WSP USA Hiring For Senior Project Accountant at Baltimore, MD, United States , United States Full Time

Job Description

Be involved in projects with our Project Accounting Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client’s objectives and solves their challenges.

At WSP, we are driven by inspiring the right people to be part of our future-focused business objectives. Our devotion to teamwork has allowed us to build communities and expand our skylines. Here at WSP, anything is within our reach and yours as a WSP employee. Come join us and help shape the future!

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Senior Project Accountant for our Baltimore, MD office.

Job Summary:

Experienced senior-level project accountant professional providing accounting and financial specialist support to one or more Project Managers and/or project team(s). Develops project work breakdown structure, project budgets, margin analysis, and creates associated funding in Oracle for larger and/or more complex projects. Ancillary important tasks include evaluating project charges, completing cost transfers, ensuring that all project data in Oracle is up-to-date, generating robust project accounting reporting for infrastructure / transportation / professional services projects, and working with project leadership on recommendations for addressing problem project corrective strategies. Also works collaboratively with the Billing function and project managers on pre-billing information review, cost estimates, and invoicing. Ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards, supporting the delivery of future-ready solutions to clients.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• For assigned project(s), manage and analyze the collection, recording, and allocating of project costs and revenue, ensuring accurate project profit and loss calculations, and communicating project financial performance and profitability to project/program management.
• Responsible for lifecycle project accounting from creating project accounts in Oracle, to tracking projects and project budget, validating invoicing, project close-out, and reconciling overall project payables and receivables to project budgets.
• Perform detailed and involved accounting tasks related to managing project contract, billing events and billing transaction exceptions revenue for larger and/or multi-faceted complex projects.
• Partner with the Project Manager and project team to establish the project budget, updating budgets, and making project accounting recommendations as needed when contract modifications or budget changes arise.
• Evaluate reports for accurate presentation of data and findings, including developing analysis on labor breakage, cost trending or other various project related financial reports to be escalated for review by the Project or Finance Management.
• Monitor and analyze revenue and unbilled balances to ensure proper revenue recognition.
• Maintain quality control standards and procedures for generating accurate and precise project-related financial records using Oracle, spreadsheets, and software.
• For assigned projects, apply learned accounting expertise relating to project resources, labor and expenses, investigating project variances and submitting variance reports to management.
• Verify contract and change order characteristics for projects that are large and /or of a higher level of complexity, including reading and interpreting contract language, method of compensation, modifications, purchase orders, and subcontract/consultant terms.
• Monitor key indicators for managing and analyzing problem projects, keeping project managers and/or project accounting manager informed on any noted concerns.
• Responsible for ensuring draft invoices from billing are accurate based on the contract requirements agreed upon with the client, identify any corrections needed, obtain Project Manager documentation and signature, finalize the invoice approval with the Project Manager/billing team and submits the invoice to the client.
• Subcontract management and coordination with Contract Administrators. This includes evaluating subcontractor invoice submittals for accuracy, establishes and maintains purchase orders for subconsultants, and requests and follows up on subcontractor payment requests with Accounts Payable.
• Identify and record unpaid contract billings, following up on any delinquent accounts receivable and/or unbilled costs.
• Respond to requests for more detail from clients, investigate all project expenses not billed to clients, and create or approve all project-related billings to clients.
• Attend or coordinate project-related meetings to inform the team regarding the current status of project financials, articulating problem projects and following up on any identified actions as discussed.
• Create and submit government reports related to projects.
• Comply with regulatory requirements pertaining to the data integrity, documentation, procedures, training, monitoring systems, and record compliance and retention.
• Interact with regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and clients in a confident and professional manner.
• Mentor and/or train other project accountants and/or interns as needed, including reviewing of billing and project budgets to perform QA/QC.
• Remain current in latest project accounting principles and subject matter.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Talent is the essence of meeting our client’s objectives, goals and challenges. If this sounds like a fit for you, we’d love to have that first discussion of you joining our team.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree Accounting, Business, or closely-related discipline (or demonstrated proven equivalent experience)
• 5+ years of relevant experience post-education experience in accounting, project contracts and change management documents
• Working knowledge of project accounting principles, practices, and methods and their application to project work-related issues
• Advanced proficiency with technical writing, office automation and accounting software, technology, math principles, MS Excel, pivot tables, formulas, data format/sort/filter, VLOOKUP, predictive models, and tools
• Proficient knowledge of project accounting principles, practices, and methods and their application to project work-related issues
• Ability to coordinate with various stakeholders and understand contract requirements, scope, and schedule
• Highly capable interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an accounting and non-accounting audience
• Highly capable self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
• Ability to work independently and provide guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC
• Developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply learned subject matter and technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, statistical analysis and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solution.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies

Candidates that move onto the interview process will be required to take an excel assessment to determine skillset.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Oracle and QuickBooks preferred
• Experience with Joint Venture contracts/projects with an Engineering, Buildings, or construction firm is a plus

About WSP USA

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the transportation, buildings, energy, water and environment sectors. With nearly 9,500 people in 150 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. www.wsp.com/usa

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be a key piece in our meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA Inc., WSP USA Buildings Inc., and WSP USA Services Inc. (collectively “WSP USA”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.