Fred Smith Company is currently searching for an experienced Cost Accountant. We are a self-perform heavy civil contractor working in North Carolina. Pay will be commensurate with experience; all employees are eligible after 90 days for benefits such as health, dental and vision insurance and paid time off.

The Cost Accountant will perform duties to oversee and analyze revenue and costs associated with the Company s active construction projects. This position plays an integral role to the Company with understanding and strengthening of the financial position and cash flow through production analysis and actual to budget review. This position applies knowledge of GAAP accounting principles to ensure accurate and timely information is being relayed to upper management in support of the achievement of Company goals.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for understanding the progression of the assigned teams construction projects, ensuring costs are posting appropriately and timely, and analyzing job cost projections for accuracy.
• Assumes responsibility for working with project team members and maintaining complete and accurate records for multiple jobs - working with multiple project managers, engineers and accountants.
• Read/comprehend contents of the project contracts for all jobs assigned as it pertains to, but not limited to, structure of SOV, billing cycle, payment terms, and retainage release.
• Understand the customer billing/payment cycle and assist in coordinating and distributing payment applications and lien releases (waivers), per procedure.
• Communicate regularly with the Project Managers, Engineers and Accountants to understand the specific needs of each job and determine where assistance is needed. Assistance may be in tracking submittals and RFI s, making copies, reviewing and sending out meeting minutes, following up with subcontractors or material suppliers to ensure the proper documents are received; and other needs as required.
• Assist Project team in preparing subcontractor payments and prime contract billings to ensure subcontractor payments and client billings are timely.
• On receipt of vendor subcontracts and purchase orders, thoroughly review before entering/filing to insure all elements have been returned and signed in the appropriate locations and that if there are any modifications, that the Project Manager has initialed his acceptance. If modifications are not accepted by PM, continue the communication loop with the vendor until both parties have fully executed documents.
• Review and understand contract obligations with Subcontractors and Vendors for project specific Master Service Agreements, Purchase Orders, Change Orders, and Work Orders
• Prepare Certified Payrolls for self-performed work and/or subcontractors.
• Support the project team s documentation of the validation of DBE s commercially useful function requirements, DBE payment certifications, and FSC s good faith efforts to attain DBE goals during the Project Execution Phase (Post-award) to ensure compliance with Federal and State contract requirements.
• Monitoring accounts receivable and payable. Assist Project teams and Accounting in following up with subcontractor and material supplier compliance issues and with customer collections as needed.
• Support field operations and project teams with expense reporting.
• Responsible for weekly cost reporting – run reports for active jobs, analyze and identify missing/inaccuracies to Accounting Manager, Division Manager and Project Manager.
• Verify subcontract costs at month end- Identify subs onsite & compare to sub-payables provided by managers.
• Identify and review underbilled projects and communicate findings to Team and Accounting Manager.
• Responsible for ensuring billings are in JDE weekly for assigned Team s active jobs and report reason for unbilled jobs to accounting.
• Responsible for entry into Accounting System of all assigned Team s change orders as documented on the project s schedule of values or monthly review form

Required Skills:

To be considered for this position the individual must be self-directed, have a high level of attention and accuracy, an effective communicator, possess strong analytical skills and the ability to manage multiple activities at the same time. Must have knowledge and understanding of GAAP accounting principles as well as job costing knowledge and previous application. Must have flexibility and the ability to work in an environment where meeting deadlines are of paramount importance. Experience in the construction industry is preferred but not required.

Required Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of Cost accounting in a manufacturing or construction industry
• A Bachelor s Degree (Accounting background is preferred)
• A strong understanding of cost tracking and controls
• Working knowledge of construction equipment, materials, and terminology is preferred
• Able to read, understand and interpret contracts and legal documents
• Working knowledge of ERP Software and JD Edwards is preferred
• Excellent customer service and analytical, problem-solving skills
• Strong computer, communication, and excellent organizational skills
• Willingness to take on additional tasks
• Ability to work independently and prioritize multiple tasks under tight deadlines

Local applicants are preferred. Fred Smith Company is dedicated to the achievement of equality of opportunity for all its employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected group status under federal, state or local law. FSC is an E-Verify Participant.