Job Description
Title: Project Accountant - Civil Engineering
Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid Schedule)
Shift: 1st Shift
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Salary: $60k-85k+ per year
Shift: 1st Shift
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Salary: $60k-85k+ per year
Comprehensive Benefits Package
Sterling Engineering is hiring a Project Accountant for a growing civil engineering consulting firm that offers schedule flexibility, professional development, and a collaborative environment. This is an excellent opportunity for an accounting professional with AEC industry experience who enjoys partnering with Project Managers, owning the billing process, and playing a key role in the financial success of complex engineering projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare monthly project invoices, pre-bills, and billing packages using QuickBooks and BQE CORE
- Review billable labor, direct expenses, subconsultant costs, and project charges for accuracy
- Partner with Project Managers to review project budgets, burn rates, and contract performance
- Process billing adjustments related to scope changes, contract modifications, and unbillable time
- Ensure invoices comply with client contracts, billing requirements, and public agency guidelines
- Manage multiple billing structures, including Time & Materials (T&M), Lump Sum/Fixed Fee, and Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contracts
- Submit invoices through client, municipal, and state e-billing portals while resolving any submission issues
- Monitor accounts receivable aging and support collection efforts alongside Project Managers
- Track weekly employee timesheets and assist with payroll processing
- Maintain accurate project financial records while supporting revenue recognition and month-end reporting
Qualifications
- Must have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field, or equivalent industry experience
- Must have 3+ years of Project Accounting experience within the Architecture, Engineering, or Construction (AEC) industry
- Strong understanding of project-based accounting and contract billing
- Experience with Time & Materials, Lump Sum, and Cost-Plus contract structures
- Hands-on experience with QuickBooks and BQE CORE or similar AEC project accounting software (Ajera, Deltek, etc.)
Why You'll Love This Opportunity
- Flexible hybrid schedule offering an excellent work-life balance
- Join a growing engineering firm making a lasting impact on infrastructure projects throughout the region
- Highly collaborative environment where accounting works closely with project leadership
- Opportunity to become the financial expert supporting high-profile engineering projects
- Stable organization with long-term career advancement opportunities
- Diverse responsibilities that combine accounting, project management support, contract administration, and financial analysis
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package designed to support your personal and professional growth
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Numbers & Facts
| Location | Chicago, IL |
| Industry | Staffing/Employment Agencies |
| Salary | $60,000–$85,000 Per Year |
| Company Size | 500 to 999 employees |
| Year Founded | 1969 |
| Website | http://www.sterling-engineering.com |
About Company
Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:
- Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.
- Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.
Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.
Skills
- Accountingunmatched
- Accounting Softwareunmatched
- Accounts Receivableunmatched
- Administrative Skillsunmatched
- Billingunmatched
- Budgetingunmatched
- Civil Engineeringunmatched
- Compensation and Benefitsunmatched
- Construction Engineeringunmatched
- Contract Managementunmatched
- Contract Requirementsunmatched
- Deltek Accounting Softwareunmatched
- Engineeringunmatched
- Financeunmatched
- Financial Analysisunmatched
- Financial Projectionsunmatched
- Intuit Quickbooksunmatched
- Leadershipunmatched
- Payroll Administrationunmatched
- Problem Solving Skillsunmatched
- Project/Program Managementunmatched
- Revenue Recognitionunmatched
- Revenue/Sales Reportingunmatched
- Team Playerunmatched
Level up your application
Professional resume templates
Browse dozens of recruiter approved resume templates, layouts and formats. Choose your favorite and make it your own in minutes.
Free resume templatesFree resume builder
Improve your existing resume or start from scratch and create a standout, ATS-friendly resume. Add job-specific content, download and apply.
Free resume builder