Project Accountant
Atlanta Metro (Duluth, GA)
Founded in 1954, Keck + Wood, Inc. is a growing and dynamic employee-owned consulting firm with three offices in Georgia and South Carolina. Our 80+ employees serve Community Development, Transportation and Utility clients across the Southeast by providing quality engineering, planning, landscape architecture, and land surveying.
“Collaboration By Design” is not just a tagline, it is the essential foundation of how Keck + Wood serves clients, improves communities, and strengthens its employees.
Challenging and rewarding opportunities are here….are you ready?
As Keck & Wood, the Project Accountant is a vital member of the Finance Department, serving as the key financial partner for our engineering project teams. You will be responsible for ensuring the financial integrity, profitability, and compliance of a portfolio of projects from contract award through final closeout.
Key Accountabilities
- Maximize Project Profitability: Drive cost control and accurate reporting to maximize project margins and ensure proper revenue recognition.
- Streamline Cash Flow: Optimize the billing and collections cycles to maintain healthy working capital.
- Ensure Compliance: Uphold financial compliance with client contracts, company policies, and GAAP.
Essential Job Duties
Project Financial Control & Analysis
- Accurately set up new projects in the Deltek Vantagepoint ERP system, ensuring alignment with the contract regarding budget, contract type, and invoicing requirements.
- Routinely consult with Project Managers to review and analyze project financial performance. This includes, but is not limited to, providing detailed labor and expense reports and assessing revenue accrual.
- Perform continuous job cost analysis. Investigate budget-to-actual variances and incorrect cost allocations, advising the project team on necessary corrective actions or potential margin risks.
- Handle and complete vendor and client documentation requests, some examples include: W9 forms, ACH authorizations, and providing necessary certificates of insurance or affidavits.
Client Billing & Cash Management
- Manage the full billing cycle, including preparing and distributing draft invoices for Project Manager review and submitting accurate final invoices to clients according to varied contract terms (e.g., T&M, Lump Sum, and Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee).
- Proactively monitor A/R aging and assist in collection efforts. Maintain a collaborative, problem-solving relationship with clients and PMs to ensure prompt payment.
- Serve as the primary point-of-contact for customer inquiries and disputes concerning invoices and/or payments, troubleshooting issues, and escalating complex matters to senior management.
Team Collaboration & Leadership
- Participate in project kick-off meetings when necessary to provide proactive financial insights and control requirements, particularly regarding contract documents, change orders, and modifications that impact billing.
- Establish and maintain professional relationships with accounting contacts at client organizations, subconsultants, and vendors, ensuring all financial inquiries are promptly addressed.
- Coach and mentor other team members on project accounting procedures and best practices.
- Assist with other departmental billing and general accounting tasks as needed.
Company Conformance Standards
- Comply with all company policies, procedures, and safety standards, including regular attendance and punctuality.
- Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
- Interact professionally with employees, clients, and suppliers.
- Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work effort with teams, other employees, clients, vendors, and other organizations.
The right skills….for your success!
Minimum Education, Knowledge, Experience, and Professional Certifications
- Associates degree in Accounting , Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, plus one year of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to work under pressure to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines
- Good knowledge of basic accounting principles
- Intermediate knowledge of Google Workspace and/or Microsoft Office Suite
- Experience with and the ability to learn accounting software programs
Preferred Education, Knowledge, Experience, and Professional Certifications
- Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field from an accredited college or university
- Prior accounting/billing experience in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC) industry
- Experience in project-based Deltek VantagePoint or Vision software
- Ability to communicate financial information clearly and collaboratively with non-financial project staff
Looking to build your career…talk to us!
Visit our Careers section on the website, or contact us via email at resumes@keckwood.com. Include your resume, area of interest, and preferred geographic location.
Keck & Wood, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in hiring based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, disability, veteran status, age, genetic information or any other classifications protected under federal, state or local law. We ensure nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact Human Resources, at 678-417-4000 or kwcorp@keckwood.com.
With our experienced engineers providing mentorship through a “Pathways to Success” mindset, being a Co-Op at Keck & Wood can be a rewarding professional growth experience with post-graduation career growth opportunities to continue your success.