Project Accountant

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 commerc…