Overview

The Project Controls Accountant supports heavy civil and infrastructure project teams by integrating accounting discipline with project controls execution. The role is responsible for job cost accounting, budget control, accruals, commitments, contractor validation, change management support, forecasting, executive reporting and data integrity across ERP, scheduling and dashboard platforms. The ideal candidate brings strong project controls experience, accounting education, advanced Excel and Power BI capability, and demonstrated success managing large capital programs with high forecast accuracy.  software.

 

Responsibilities

Job Cost Accounting & Financial Controls 

• Maintain accurate job cost records including budgets, actual costs, commitments, accruals, forecast-to-complete and forecast-at-completion reporting. 
• Reconcile project costs against ERP data, procurement records, contractor billings, timesheets, equipment charges, tax treatment and cost code allocations. 
• Prepare monthly accruals and support month-end close through variance explanations, cost trend analysis and documentation of forecast assumptions. 
• Identify cost coding issues, unsupported costs, overbillings, improper labor or equipment charges and other financial control exceptions. 

Forecasting, Budgeting & Variance Analysis 

• Develop and maintain cost forecasts for active projects using actuals, commitments, production trends, risk-based assumptions and schedule-driven cost exposure.
• Analyze cost, revenue, margin and contingency movement and communicate key drivers to project managers and executive leadership. 
•  Monitor forecast accuracy and recommend corrective actions when overruns, savings opportunities or scope gaps are identified.
• Support portfolio-level cash flow, spend planning, long-range forecast planning and capital program reporting. 

Contractor Progress, Change Management & Commercial Review 

•  Validate contractor progress reports, quantities, unit price billings, T&M support, lump sum milestone payments and subcontractor payment applications.
• Review change order requests for pricing support, cost impact, contract basis, required approvals and budget or forecast implications.
• Maintain pending and approved change order logs and ensure approved changes are reflected in forecasts, budgets and reporting systems. 
• Support claims, delay documentation and commercial analysis through cost records, progress measurement and schedule alignment. 

 

Schedule, Progress & Project Controls Integration 

• Coordinate cost and schedule information to support integrated project controls reporting and early identification of schedule-driven cost risks.
•  Support Primavera P6 schedule updates, CPM progress tracking, milestone reviews and alignment of field progress with forecast assumptions.
•  Review quantity surveying information and productivity data to assess earned progress, cost performance and forecast reasonableness. 

Reporting, Dashboards & Automation 

• Prepare weekly and monthly project controls and financial reports including budget status, cost trends, forecast changes, change order exposure, risks and executive summaries. 
• Develop and maintain Power BI, Excel, Tableau or similar dashboards for project teams, finance leadership and executive review.
• Improve reporting efficiency through automation, standardized workflows, data validation and AI-enabled or system-driven process improvements when appropriate. 
• Provide clear, concise explanations of financial performance, project risk and recommended actions to operations and finance stakeholders. 

Systems, Governance & Data Integrity 

•  Maintain accurate cost codes, WBS structures, phase allocations, budget versions and system interfaces across ERP and project controls platforms.
• Use systems such as Oracle PPM, SAP, EcoSys, Viewpoint, Procore, Kahua, Copperleaf, JIRA, Primavera P6 and advanced Excel as applicable. 
• Ensure compliance with company policies, delegation of authority requirements, contract obligations and public agency reporting expectations. 
• Provide training and guidance to project managers and field personnel on cost reporting, accruals, forecasting and billing support requirements. 

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Construction Management, Engineering or related field required or strongly preferred.
• CPA, CPA candidate, CPA PEP enrollment or equivalent accounting designation progress is preferred. 

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in project controls, project accounting, cost control, cost engineering, construction finance or capital program controls. 
• Experience managing large construction, infrastructure, energy, industrial, transportation or heavy civil project portfolios preferred. 
• Demonstrated experience with budgets, actuals, commitments, accruals, forecasts, variance analysis, contractor validation and change management.
• Experience supporting executive-level project reporting and portfolio financial controls strongly preferred. 

Technical Skills

• Advanced Excel including pivots, lookups, financial models, reconciliations and analytical workbooks. 
• Power BI, Tableau or similar dashboard and visualization tools. 
• ERP and project controls systems such as Oracle PPM, SAP, EcoSys, Viewpoint, Procore or similar.
• Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project experience preferred. 
• Strong understanding of job costing, accrual accounting, cost forecasting, change controls and earned progress concepts. 

Core Competencies

• High attention to detail and strong accounting control mindset. 
• Analytical problem solving with ability to identify cost risk, reporting gaps and process improvement opportunities.
• Ability to communicate financial and project controls information clearly to project managers, accounting teams and executives. 
• Strong ownership, prioritization and follow-through across multiple projects and deadlines. 
• Collaborative approach with operations, finance, procurement, scheduling and field teams. 

 

Preferred Certifications

• CPA, CPA candidate or equivalent accounting designation. 
• AACE CCP, PSP or related cost/schedule certification. 
• PMP, PMI-SP or similar project management certification. 
• OSHA 30 or construction safety training is a plus. 

What's in it for you:

 

Financial Wellbeing

• Competitive pay with ongoing performance review and merit increase
• 401(k) with company match & Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Flexible spending account (Healthcare & Dependent care)

Health & Wellness

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance (plan choice) - coverage for spouse, domestic partner, and children
• Diabetes Management, Telehealth Coverage, Prescription Drug Plan, Pet Insurance

Family & Lifestyle

• Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Bereavement Leave
• Military Leave, including Differential Pay and Benefits Continuation
• Employee Assistance Program

Planning for the Unexpected

• Short and long-term disability, life insurance, and accidental death & dismemberment
• Voluntary life insurance, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity coverage
• Emergency Travel Assistance Program
• Group legal plan

 

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Service Line (UKG) : NameCAI-MasTec Civil, LLC