Senior Project Accountant

Location: Chicago,Illinois,United States

About SQN

◼ sine qua non: (noun) something considered absolutely essential.

SQN Associates is a woman- and minority-owned company providing Construction Management, Program & Project Management, and Project Controls services to public and private clients in markets that include Aviation, Buildings & Facilities, Rail, Transit, Transportation, and Utilities.

Our mission is to be “absolutely essential” to the success of our clients, partners, employees, and community. Central to this mission is our commitment to a culture of excellence rooted in fostering reliable support and mutual respect for those we work with.

Our definition of success involves more than just hard numbers. We strive to stay true to our core values with every decision that we make, at every level. Our culture of excellence inspires us to hold ourselves to the highest standards in everything that we do, whether it’s conducting ourselves with accountability and transparency in our work, continually cultivating the capabilities of our team, or seeking ways to empower those around us in pursuit of a more diverse, equitable, and sustainable future. When it comes down to it, SQN believes in putting people first.

Our greatest asset is the SQN Team – our dedicated and talented employees. By making it our business to take care of them both professionally and personally, we make it possible for them to take care of business. Thanks to the enthusiasm of the SQN Team, SQN Associates has been named as one of Crain’s Chicago Business Best Places to Work for multiple years running.

Overview

This position supports firm leadership in managing the financial performance of projects, including billing functions, financial reporting and operational analysis. The role works closely with project managers and internal stakeholders to help ensure projects are financially well managed and aligned with firm objectives. This is a hybrid position, with the expectation that initially the individual in the role will spend more time in the office to support training, integrate into the role, collaborate with the team, and become familiar with the company culture.

Position Type

Full-time salaried (exempt) employee 

Organizational Position 

Job Title: Senior Project Accountant

Reports to: Controller

Responsible for: N/A

Duties/Responsibilities

The Senior Project Accountant leads invoicing and financial analysis activities related to the firm’s projects. Specific responsibilities include:

• Analyze project contracts, cost sheets, and billing provisions to interpret invoicing requirements and confirm alignment with contractual terms, client guidelines and firm policies.
• Prepare, generate and submit timely client invoices and supporting billing packages, applying client-specific requirements and contract terms.
• Interpret and apply contract billing provisions and advise project managers on allowable billings strategies and contract requirements.
• Set up new clients, projects, contracts, subcontracts, and change orders in the accounting system.
• Oversee project billing structure and financial setup, including establishing invoicing parameters, cost allocations, and billing guidelines within the accounting system.
• Maintain and periodically review project financial documentation and records, including contracts, amendments and change orders.
• Review and approve project-related financial transactions, including vendor, subconsultant, and client invoices, verifying proper coding, accuracy and alignment with project budgets and contract terms.
• Manage project cost allocations and expense transfers between project accounts to main