U.S. Water Services Corporation is a well-established and diverse water and wastewater utility organization specializing in utility maintenance, operations, engineering and construction services. U.S. Water is a fast paced and rapidly expanding company headquartered in New Port Richey, Florida with a staff of over 700 employees in eighteen states.

Location: New Port Richey and Bradenton, FL | Multiple Locations | Travel Required Employment Type: Full-Time Department: Finance & Accounting

Position Summary

The Senior Staff Accountant is responsible for overseeing the accuracy, integrity, and proper execution of day-to-day accounting activities, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, inventory, job costing, work in progress (WIP), and month-end close.

This is a hands-on position that combines strong technical accounting expertise with operational oversight, problem-solving, and team development. While the company has dedicated personnel responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable, and inventory management, the Senior Staff Accountant will provide oversight of these functions to ensure transactions are processed correctly, accounting records are accurate, and appropriate procedures and internal controls are followed. This includes reviewing the accounting treatment of transactions, identifying discrepancies or process deficiencies, resolving issues, and ensuring that operational activities are properly reflected in the general ledger and financial reporting.

The successful candidate must be able to work effectively with individuals across different roles, experience levels, and personalities, including team members who do not have an accounting background. A key responsibility will be identifying accounting errors or process gaps, determining the appropriate corrective action, and working directly with the individuals responsible for the underlying transactions to explain, demonstrate, and train them on the proper procedures going forward. The candidate must be willing and able to address issues directly, provide practical guidance, and personally correct accounting problems when necessary, while building the team's ability to perform these functions accurately and independently over time.

This position requires a proactive, collaborative approach and regular travel between company offices to maintain consistent, face-to-face interaction with the accounting and operational teams on a weekly basis. These visits will be used to answer questions, review transactions and processes, reinforce proper procedures, identify emerging issues, and ensure accounting policies and controls are consistently followed across locations.

In addition, the Senior Staff Accountant will play an important role in maintaining internal controls, supporting operational management, improving accounting processes, and assisting with the transition from QuickBooks Desktop to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. The ideal candidate is a technically strong accountant who can look beyond the numbers, identify the root cause of problems, communicate effectively with non-accounting personnel, and take ownership of ensuring that accounting functions are performed correctly from the point of transaction through final financial reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities

General Accounting and Financial Reporting

• Independently manage daily accounting activities, ensuring transactions are accurately recorded and properly supported.
• Prepare and reconcile general ledger accounts, including journal entries, accruals, prepaid expenses, and other month-end adjustments.
• Perform monthly account reconciliations, investigate discrepancies, and prepare correcting entries as necessary.
• Support the monthly financial close process, ensuring deadlines are met and financial information is complete and accurate.
• Analyze financial results, identify unusual transactions or variances, and communicate findings and recommended corrective actions.
• Maintain organized accounting records and supporting documentation for management reporting and audit purposes.

Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable

• Independently manage and perform the full accounts payable process, including vendor setup, invoice processing, purchase order matching, payment scheduling, and AP aging review.
• Investigate discrepancies between purchase orders, inventory receipts, vendor invoices, and payments.
• Identify duplicate invoices, missing documentation, outstanding liabilities, and other potential accounting issues.
• Manage and perform accounts receivable activities, including customer account maintenance, invoicing, payment applications, customer credit memos, and AR aging.
• Research customer account discrepancies, unapplied payments, outstanding balances, and billing adjustments.
• Monitor overdue accounts and coordinate collection activities, including lien-related documentation when applicable.
• Maintain appropriate supporting documentation and internal controls over vendor and customer transactions.

Job Cost Accounting, WIP, and Revenue Recognition

• Maintain and reconcile job cost accounting records, ensuring labor, materials, subcontractors, and other expenses are accurately assigned to projects.
• Prepare monthly WIP schedules and analyze project costs, revenue recognition, overbillings, and underbillings.
• Review project costs and billing activity to identify missing accruals, unrecorded revenue, or unusual transactions.
• Work with operational managers to review project performance, cost variances, margins, and financial results.

Inventory and Operational Accounting

• Maintain accurate inventory accounting records and reconcile inventory balances to the general ledger.
• Review inventory receipts, vendor invoices, purchase orders, and inventory adjustments to ensure transactions are properly recorded.
• Independently investigate inventory discrepancies, duplicate receipts, missing invoices, and differences between physical and recorded inventory.
• Coordinate with operational personnel to resolve inventory and job-costing issues.
• Maintain and monitor business tax receipts, business licenses, and other required operational registrations, including renewal deadlines and supporting documentation.
• Prepare and reconcile payroll-related accounting files and supporting schedules.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting procedures, documentation, and operational
• efficiency.

Internal Controls and Compliance

• Follow and maintain appropriate internal controls over financial transactions, accounting records, and company assets.
• Protect confidential company, employee, customer, vendor, and banking information.
• Comply with company IT security policies, including password management, workstation security, and authorized system access.
• Identify potential control weaknesses, unusual transactions, and financial risks, and promptly communicate concerns to management.
• Maintain accurate documentation and appropriate approval records for financial transactions.
• Ensure accounting activities comply with company policies, GAAP, and applicable regulatory requirements.

Accounting Systems and Process Improvement

• Demonstrate strong hands-on proficiency with QuickBooks Desktop, including customer and vendor transactions, credit memos, memorized transactions, journal entries, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Assist with the transition from QuickBooks Desktop to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, including chart-of-accounts mapping, customer and vendor data cleanup, inventory preparation, system testing, and transaction validation.
• Develop, maintain, and follow standard operating procedures for accounting functions.
• Identify opportunities to streamline accounting processes, improve accuracy, and reduce manual work.
• Collaborate with accounting, operations, and IT personnel to support system improvements and process changes.

Key Competencies

• Strong accounting knowledge and ability to apply GAAP to routine and complex transactions.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage assigned responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to investigate discrepancies and determine appropriate corrective actions.
• Demonstrated technical proficiency with accounting systems, Excel, and standard business software.
• Ability to follow written instructions, established procedures, and company security requirements.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and organization.
• Ability to prioritize competing responsibilities and meet established deadlines.
• Good judgment when handling confidential financial information and sensitive transactions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to research unfamiliar processes, learn new systems, and continuously improve existing procedures.
• Ability to work collaboratively with operational managers and accounting personnel while maintaining ownership of assigned responsibilities.

Computer and Software Requirements

• QuickBooks Desktop – Required; strong hands-on proficiency.
• Microsoft Excel – Required; advanced skills including pivot tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, formulas, and data validation.
• Microsoft Word, Outlook, and standard Windows applications – Required.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central – Preferred.
• Adobe Acrobat Pro – Preferred.
• Experience with inventory management, job costing, and ERP accounting systems – Preferred.

Experience and Education Desired

• Minimum five years of progressive accounting experience, including substantial hands-on responsibility for general ledger accounting, account reconciliations, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and month-end close.
• Minimum three years of experience in job cost or project-based accounting preferred.
• Experience in construction, engineering, manufacturing, utilities, or a related industry preferred.
• Demonstrated experience preparing WIP schedules, recognizing revenue, analyzing project costs, and investigating accounting discrepancies.
• Strong working knowledge of GAAP and internal accounting controls.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required, equivalent relevant experience will be considered.

Work Location and Travel Requirements

• Ability to work onsite at the Bradenton office approximately two days per week and the New Port Richey office(s) approximately three days per week.
• Regular travel between locations is required based on business needs.
• A monthly vehicle allowance will be provided in accordance with company policy.

Position Expectations

This position requires an experienced accounting professional who can independently manage assigned accounting responsibilities, apply sound judgment, and resolve routine accounting issues without requiring step-by-step supervision.

Training will be provided on company-specific policies, procedures, and systems. However, candidates are expected to bring an established foundation of accounting knowledge, demonstrated technical proficiency, and the ability to research and resolve accounting issues independently.

The successful candidate will be proactive, dependable, organized, and comfortable taking ownership of accounting processes in a busy operational environment.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance and short/long-term disability coverage
• Paid time off and holiday pay
• 401(k) with company match
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement
• Supportive and collaborative team environment

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and make employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

Compensation and Benefits: Pay is commensurate with experience and market-reflective. US Water/USW Utility Group offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short/long-term disability, paid time off, holiday pay and 401(k) with company match.

US Water/USW Utility Group offers competitive wages and benefits and is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.