Project Accountant

Job Description

Project Accountant | IPS-Integrated Project Services

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at IPS, located at their headquarters in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. IPS, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a global leader in technical consulting, architecture, engineering, procurement, construction management, commissioning, qualification, and validation services for technically complex facilities in the life sciences sector. The company applies its knowledge, skills, and passion to make a difference in people’s lives by solving complex challenges related to life sciences. This Project Accountant role is crucial for managing the accounting aspects of business units and projects, ensuring effective and efficient financial operations that support the company’s mission to deliver integrated solutions and accelerate speed to market for clients.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania (Greater Philadelphia area)

• Team: Reports directly to the Project Accounting Manager; collaborates with the Operations Director, Project Manager, Project Engineer, Project Superintendent, and Contract Administrator.
• Mission: To effectively and efficiently manage all accounting aspects of assigned business units and projects, applying a service-oriented attitude to all customers.
• Tech Stack: Timberline, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft software.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Manages Project Finances: Performs all core accounting functions related to assigned projects, encompassing accounts payable, accounts receivable, and detailed job cost tracking and management.
• Ensures Policy Adherence: Monitors assigned projects to ensure strict compliance with company policies and established accounting procedures.
• Processes Project Setup: Sets up new jobs and contracts within the Timberline system, including the crucial step of accurately entering budgets based on approved schedules of values.
• Oversees Subcontractor & Owner Payments: Records subcontractor commitments, reviews and reconciles subcontractor progress payment applications, compiles payment requests from subcontractors and suppliers, and prepares comprehensive payment requests for submission to the owner, while also obtaining necessary releases of liens.
• Executes Project Close-Out: Completes all required job close-out duties, which includes reconciling outstanding commitments, archiving all relevant files, and formally closing the job within the accounting system.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Associate degree required or 3-5 years of equivalent professional experience, with a minimum of 1 year specifically in construction accounting.
• Experience: Demonstrated proficiency in utilizing accounting software, specifically Timberline Software, alongside strong capabilities in financial spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft applications.
• Skills: Proven ability to effectively prioritize tasks and consistently meet deadlines, strong organizational skills for managing extensive documentation and information, a sense of urgency, the capacity to multitask efficiently, and clear, effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Bonus: A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field is preferred.