Project Accounting Associate

San Diego, CA, United States

Our Business

We are a global leader in environmental consulting - made stronger with the recent acquisition of Wood's Environment & Infrastructure business and Golder - with world-class expertise in environmental, social and governance (ESG), climate resiliency & sustainability (CRS), and earth sciences. Combined we have over 20,000 multidisciplinary professionals worldwide collaborating daily to protect and conserve natural landscapes, create firm foundations for communities to stand on, and champion sustainable development to combat climate change.

As part of the team, you will have access to an unparalleled network of resources and endless opportunities to collaborate on exciting projects with diverse teammates from across the globe.

This Opportunity

WSP is initiating a search for a Project Accounting Associate to join our San Diego, CA team. This position has the ability to sit anywhere nationwide with a hybrid work model. This person will provide professional accounting and financial specialist support to a project team, reviewing and evaluating project charges for accuracy, completing cost transfers, establishing and updating funding as needed, instituting and maintaining project budgets, and ensuring that all project data is current. Generate accurate and concise documentation regarding infrastructure/transportation/professional services projects within Oracle, providing pre-billing information for project manager review, and are accountable for independently reviewing, providing QA/QC on invoices including recommendations to PM and ensuring compliance with the contract. Ensure that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards, supporting the delivery of future-ready solutions to clients.

Your Impact

Works independently to manage and analyze the collection, recording, and allocation of project costs and revenue; ensuring accurate project profit and loss calculations, budget vs. actual cost, and developing and providing project financial performance and profitability to project/program management.

Responsible for lifecycle project accounting from creating project accounts in Oracle, to tracking projects and project budget, validating invoicing, project close-out, and reconciling overall project payables and receivables to project budgets.

Perform detailed and involved accounting tasks related to managing project contract revenue, billing events, and billing transaction exceptions.

Partner with the Project Manager and project team to establish the project budget, updating budgets as needed when contract modifications or budget changes arise.

Generate project financial reports, evaluating the reports for any items that need to be escalated for review by the Project Manager as necessary.

Authorize access to project accounts, and the transfer of expenses into and out of project-related accounts in compliance with established accounting practices and guidelines.

Maintain quality control standards and procedures for generating accurate and precise project-related financial records using Oracle, spreadsheets, and software.

For assigned projects, apply learned accounting expertise relating to project resources, labor and expenses, investigating project variances and submitting variance reports to management.

Verify contract and change order characteristics, including reading and interpreting contract language, method of compensation, modifications, purchase orders, and subcontract/consultant terms.

Responsible for ensuring draft invoices from billing are accurate based on the contract requirements agreed upon with the client, identifying any corrections needed, obtaining Project Manager documentation and signature, and finalizing the invoice approval with the Project Manager/billing team and submits the invoice to the client.

Subcontract management and coordination with Contract Administrators. This includes evaluating subconsultant invoice submittals for accuracy, establish and maintain purchase orders for subconsultants, and request and follow up on subcontractor payment requests with Accounts Payable.

Identify and record unpaid contract billings, following up on any delinquent accounts receivable and/or unbilled costs.

Respond to requests for more detail from clients, investigate all project expenses not billed to clients, and review and approve all project-related billings to clients.

Attend project-related meetings to inform the team regarding the current status of project financials, articulating problem projects and following up on any identified actions as discussed.

Create and submit government reports related to projects.

Compile information for review by a more Senior Consultant prior to submitting for internal and external auditors as required.

Remain current in latest project accounting principles and subject matter.

Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP's Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.

Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business, or closely-related discipline (or demonstrated proven equivalent experience).

1 to 3 years of relevant post education experience in accounting, project contracts and change order documents.

Knowledge of project accounting principles, practices, and methods and their application to project work-related issues.

Developing an analytical mindset with an ability to exercise sound independent judgement in evaluating situations and making decisions with financial implications to the company.

Capable interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an accounting and non-accounting audience.

Capable self-leadership with attention to detail, accuracy, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.

Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as part of a team to meet business objectives.

Proficient with technical writing, office automation and accounting software, technology, math principles, spreadsheets, MS Excel, pivot tables, formulas, data format/sort/filter, predictive models, and tools.

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply learned subject matter and technical knowledge to reach conclusions from data collation, documentation, statistical analysis, and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solution.

Awareness of and adherence to WSP USA's Project Delivery Handbook.

Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP's health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.

This is a professional role and as such work deadlines and work hours may extend beyond a typical workday.

Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

Familiarity with Oracle preferred (but not required).

WSP Benefits:

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee's career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation:

Expected Salary: $60,000- $95,000

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant's sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

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