Senior Project Accountant​/Accounting Manager - Construction; WIP Analysis

Base pay range

$/yr - $/yr

Ready to build processes that drive profitability in a growing construction company? This is your opportunity to step into a high-impact financial leadership role where your expertise directly shapes project success.

Pave Talent is hiring on behalf of our client, an established mid-size general contractor based in San Diego County. With nearly 40 years of experience, this family-owned company values collaborative problem-solving, hands‑on leadership, and team members who thrive in building sustainable processes. Known for their safety‑first approach and commitment to continuous improvement, they’re positioned for strategic growth.

As Senior Project Accountant/Accounting Manager, you’ll serve as the financial backbone of the construction operations team. This dual role combines hands‑on project accounting expertise with team leadership responsibilities. You’ll partner directly with project executives, project managers, estimators, and superintendents to transform how financial data drives field decisions. Your work will directly improve budget accuracy, strengthen cost‑to‑complete forecasting, and create systems that translate complex project data into actionable insights for the operations team.

• Conduct thorough cost analysis and budget‑to‑actual performance reviews that directly impact project profitability and help operations leaders make real‑time decisions in the field.
• Lead the complete owner billing cycle from preparation through collection, managing subcontractor compliance and requisition processes to ensure positive cash flow across all active projects.
• Take primary leadership responsibility for project accounting team members, building a high‑performing team culture where collaboration and continuous improvement are the standard.
• Partner with the Corporate Controller to develop and refine project accounting best practices, standardizing processes across the organization while remaining flexible enough to adapt to unique project requirements.
• Own project setup, labor rate maintenance, and financial data accuracy—the trusted advisor to project teams who rely on your numbers to guide their daily decisions.
• Drive the month‑end close process, including over/under billing analysis, cost accrual reporting, and financial performance presentations that tell the complete story of project health.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with estimating to understand revenue generation and cost implications during the bidding phase, then own backlog forecasting to keep leadership informed.
• Oversee project closeout processes, working with team members to ensure timely closure and collection of retention.
• Champion process improvements and change initiatives by building buy‑in across teams that’ve operated certain ways for years. Your ability to advocate for better systems while respecting institutional knowledge will be critical.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field (or CCIFP certification) with 5+ years of cost accounting experience, preferably in construction or a related project‑based industry.
• Proven experience managing WIP analysis, job costing, and project‑level financial reporting in a fast‑paced environment where accuracy and timeliness matter.
• Demonstrated leadership and coaching experience—you’ve successfully managed team members, provided mentorship, and built accountability within your sphere of influence.
• Advanced Excel proficiency including pivot tables, macros, and complex financial modeling capabilities.
• Solid understanding of accrual basis accounting with the ability to independently identify, analyze, and resolve complex financial issues.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate financial data into business language for non‑financial stakeholders and collaborate effectively across all organizational levels.

• Construction accounting software experience, particularly Vista by Viewpoint and HCSS—candidates with these tools will hit the ground running.
• Experience working in a small to mid‑size company environment where you’ve touched multiple facets of accounting…