Lead Accountant, Real Estate Development
Overview
You will own project accounting and financial controls for WGU's large-scale construction program, including the new headquarters campus. This senior individual contributor role manages construction draw accounting, cost verification, reconciliations, and audit readiness. You will partner with Development, Project Controls, Finance, Procurement, Treasury, and Legal, plus contractors and architects, to protect the integrity of project financials. The role demands deep U.S. GAAP knowledge, Excel expertise, and experience with construction payment documentation like AIA G702/G703. With a budget range of $100,000-$150,000 and on-site work in Salt Lake City, this position offers relocation assistance and the chance to shape a landmark project.
What You'll Do8
- 1Design and operate project accounting procedures, including project and cost-code setup, contract records, and change-order controls, then lead process improvements.
- 2Review contractor pay applications against approved schedules of values, validating work completion, retainage, prior payments, and cost coding.
- 3Confirm lien waivers, certifications, and payment conditions are complete; investigate exceptions and recommend draw packages under WGU's delegated authority.
- 4Record and reconcile project costs, commitments, accruals, and funding activity, ensuring accurate month-end and year-end close.
- 5Maintain construction-in-progress records and support capitalization and placed-in-service determinations per U.S. GAAP and WGU policy.
- 6Reconcile accounting actuals to project-controls records and finance forecasts; flag variances and data-quality issues.
- 7Support debt draws, incentive documentation, covenant reporting, and audits with complete, audit-ready records.
- 8Coordinate external accounting and draw-review resources to ensure compliance and accuracy.
Requirements7
- 1CPA or MAcc, or equivalent relevant experience under WGU policy.
- 28+ years of progressive accounting, construction accounting, or project accounting experience, including 3+ years supporting construction draws or complex capital projects.
- 3Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP, construction-in-progress and fixed-asset accounting, month-end close, and internal controls.
- 4Working knowledge of construction contracts, schedules of values, change orders, retainage, and lien waivers.
- 5Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP or project accounting systems like Workday, Procore, or e-Builder.
- 6Preferred: owner-side accounting for large commercial or institutional development, and knowledge of AIA G702/G703 payment documents.
- 7Preferred: experience with Workday or comparable ERP and Procore or comparable project platform.
Salary Insight
$100 - $150k per year
Location
Required Skills
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