Senior Project Accountant

Come join the finance team at the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), which supports the business shared services operations for a $170 million division. AURA’s Centers enable the next decade of astronomical discoveries through world-class facilities and science.

AURA is hiring for a Senior Project Accountant who will support strategic objectives and be responsible for all facets of project and contract financial management. This position is fully responsible for the project billing process, including responding to client inquiries and verifying employees’ chargeable time; in accordance with the established accounting standards and billing policy. The Senior Project Accountant is to assist the Project Managers with the financial management of projects, emphasizing project financial health. This includes project review, ensuring accurate contract documentation, contract monitoring and maintenance, including budget and funding entry and contract administration during various stages of a contract life cycle.

Essential Functions:

• Effectively communicate with Project Managers (PM) regarding contract documents, change orders and other contract modifications, approvals, and any additional services-related to billing.
• Record project budget and funding based on information included in the contract documents and provided by Project Managers.
• Ensure consistent billing and financial reporting at project levels by following best practices and in compliance with contract terms.
• Attend project review, kick-off and team meetings as necessary.
• Periodically monitor to ensure compliance with contractual requirements and AURA policies and procedures.
• Monitoring weekly and monthly project expenditures.
• Ensure timely release of sub-consultant invoices for payment.
• Perform research and provide necessary data analytics regarding project financial status, which includes funding/budget, staffing requirements and accounts receivable.
• Manage funding and budget updates as a result of work/scope changes and contract amendments.
• Request and assist PM in entering percent completes to monitor project progress.
• Verify final billing is complete, re-budget project (if necessary) and prepare project(s) for closeout.
• Perform various specialized accounting functions of moderate complexity and ensure that procedures and practices are followed in accordance with company policy, accounting principles and contractual obligations.
• Review monthly accruals and deferrals related to projects
• Train and mentor junior project accountants.
• Develop and implement continuous improvement of accounting policies, systems and procedures.
• All AURA employees are responsible for the proper management and control of all AURA property within their work area, whether assigned to them or someone else. This responsibility includes reporting any known missing, stolen, or non-working property in their work area to their supervisor or the AURA Property Officer.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with government award terms and conditions assigned to this position or subordinates of this position. 

Other Functions:

• Other duties as assigned

 Required Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business
• 5 years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3 years of experience in construction, A&E or government project accounting environment
• Detail-oriented, proactive and able to handle multiple tasks/projects/deadlines
• Demonstrated knowledge of the concepts, theories, principles, and practices of general and contract accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis in a government contract environment.
• Sound understanding of the development of overhead/indirect rates.
• Some familiarity of the OMB Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and/or Cost Accounting Standards (CAS).
• Must be an analytical, open-minded, client-oriented person, able to work effectively in a team or independently.
• Must be able to establish and maintain positive and respectful working relationships with colleagues and customers, both internally and externally.

• Must be a naturally curious, self-motivated professional with an acute attention to detail that excels working within deadlines.
• Must be able to establish and maintain positive and respectful working relationships with colleagues and customers, both internally and externally.

Preferred Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

•  Master’s Degree
• Recent and in-depth “hands on” working knowledge of Deltek’s Costpoint financial software
• Experience working in a multi-cultural environment, in an international organization and/or in a high technology industry sector will be an advantage

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop; kneel; crouch; or crawl.
• The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Must possess - sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands and both legs to a) reach upward, sideways, downward to work with paper files; b) sufficient mobility and dexterity to utilize computer systems, fax machines, copiers, and other office machines.
• Must possess – 1) ability to read and understand instructions, drawings, safety guides, and other written materials necessary to perform job; 2) sufficient visual capacity to perform the applicable functions without assistance of visual aids other than eye contacts or eye glasses; 3) sufficient spoken aural capacity to hear and understand instructions, warning bells, fire alarms, or shouted instructions without assistance of auditory aids other than a hearing aid; and 4) ability to impart information orally so that others understand and can respond appropriately
• Travel may be necessary in or outside the contiguous United States.

Disclaimer: The statements above describe the general nature and level of work required for this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. This organization provides reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.