POSITION OVERVIEW: As the
Director of Accounting Compliance, you will serve as the control point for project financial processes, ensuring consistency in the application of accounting policies, revenue recognition, and billing/collection practices. This role directly oversees the Accounts Receivable team and provides compliance oversight to project accounting and billing functions without direct reporting authority. Reporting to the Corporate Controller, this role standardizes practices across offices, partners closely with operations and finance leadership, and ensures scalable processes that support a complex nationwide organization.
A TYPICAL DAY MIGHT INCLUDE:- Provide governance and oversight to project accounting functions to ensure policy-aligned processes across the sectors, including project setup governance, contract and change order review support, invoicing practices, labor and expense posting, project closeout, and consistency in WIP and revenue recognition treatment.
- Drive enterprise-wide standardization of project lifecycle and accounts receivable processes.
- Lead initiatives to improve documentation, audit trails and process transparency.
- Ensure consistent adherence to company policies across project accounting, billing, and AR functions including multiple offices and states.
- Ensure accurate and consistent application of ASC 606 across all project-related activities.
- Partner with accounting and operational teams to ensure financial data integrity from project initiation through close.
- Act as the primary owner of internal controls related to project financials, AR, and revenue processes.
- Lead compliance reviews and proactively identify gaps, inconsistencies, and risk areas.
- Partner with internal audit and external auditors to support audits.
- Oversee collections escalation and accounts receivable strategies to improve cash flow and reduce risk.
- Drive accountability for DSO reduction, aging performance and cash flow predictability.
- Implement structured collections processes, escalation protocols and performance tracking.
- Ensure disciplined documentation and resolution of customer disputes.
- Implement automation and system controls to enforce compliance.
- Partner with legal, operations, and procurement leaders to ensure project financial controls align with contracts, subcontract terms, insurance requirements, and company policy.
- Develop reporting packages for executive leadership on DSO, write-offs, and collection trends.
- Lead, coach, and develop accounts receivable manager and staff, building organizational capability, succession depth, and consistent execution.
- Partner and collaborate with sector controllers to ensure compliance with ASC 606.
- Drive process improvement, standardization, and system optimization across ERP and billing platforms used in project-based accounting.
- Support acquisitions, integrations, internal controls, and external audits with a focus on scalable financial processes and compliance.
REQUIRED EDUCATION/LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS:- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration required; CPA or CMA strongly preferred.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:- 12+ years of progressive experience in project accounting, operational finance, or professional services accounting, including significant AEC industry exposure.
- 8+ years of leadership experience managing managers and geographically dispersed teams in a multi-office environment.
- Deep knowledge of percentage-of-completion and professional services revenue recognition, project lifecycle accounting, accruals, and financial statement impacts.
- Strong command of internal controls, project financial governance, audit support, and policy design for a complex, multi-state organization.
- Demonstrated success standardizing processes, improving DSO, and strengthening reporting quality in a high-growth or large-scale environment.
- Experience supporting engineering, architecture, environmental, or construction-adjacent service lines with complex contracts and client invoicing requirements.
- Advanced proficiency with ERP and project accounting systems such as Deltek, BST, Unanet, or comparable enterprise platforms.
- Strong analytical, communication, and executive presentation skills, with the ability to influence leaders across finance, operations, and project management.
- Ability to lead through change, manage competing priorities, and deliver results in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Proven ability to build strong cross-functional partnerships and lead remote teams with consistency, accountability, and customer service focus.
- Must be highly detail oriented, organized, and capable of balancing strategic priorities with operational execution.
- Must be able to drive accountability, prioritize enterprise-wide initiatives, and meet critical deadlines across multiple stakeholders.
LEVEL UP WITH LJAAt LJA, we're 100% employee-owned. This drives results, rewards ambition and supports long-term success for every team member. With nearly 100 locations, more than 3,000 employee-owners, we're building something big. We want you to be part of it.
Your future grows here.- Generous Time Off: PTO, paid holidays, and a full office closure between Christmas and New Year's.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Multiple plan options for health, dental, and pets. Along with mental health support.
- Family Support: Paid maternity and parental leave to help you focus on what matters most.
- Education Support: Tuition reimbursement and in-house courses provided by our Learning and Development team.
- Referral Bonuses: Know great talent? Get rewarded for helping us grow.
- Community Impact: Company-sponsored volunteer days and philanthropic initiatives.
- Professional Development: Memberships to industry organizations to keep you connected and growing.
- Career Growth: Great internal mobility opportunities to advance your career.
- Fun Culture: LJA social events, employee sports teams, bring your kid to work day, etc.
To Executive Search Firms & Staffing Agencies: LJA Engineering, Inc. and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes from any agencies that have not signed a service agreement. All unsolicited resumes will be considered LJA's property. This includes resumes submitted directly to hiring managers without contacting LJA's Human Resources Talent Department.
