Staff Accountant – Construction Project Accounting

Job Description

Staff Accountant | Robert Half

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at a growing construction organization, based in Chicago, IL, with a hybrid work arrangement. The company operates within the construction sector, driving the need for robust financial and project accounting support to manage its continued expansion. This Staff Accountant position is crucial, as it directly contributes to core accounting functions, including month-end close activities, detailed project accounting, and the accurate preparation of financial statements. The role offers significant long-term growth opportunities within the accounting team and provides direct exposure to senior leadership, underscoring its strategic importance and impact.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: Hybrid
• Location: Hybrid, Chicago, IL
• Pay: $80000–$100000 yearly
• Team: Part of the accounting team
• Mission: To contribute significantly to month-end close processes, project accounting, and financial statement preparation for a growing construction organization.
• Tech Stack: ERP system, Advanced Excel

What You’ll Actually Do
• Prepare: Prepare accurate journal entries, conduct account reconciliations, and develop supporting schedules.
• Contribute: Contribute significantly to both month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring general ledger accuracy and completeness.
• Support: Support robust job cost reporting and manage various project accounting activities critical to construction operations.
• Analyze: Analyze financial results comprehensively, investigating variances and providing clear explanations.
• Collaborate: Collaborate directly with project managers and operations teams on project-related accounting issues, while also assisting with internal and external audit support.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance with a strong understanding of GAAP and general ledger accounting principles.
• Experience: 2-5+ years of progressive accounting experience, demonstrating proficiency in journal entries, account reconciliations, and month-end close processes, alongside practical experience with ERP systems.
• Skills: Proficiency in preparing journal entries and reconciliations, executing month-end close, advanced Excel skills, and the ability to analyze financial data to investigate variances.
• Bonus: Preferred candidates will bring industry experience from construction, general contracting, subcontracting, engineering, or real estate. Specific accounting experience with job costing, WIP schedules, retainage, or project billing is highly valued. Alternatively, public accounting experience serving construction industry clients is a strong asset. Candidates who are a CPA or on the CPA-track are also preferred.