Accounting Specialist

Lauderdale Electric is a fourth-generation, family-owned commercial and industrial electrical contractor serving Northern Illinois. Guided by our F.I.R.E. values, we're building toward our 2029 Vivid Vision of disciplined growth, people development, and expanded geographic and service-line reach. We're looking for a detail-oriented accounting professional to help keep our field operations running smoothly through accurate, on-time payroll, compliance reporting, and invoicing.

Position Summary

The Accounting Specialist is responsible for the overall integrity of Lauderdale Electric's financial operations, including financial reporting, job costing, cash flow management, and internal controls. This role is critical to maintaining strong relationships with our field employees, union partners, and clients, and requires a high level of accuracy, confidentiality, and understanding of prevailing wage and union payroll requirements within the electrical contracting industry.

This is a construction-industry role requiring fluency in job costing, percentage-of-completion accounting, and the financial mechanics of a union electrical contractor.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll

• Process weekly payroll for union and non-union field and office employees
• Verify time entries, job costing codes, and classifications for accuracy
• Calculate and apply appropriate wage rates, overtime, and fringe benefits
• Maintain accurate employee payroll records in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries and resolve discrepancies promptly

Certified Payroll

• Prepare and submit certified payroll reports (WH-347 or equivalent) for prevailing wage/public works projects
• Ensure compliance with Davis-Bacon, Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, and applicable municipal requirements
• Maintain accurate documentation to support certified payroll audits
• Coordinate with project managers to confirm correct wage determinations and job classifications by project

Invoicing

• Prepare and issue accurate, timely customer invoices based on job costing, contracts, T&M tickets, and change orders
• Track outstanding receivables and follow up on past-due invoices
• Coordinate with project managers and the field to ensure billing accuracy
• Maintain organized invoicing records and support month-end close processes

Financial Reporting & Accounting Operations

• Complete monthly, quarterly, and annual close process
• Draft and present timely and accurate financial reports and key metrics for Controller review
• Maintain the general ledger, chart of accounts, and accounting policies in accordance with GAAP
• Oversee percentage-of-completion (WIP) accounting and ensure job cost reporting is accurate and current
• Coordinate with outside CPAs on tax preparation, reviews, or audits
• Oversee job costing processes across active projects, ensuring accurate allocation of labor, materials, and
• Partner with project managers and estimators to reconcile budgeted vs. actual project costs
• Identify and flag cost overruns, margin erosion, or billing gaps on active jobs
• Maintain and review WIP (work-in-progress) schedules for accuracy and completeness

Q ualifications

Required

• 5+ years of accounting experience, preferably in construction, electrical, or another unionized trade
• Experience in construction accounting, ideally within an electrical, mechanical, or other union trade contractor
• Experience with certified payroll and prevailing wage reporting
• Strong knowledge of job costing and percentage-of-completion (WIP) accounting
• Strong Excel skills and proficiency with accounting/payroll software (e.g., Foundation, Sage, Quick Books, or similar construction accounting platforms)
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to handle confidential…