Project Accountant

Audubon is currently looking for a Project Accountant to join our Finance team in our Houston, TX Office. The Project Accountant is responsible for end-to-end commercial accounting support on a fixed-price engineering, procurement & construction project. This role ensures accuracy of project costs, compliance with lump-sum contract terms, disciplined revenue recognition, commercial risk mitigation, and proactive financial reporting to project leadership.

Project Accountant plays a critical role in protecting fee, margin, and cash performance over the life of the EPC job.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lump-Sum Contract Financial Management

* Establish project cost structure and WBS aligned to fixed-price execution strategy.

* Monitor budget vs. actuals, cost-to-complete, productivity and contingency draw-down.

* Maintain fee visibility and ensure management of allowances, provisional sums, and unit-rate breakouts within the lump-sum contract.

* Partner with project controls to manage percent-complete and earned-value calculations.

Revenue Recognition & Margin Protection

* Review progress claims, physical percent complete, productivity metrics, and earned hours.

* Identify cost trends impacting forecast margins and escalate early.

Billing, Cash Flow & Client Documentation

* Prepare accurate lump-sum progress billings in accordance with contract milestones.

* Maintain a complete billing file (progress backup, physical measurement, schedule data).

* Track retainage, holdbacks, collection timing, and cash-flow exposure.

* Ensure proper support for any tax, insurance, bonding, and lien release requirements.

Change-Order Support

* Track change events from identification through approval and billing.

* Support pricing models, entitlement, time-impact considerations, and commercial terms.

* Monitor out-of-scope work to prevent margin erosion or unapproved commitments.

Cost Control, Forecasting & Variance Analysis

* Track labor, subcontract, major equipment and materials against the authorized budget.

* Maintain committed-cost reporting for POs/subcontracts.

* Reconcile field tickets, three-way match exceptions, and accrual estimates.

* Prepare weekly financial KPI updates and monthly forecast packages.

Working Capital Management

* Minimize unbilled WIP and under-billings.

* Support negotiations on milestone alignment, schedule impacts and pay-when-paid terms.

* Monitor subcontractor billing compliance and back-to-back documentation.

Reporting & Audit Compliance

* Prepare monthly project financials, WIP entries, EVA updates, and CPA-level work papers.

* Maintain documentation to support internal controls, SOX compliance, and year-end audit.

* Compile information for internal and external stakeholders, as required.

Health, Safety, and Environmental Responsibilities:

* All employees are responsible for supporting Audubon Companies' Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) policies and procedures. This includes:

* Performing duties in a manner that protects personal and team health and safety

* Participating in required HSE training, meetings, and reporting activities

* Identifying and reporting hazards, near misses, and unsafe conditions

* Following safe work practices and complying with applicable regulatory requirements

EXPERIENCE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

* Bachelor's in accounting, Finance, or related field required.

* Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferable (active or transferable state license).

* 3-7+ years of progressive accounting roles; lump-sum EPC, fixed-price construction, industrial infrastructure, or energy projects strongly preferred.

* Strong understanding of ASC 606 revenue recognition, percent-complete methodologies, WIP, margin forecasting, and contract-risk accounting.

* Systems knowledge:
Acumatica and Contruent

* Advanced Excel modeling (pivot tables, lookups, cost-to-complete models, variance analysis).

* Ability to collaborate daily with field supervision, project controls, procurement, and commercial leadership

No Recruiters, please!

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled