 300 CRE
  • Viewpoint
  • Foundation
  • Procore Financials

Company Description

Whitacre Rebar has a long history of providing outstanding customer service and high-quality products and services to the construction industry. In 1920, John J. Whitacre established the company to provide…