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 commercial leadership

No Recruiters, please!

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled