Project Accountant Job Houston area,Texas USA,Finance & Banking

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