Project Accounting Lead

At Stantec, we have some of the world’s leading professionals passionate about enabling our business to be its best. Our business teams include finance, procurement, human resources, information technology, marketing, corporate development, HSSE, real estate, legal, and practice services. We bring diverse backgrounds, skills, and expertise and create a caring culture where everyone can thrive. Through teamwork and collaboration, we’re building a stronger, more resilient Stantec every day. **Your Opportunity** Take the first step towards designing your career. We have an exciting opportunity for you as a Project Accounting Lead (PAL). Reporting to the Regional Project Accounting Manager (RPAM), the PAL provides leadership to a 5-10 person Project Accounting team. The PAL is responsible for overall team oversight, mentorship, controls and policy compliance, and quality customer service. **Your Key Responsibilities** - Accountable for the effective management and leadership of a team of Project Accountants (PA), working with RPAMs and other PALs to ensure consistency between regions and business lines. - Financial management of a portfolio of active, complex projects through the project life cycle partnering with Project Managers (PM) to ensure accurate project setup, maintenance, invoicing, and project closure. (25-50% of time) - Evaluate project setup and budget change documentation, including client contract and information provided by the PM or PMA to ensure compliance with contractual requirements, internal Stantec controls and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This includes review of contracts/agreements for proper fiscal authority, invoicing requirements, variable revenue, or unusual contract terms. - Act as a subject matter expert in review of large contracts and complex contract terms. - Drive excellent customer service and promote a customer-centric focus within the team to provide a quality of work that consistently meets or exceeds expectations. - Set team members’ relevant goals, provide support to achieve those goals, and evaluate performance based on company prescribed processes. - Manage resources and team workloads through effective evaluation and planning, keeping RPAMs updated on any issues/concerns. - Recruit and select new talent. - Manage initial training for new PAs with continued ongoing training and support as needed. - Provide training for all team members on any new or changing processes, controls, policies. - Implement and maintain a communication platform to ensure team stays fully informed. - Maintain regular contact with direct reports individually and through team meetings to ensure engagement and to boost team morale. - Responsible for ensuring their team’s timely and thorough WIP aging comments utilized by finance and operations management. - Build strong relationships with and serve as a trusted advisor to our internal business partners including Business Center Operating Leaders (BCOL), Project Independent Reviewers (PIR), PMs, Project Manager Assistants (PMA), Finance Managers (FM), Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable to ensure collaborative teamwork. - Partner with RPAMs and FMs in supporting BCOLs and PIRs on revenue recognition and other project matters. - Collaborate with FMs in the project revenue adjustments (PRA) process in compliance with Stantec’s revenue recognition policy as well as other ad hoc analytical duties as assigned. - Identify process improvement opportunities and escalate to PA leadership. Lead and train the team in implementation of any new management initiatives. - Ensure team’s compliance with the Project Accounting and Revenue (PAR) controls through the prescribed monitoring and review processes, escalating any concerns to the RPAM or NPAM. - Achieve utilization goals related to the project accounting team in Pune, India. - Serve as the point of contact for PA Leadership and FMs in the preparation of internal and external audit support packages…