Project Accountant

RWC is proven industry leader with more than 45 years of experience. Our reputation is built on honesty, integrity and delivering consistent results. We say what we mean, and we do what we say.

As we continue to build strong, long-term relationships with our clients, contractors, suppliers, and employees, we strengthen our impact withing the community and help drive success for those around us. Our growth remains focused on developing and deepening our profile and presence, grow relationships, and expand our capacity in a safe work environment.

About the Role:

The Project Accountant provides financial ownership and support at the project level and serves as the primary connection between Operations and Finance. This role ensures project financial information is accurate, timely and complete and supports project billing, job-cost monitoring, change orders, commitments, WIP, holdbacks and project closeout.

Working closely with Project Managers, Operations team and Finance leadership, you will be responsible for validating and reporting financial information. Project Managers and Operations own the operational forecasts; the Project Accountant validates, analyzes and challenges the financial information.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Setup & Administration

• Set up new projects in the accounting system.
• Maintain project financial records.
• Ensure contract information is accurately captured.
• Maintain project documentation.

Job Costs & Project Financial Information

• Monitor job costs against contracts and approved budgets.
• Identify missing, unusual or incorrectly coded costs.
• Track committed costs and outstanding obligations.
• Investigate project accounting discrepancies.
• Provide project financial information to the Controller and CFO.

Billing & Change Orders

• Support project billing.
• Monitor billing requirements and supporting documentation.
• Track approved, pending and disputed change orders.
• Ensure approved changes are incorporated into billing and project records.
• Identify unbilled project amounts.

WIP Support

• Prepare and maintain project information supporting WIP.
• Provide project cost and billing information to the Controller.
• Investigate project variances and unusual movements.
• Support project profitability analysis.

Holdback / Retainage Management

• Maintain project-level holdback/retainage schedules.
• Track contractual and statutory requirements applicable to each project.
• Track certificate dates and applicable release deadlines.
• Track lien/claim deadlines.
• Track required statutory declarations, WCB clearances, lien documentation and other release requirements.
• Proactively follow up with customers/GCs regarding outstanding holdbacks.
• Reconcile holdback balances.
• Monitor expected release dates and actual receipts.
• Escalate overdue, disputed or high-risk holdbacks.
• Coordinate final holdback release and project closeout.

Project Closeout

• Monitor outstanding project requirements.
• Ensure final billing is completed.
• Track outstanding holdbacks and receivables.
• Coordinate required closeout documentation.
• Confirm project financial records are complete.

Decision-Making Authority

• Manage project financial administration within established policies.
• Request missing project documentation.
• Follow up with customers/GCs regarding billing and holdbacks.
• Escalate project financial risks and disputes.
• Recommend corrections to project financial information.
• Accounting treatment and material accounting decisions remain with the Controller. Material financial risks and cash-flow implications are escalated to the CFO / Finance Director.

Qualifications and Experience

Required Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or related field.
• 3+ years of relevant accounting/project accounting experience preferred.
• Strong Excel and accounting-system skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work with both Finance and Operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Construction/subcontracting experience.
• Experience with project accounting.
• Experience with WIP.
• Experience with progress billing, holdbacks/retainage and change orders.
• Familiarity with construction contracts and project closeout requirements.

Why Join RWC?

• Competitive salary with strong long-term growth potential.
• Professional development opportunities with paid tuition.
• Collaborative, innovative, fast-paced team environment.
• Comprehensive company-paid benefits (extended health, dental & vision).
• Easy Fridays to support balance and productivity.
• Frequent team events and office perks.
• Opportunity to work on high-profile and complex construction projects.