Project Accountant (Up To 38.50/hr)

Project Accountant

Engineering and Automation Firm

Job Description

The Project Accountant supports the full financial lifecycle of client projects, from proposal through closeout, ensuring accurate billing, revenue recognition, and financial reporting. This role partners closely with project managers to set up projects in the accounting system, manage project billings, monitor costs and work-in-progress, and oversee accounts receivable and collections. The position offers exposure to complex, technically advanced projects across multiple industries and provides significant opportunities for professional growth in an employee-owner culture.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with project managers on all accounting aspects of projects from initial proposal through final closeout.

• Validate that project proposals, purchase orders, and internal project setup documents are complete, accurate, and aligned with contract terms.

• Set up and maintain client projects within the project accounting system to ensure accurate billing, revenue recognition, and financial reporting.

• Interpret and apply different types of billing arrangements, including cost-plus, cost-plus-to-a-maximum, and lump-sum contracts, and ensure invoices reflect the appropriate structure and level of detail.

• Prepare, review, and submit client invoices accurately and on time, ensuring compliance with contractual and client-specific requirements.

• Review and approve project-related vendor purchase orders and invoices, confirming proper coding and alignment with project budgets and contracts.

• Conduct frequent project financial reviews, including validating estimated cost-to-complete calculations, monitoring month-end over/under work-in-progress (WIP), and analyzing project variances.

• Understand and process multi-company project postings for revenue and expenses, ensuring proper allocation and intercompany accounting.

• Manage project accounts receivable and collections, including monitoring aging, following up on outstanding balances, and resolving billing or payment issues.

• Research and resolve cash receipt discrepancies to ensure accurate application of payments to client accounts and projects.

• Apply knowledge of U.S. sales tax laws as they relate to professional services and project materials, ensuring correct tax treatment on billings.

• Close out projects upon completion, confirming all billable work has been invoiced and all commitments, purchase orders, and open items are resolved.

• Prepare and maintain lien waivers and other project-related financial documentation as needed to support billing and collections.

• Support continuous improvement of project accounting processes and contribute to a culture of financial accuracy and accountability.

Essential Skills

• 2+ years of project accounting experience, preferably supporting multiple concurrent projects.

• 4+ years of overall accounting experience in a professional or industrial environment.

• 2+ years of construction billing experience, including AIA billing, time and materials billing, and work-in-progress (WIP) billing.

• Hands-on experience with project accounting systems and tools used for project setup, billing, and reporting.

• Proficiency in preparing, reviewing, and submitting client invoices with a high degree of accuracy.

• Ability to interpret and apply different billing structures such as cost-plus, cost-plus-to-a-maximum, and lump-sum contracts.

• Experience reviewing and approving project-related vendor purchase orders and invoices.

• Strong understanding of project financial concepts, including estimated cost-to-complete, WIP, and variance analysis.

• Knowledge of multi-company project postings and intercompany revenue and expense allocations.

• Experience managing project accounts receivable, collections, and resolving cash receipt discrepancies.

• Working knowledge of U.S. sales tax laws as they apply to professional services and project materials.

• Demonstrated ability to close out projects, ensuring all billings are complete and commitments are resolved.

• Experience with lien waivers and related documentation in a project or construction environment.

• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and organizational skills.

• Effective communication skills for collaborating with project managers, clients, and internal teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field is preferred.

• 5+ years of construction project accounting experience is preferred.

• Experience working with engineering, construction, or industrial projects is beneficial.

• Comfort working in a consulting environment with exposure to multiple clients and project types.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Hopkins, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $36.00 - $38.50/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Hopkins, MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 18, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Hopkins,MN.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] (%[email protected]) for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.