Job Cost Accountant

Description

The Job Cost Accountant is responsible for maintaining accurate job cost records, monitoring project financial performance, and supporting Work-in-Progress (WIP) reporting for F.W. Walton, Inc. This role plays a critical control function within a multi-branch construction environment by ensuring costs, revenues, and margins are correctly captured and reported in accordance with company policy and GAAP. The position works closely with Project Managers, Operations, and Accounting Leadership to promote disciplined project execution and financial responsibility. 

Requirements

• Review, post, and reconcile job cost transactions including labor, materials, equipment, subcontracts, and other direct costs.
• Validate job setup accuracy (job numbers, cost codes, budgets, tax treatment) prior to cost coding.
• Monitor job cost detail for anomalies, miscoding, timing issues, and unsupported charges.
• Coordinate corrections with Project Managers and Accounting staff to maintain job cost integrity.

• Load and maintain approved budgets and budget revisions in the accounting system.
• Compare actual costs to budget and identify cost overruns, underruns, and margin erosion trends.
• Prepare and distribute job cost and margin reports to Operations and Accounting leadership.
• Support budge lock and change-order governance controls. 

• Assist in preparation and review of monthly WIP schedules, including percent complete, earned revenue, over/under billings, and projected margins.
• Collaborate with Project Managers to validate cost-to-complete estimates and forecasted margins.
• Support GAAP-complaint revenue recognition and documentation requirements.
• Investigate and explain WIP variances month over month.

• Coordinate with Billing and Accounts Receivable to ensure alignment between costs, billings, and contract values.
• Review unapproved change orders to assess potential financial exposure.
• Support timely job closeout by confirming all costs, billings, and adjustments are complete.

• Support month-end close by ensuring job cost and WIP data is complete, accurate, and supported.
• Prepare job-level financial schedules and reconciliations for management and auditors. 
• Maintain audit-ready documentation for job costs, WIP assumptions, and budget changes. 
• Comply with internal controls, segregation of duties, and accounting policies. 

• Act as a financial partner to Project Managers by promoting cost awareness and financial discipline.
• Identify opportunities to improve job cost controls, reporting and system utilization. 
• Assist with system enhancements, process documentation, and training related to job cost accounting. 
• Perform additional accounting duties as assigned to support department objectives.

• Strong analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret construction contracts, budgets, and cost structures.
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to explain financial information to non-financial personnel.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills in deadline-driven environment. 
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; strong working knowledge of ERP systems. 
• Experience with construction accounting software preferred (Sage 300)

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance preferred.
• 3-6 years of construction accounting or job cost accounting experience preferred.
• Experience supporting WIP reporting and revenue recognition is strongly preferred. 

• Typical work schedule is Monday-Friday 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with flexibility as needed.
• Fast- Paced, deadline driven construction environment