Director: Construction Project Cost Accounting

Director – Project Cost Accounting

Plante Moran Realpoint is seeking a Director to lead our Project Cost Accounting Team. The Director will set standards, mentor talent, and drive accountability across the project cost accounting function. Partnering with project managers, client stakeholders, and external teams, the Director ensures accurate project data and delivers decision‑ready insights across a portfolio of client projects.

• Set and operationalize program/project controls standards across cost, schedule, change management, forecasting, and reporting cadence to drive consistency and accountability.
• Own reporting deliverables, including dashboards, executive summaries, cost reports, cash flow, earned value/performance metrics, reconciliations, and monthly/quarterly client reporting deliverables, ensuring clear, decision‑ready insights.
• Lead budget, commitment, and forecast management by establishing control structures, tracking commitments/expenditures, developing estimates at completion, articulating variances and corrective actions.
• Support schedule performance reporting by coordinating with project managers and schedulers to track milestones, critical path impacts, and recovery actions.
• Manage change control analytics: log and track change requests, assess cost/schedule impacts, support client approvals, and reflect approved changes in baseline and forecast.
• Ensure data integrity in the PMIS (e.g., e‑Builder) through governance, reconciliation, and routine, accurate, and timely reviews.
• Partner with project managers to identify trends/risks early and recommend mitigation actions based on cost and schedule indicators.
• Coordinate with client finance/procurement and external vendors to validate pay applications, invoices, contracts, and supporting documentation to align with contractual requirements.
• Position is "in office" based in Southfield, MI with little/no travel.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, accounting, or other applicable field.
• 7+ years of experience in accounting, project controls, and/or serving as a project owner for a substantial capital improvement program.
• 5+ years of experience managing a financial or accounting team.
• Demonstrated ability to manage teams, strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Demonstrated understanding of how to develop budgets, forecasts, and cost reports; explain variances; and present findings to non‑technical audiences.
• Proficiency in Excel and reporting/analytics; comfort building repeatable templates and improving reporting processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including client‑facilitating presentation.

• Experience supporting multi‑project capital programs (portfolio reporting, governance, and cross‑project standardization).
• Experience working in e‑Builder or a comparable project management information system.

Plante Moran offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; a 401(k) plan; flexible benefits; business‑related expense reimbursement; and a discretionary bonus plan. Eligible staff also have access to our Flexible Time Off and a range of company holidays.

Compensation range: $100,000 – $160,000.

Plante Moran is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Plante Moran maintains a drug‑free workplace.