Job Description:

Description

Summary

The Construction Accountant is responsible for ensuring that the costs of all construction and capital spending projects are recorded, tracked accurately and timely, and reported to Project Managers andSeniorManagement. This position requires considerable knowledge of accounting principles and job cost accounting functions as it is responsible for general ledger, job cost, and related accounts payable transactions.

Plans, coordinates, and executes accounting procedures and processes for cap ex, value add, acquisition capital projects, and insurance. Maintains accurate accounting records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Analyzes complex data and manages reporting.

Expectations

Requires minimal supervision and is self-directed. May be provided with parameters, but not explicit instructions. Able to comprehend complex accounting concepts and situations. Requires high attention to detail, organizational ability, and analytical skills. Makes suggestions to improve processes and implements. Able to set, prioritize, and meet deadlines for self as well as others.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Manage the "job cost" accounting process frombeginningto end. This includes, but is not limited to, setting up jobs in job cost system, inputting and updating budget, overseeing accounts payable processing, and job close-out.


• Develop, implement, and maintain construction management system, including setting up projects (jobs), budgets, job costs, cost codes, contracts, change orders, purchase orders, and various construction progress reports.


• Responsible for the processing, reviewing, tracking, and general ledger posting of Projects, including value add, acquisition capital, and cap ex projects.


• Processes job cost accounts payable from purchase order, beginning with coding invoices to the appropriate job number, cost code, GL account number and distributing invoices for approval.


• Monitor open construction payables to ensure timely payment, in conjunction with receipt of draw funds, if applicable.


• Assists Asset Management with analysis of returns on value-add projects to determine if underwriting criteria are being achieved.


• Analyze and review construction status with Project Managers. Direct and participate in cost analysis.


• Communicate routinely with Project Managers on a variety of job-related topics including costs to date, remaining budget, and project completion.


• Develops underwriting models and calculates IRR and ROI.


• Develops and owns internal and external value add, acquisition capital, and cap ex reporting.


• Assists in driving the monthly accounting close to ensure that assets and liabilities are properly recorded in accordance with GAAP.


• Analyzes, understands, and challenges budget assumptions.


• Tracks, analyzes, and reports on actual vs budgeted Project spend and rent premiums.


• Responsible for the processing, reviewing, tracking, and general ledger posting of insurance jobs which includes analyzing and ensuring the expenses are recorded properly.


• Responsible for tracking subcontractor lien waivers, if necessary.


• Assists Risk Management with the insurance claim process.


• Works with management and the Sr. Technical Accountant on emerging issues.


• Recommends efficiency enhancements and improvements to accounting processes, procedures, and policies.

*Assist with projects as assigned.

Competencies

To perform this job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Technical Skills

Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information, can organize and process diverse financial and accounting information, collects and researches data, uses intuition and experience to complement data, designs work flows and procedures.

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully, develops alternative solutions, works well in group problem solving situations, uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Communication

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, gives full attention to what others are saying without interrupting, take time to understand what is being said, and effectively expresses ideas and opinions. Is able to effectively communicate reporting results in a clear and understandable manner.

Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively, edits work for spelling and grammar, varies writing style to meet different audiences, presents numerical data effectively, able to read and interpret written information.

Customer Service Orientation - When dealing with internal or external customers - Manages difficult or emotional situations, responds promptly to customer needs or requests, solicits customer feedback to improve service, follow through on requests for service and assistance, and meets commitments.

Teamwork & Collaboration - Balances team and individual responsibilities, exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views, gives and welcomes feedback, contributes to building a positive team spirit, puts success of team above own interests, supports everyone's efforts to succeed, includes when appropriate and works effectively with all other departments to accomplish company goals.

Organizational Support

Respect & Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy, shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences, educates others on the value of diversity, promotes a harassment-free environment, embraces differences, and utilizes those differences to the company's benefit, builds a diverse workforce.

Ethics & Integrity - Treats people with respect, keeps commitments, inspires the trust of others, works with honesty, integrity and ethically, upholds organizational values, maintains confidentiality.

Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner, reacts well under pressure, treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position, keeps emotions under control, focuses on resolving conflict not blaming, maintains confidentiality, accepts responsibility for own actions, follows through on commitments. Represents a professional image of Centerspace in conduct and adherence to dress code requirements.

Project Management - Develops project plans, coordinates projects, communicates changes and progress, completes projects on time and budget, manages project team activities and effectively manages multiple projects simultaneously.

Organizational Support - Completes tasks accurately, thoroughly, and timely, supports organization's goals and values, looks for ways to improve and promote quality outcomes.

Personal Responsibility

Responsibility - Know and adhere to all federal, state, and/or local laws as well as company policies and procedures contained in the manuals, handbooks and training provided by Centerspace or as otherwise communicated (verbally or in writing) to employees.

Resourcefulness - Understands how to get results, where to find answers to problems, consults a variety of resources to accomplish results, able to multi-task.

Motivation & Enthusiasm - Sets and achieves challenging goals, demonstrates persistence, and overcomes obstacles, measures self against standard of excellence, positively contribute to overall work environment.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment. Manages competing demands, changes approach or method to best fit the situation, able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Initiative - Volunteers readily, undertakes self-development activities, seeks increased responsibilities, asks for and offers help when needed.

Dependability - Responds to management direction, takes responsibility for own actions, commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals, completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Judgment - Exercise's discretion and independent judgment, correctly interprets and follows company policies, informs appropriate people of decisions, makes timely decisions, takes independent action and calculated risks, looks for and takes advantage of opportunities.

Self-Directedness - Ability to work independently, to discern what needs to be accomplished and take initiative to make it happen, able to self-direct activities to produce highest results.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience - Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) in Accounting, Finance, or similar, and 3-5 years relevant construction accounting experience required. Construction-related business exposure preferred. Intermediate skills in Microsoft Excel and experience with ERP accounting applications preferred.

Physical Demands - While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with arms; and talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment - The noise level in the work environment is usually very quiet.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Language Skills - Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, construction & development terminology, and governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills - Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent, and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability - Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills - To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of accounting software, preferably MRI and/or Great Plains and Yardi. Ability to navigate report writing tools is required. Must be highly proficient with spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel. Employee will be expected to design professional spreadsheets, evaluate the validity of data, and design/use formulas, pivot tables, tables, charts, and other advanced functions.