Cost Accountant

Role Overview

The Cost Accountant is a vital player ensuring the financial success of our commercial electrical construction projects. Working remotely, this individual collaborates closely with Project Management to oversee job costs, monitor budgets, conduct variance analysis, and provide precise financial reporting throughout the duration of projects.

Key Duties

• Partner with Project Managers to prepare and update detailed project budgets and financial forecasts.
• Monitor all job-related expenses, including labor, materials, equipment, and subcontractor costs.
• Track project change orders with proper documentation and ensure budget adjustments reflect in the accounting system.
• Keep detailed records of purchases, vendor contracts, and committed expenditures for ongoing projects.
• Generate monthly job cost and variance reports for management evaluations.
• Participate in monthly meetings with Project Management to assess performance, identify variances, and suggest corrective measures.
• Assist in assembling Work-in-Progress (WIP) schedules and contribute to monthly financial statement preparations.
• Review project billing and revenue recognition processes for compliance with policies and contracts.
• Reconcile project costs with general ledger data to ensure accuracy across financial systems.
• Maintain consistent data entry standards and perform regular reconciliation to preserve project cost data integrity.
• Investigate and rectify discrepancies between project cost tracking and ledger records.
• Provide audit support through thorough cost documentation, reconciliations, and systematic project record organization.
• Continuously improve cost tracking methods, accounting processes, and internal controls.
• Ensure cost accounting practices align with contract requirements and accounting standards.
• Communicate financial insights effectively to non-financial colleagues and project leaders.
• Alert accounting and project leadership to any financial risks, budget overruns, or anomalies proactively.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in cost accounting, ideally within construction or electrical contracting sectors.
• Strong knowledge of construction job cost accounting, WIP schedules, and revenue recognition on a percentage-of-completion basis.
• Experience with construction-specific accounting software such as CMIC, Viewpoint Vista, Sage 300 CRE (Timberline), or similar platforms.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for complex financial modeling and analysis.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organizational talent, and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non-accountants.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently in a remote setup while maintaining strong coordination across teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with electrical contracting, commercial construction or specialty trades accounting.
• CPA or CMA certification is advantageous though not mandatory.
• Proven ability to manage job cost reporting for multiple projects simultaneously.
• Familiarity with supporting monthly financial closes and WIP schedules in a construction context.

Tools & Technology

• Construction Accounting Systems: CMIC, Viewpoint Vista, Sage 300 CRE, or equivalent.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills for financial analysis and reporting.
• General Ledger and ERP software relevant to construction accounting.
• Remote collaboration tools for effective coordination with Project Management and accounting teams.

Additional Information

• This is a full-time, fully remote position.
• Compensation up to $9 per hour.

Ideal Candidate Attributes

• Deep understanding of financial flow in construction projects and proactive in identifying cost issues early.
• High accuracy and organization in preparing WIP schedules and job cost reports, requiring minimal revision.
• Trusted by Project Managers for clear, actionable financial communication.
• Comfortable remotely overseeing project finances while remaining closely engaged with the field team.
• Disciplined approach to cost tracking that ensures data quality vital for sound business decisions.