Audubon is currently looking for a Project Accountant to join our Finance team in our Houston, TX Office. The Project Accountant is responsible for end-to-end commercial accounting support on a fixed-price engineering, procurement & construction project. This role ensures accuracy of project costs, compliance with lump-sum contract terms, disciplined revenue recognition, commercial risk mitigation, and proactive financial reporting to project leadership. Project Accountant plays a critical role in protecting fee, margin, and cash performance over the life of the EPC job.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:Lump-Sum Contract Financial Management
- Establish project cost structure and WBS aligned to fixed-price execution strategy.
- Monitor budget vs. actuals, cost-to-complete, productivity and contingency draw-down.
- Maintain fee visibility and ensure management of allowances, provisional sums, and unit-rate breakouts within the lump-sum contract.
- Partner with project controls to manage percent-complete and earned-value calculations.
Revenue Recognition & Margin Protection
- Review progress claims, physical percent complete, productivity metrics, and earned hours.
- Identify cost trends impacting forecast margins and escalate early.
Billing, Cash Flow & Client Documentation
- Prepare accurate lump-sum progress billings in accordance with contract milestones.
- Maintain a complete billing file (progress backup, physical measurement, schedule data).
- Track retainage, holdbacks, collection timing, and cash-flow exposure.
- Ensure proper support for any tax, insurance, bonding, and lien release requirements.
Change-Order Support
- Track change events from identification through approval and billing.
- Support pricing models, entitlement, time-impact considerations, and commercial terms.
- Monitor out-of-scope work to prevent margin erosion or unapproved commitments.
Cost Control, Forecasting & Variance Analysis
- Track labor, subcontract, major equipment and materials against the authorized budget.
- Maintain committed-cost reporting for POs/subcontracts.
- Reconcile field tickets, three-way match exceptions, and accrual estimates.
- Prepare weekly financial KPI updates and monthly forecast packages.
Working Capital Management
- Minimize unbilled WIP and under-billings.
- Support negotiations on milestone alignment, schedule impacts and pay-when-paid terms.
- Monitor subcontractor billing compliance and back-to-back documentation.
Reporting & Audit Compliance
- Prepare monthly project financials, WIP entries, EVA updates, and CPA-level workpapers.
- Maintain documentation to support internal controls, SOX compliance, and year-end audit.
- Compile information for internal and external stakeholders, as required.
Health, Safety, and Environmental Responsibilities:
- All employees are responsible for supporting Audubon Companies' Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) policies and procedures. This includes:
- Performing duties in a manner that protects personal and team health and safety
- Participating in required HSE training, meetings, and reporting activities
- Identifying and reporting hazards, near misses, and unsafe conditions
- Following safe work practices and complying with applicable regulatory requirements
EXPERIENCE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS:- Bachelor's in accounting, Finance, or related field required.
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferable (active or transferable state license).
- 3-7+ years of progressive accounting roles; lump-sum EPC, fixed-price construction, industrial infrastructure, or energy projects strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of ASC 606 revenue recognition, percent-complete methodologies, WIP, margin forecasting, and contract-risk accounting.
- Systems knowledge: Acumatica and Contruent
- Advanced Excel modeling (pivot tables, lookups, cost-to-complete models, variance analysis).
- Ability to collaborate daily with field supervision, project controls, procurement, and commercial leadership
No Recruiters, please!
