Senior Construction Accountant
Career GuideKey Responsibilities
- Set up and maintain project cost structures and job cost tracking
- Track project costs, committed costs, and cost-to-complete updates
- Prepare and review progress billing and customer invoices
- Manage retention tracking and release schedules
- Support revenue recognition based on contract progress and accounting policy
- Reconcile project accounts and resolve billing and cost issues
- Review and approve vendor invoices and subcontractor payments
- Manage change order financial impact and documentation support
- Prepare monthly project financial reports for operations leaders
- Support month-end close, journal entries, and account reconciliations
- Assist with audits, tax support, and internal controls improvement
- Mentor junior accounting staff and improve team processes
Top Skills for Success
Job Cost Accounting
Revenue Recognition
Progress Billing
Cost Forecasting
General Ledger Accounting
Account Reconciliation
Accounts Payable
Accounts Receivable
Contract Review
Change Order Accounting
Cash Flow Management
Internal Controls
Audit Readiness
Excel
ERP Systems
Stakeholder Communication
Career Progression
Can Lead To
Accounting Manager
Construction Accounting Manager
Project Controls Manager
Controller
Assistant Controller
Finance Manager
Transition Opportunities
Cost Manager
Contracts Manager
Financial Analyst
Internal Auditor
Operations Finance Partner
Common Skill Gaps
Often Missing Skills
Revenue RecognitionCost ForecastingContract ReviewChange Order AccountingInternal ControlsERP Systems
Development SuggestionsAsk to own a full project from setup through closeout, including forecasting and billing. Partner with a project manager to learn contract terms and change order workflows. Build a standard monthly close checklist and a simple forecasting template in Excel. Volunteer for audit preparation tasks to strengthen controls and documentation habits.
Salary & Demand
Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUSD 65,000 to 85,000
Mid LevelUSD 85,000 to 110,000
Senior LevelUSD 110,000 to 140,000
Growth Trend
Stable demand, with strong hiring in commercial construction, infrastructure work, and specialty trades. Demand rises in regions with active building and public works projects.Companies Hiring
Major Employers
Large general contractorsRegional general contractorsSpecialty trade contractorsEngineering and construction firmsReal estate developersProperty and facilities companiesInfrastructure contractorsGovernment contractors
Industry Sectors
Commercial constructionResidential constructionIndustrial constructionInfrastructure and transportationEnergy and utilitiesHealthcare and education constructionTelecommunications construction
Recommended Next Steps
1
Update your resume with measurable outcomes such as billing cycle time, reduction in aged receivables, and close speed improvements2
Create a portfolio of sanitized work samples such as a cost-to-complete tracker and a month-end reconciliation checklist3
Strengthen construction accounting expertise with focused training in revenue recognition and job cost reporting4
Learn one construction ERP system deeply and document process improvements you implemented5
Build relationships with project managers and estimators to improve forecasting accuracy and issue resolution6
Target employers with complex projects where senior-level ownership and process leadership are valued