Senior Project Accountant

Job Title: Project Accountant

Job Description

The Project Accountant plays a key role in establishing and leading the project accounting function within a global manufacturing organization. This contract position covers a leave and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of project-related accounting and reporting, partnering closely with business stakeholders and project management to support successful project delivery. The role focuses on understanding business and project changes, assessing their financial impact, analyzing and reporting on project cost variances, and developing project accounting policies, procedures, and best practices across the organization, while also supervising and mentoring project accountants.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end accounting and reporting process for internal and external government projects, including ongoing refinement of project reporting and project-related KPIs.
• Review project details to ensure appropriate accounting treatment in accordance with ASPE and applicable standards.
• Review project details to ensure compliance with project agreements and contractual obligations where applicable.
• Prepare, submit, and complete claims and other required reporting for government-sponsored projects in a timely and accurate manner.
• Serve as a key finance partner to the Project Management team, responding to queries regarding project costs, payment status, and budget variances.
• Design, set up, and maintain project-related master data in the ERP system to align with business needs, accounting procedures, and local regulations from project initiation through project closeout.
• Act as the primary contact for all project-based external reporting, including reporting related to government-sponsored projects.
• Provide periodic reporting and clear communication to project managers, project coordinators, executives, and other business stakeholders on the financial performance of projects.
• Manage and maintain project-related documentation and requirements, including contracts, modifications, holdbacks, approvals, letters of credit, and other supporting records.
• Ensure project-related invoicing is processed accurately and on schedule, supporting appropriate revenue recognition and cash flow.
• Identify, investigate, and report on project variances and budget status to management and project stakeholders, and recommend actions to improve project spending efficiency.
• Monitor and review all project transactions, costs, and related administrative activities for accuracy, completeness, and cost effectiveness.
• Assist in reviewing and recommending modifications to accounting systems and procedures as they relate to project accounting functions.
• Lead the technical accounting aspects of projects, including opex versus capex classification, grant accounting, and related technical matters.
• Supervise, train, and coach project accountant(s), fostering strong performance and adherence to best practices.
• Collaborate with the broader corporate accounting and reporting teams on month-end close, reconciliations, and consolidated financial reporting as needed.
• Perform other duties as required by the business to support project accounting and corporate finance objectives.

Essential Skills

• Professional accounting designation (CPA), with Canadian CPA strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in project accounting within a manufacturing or similarly complex industrial environment.
• Proven experience working in multi-entity, intercompany, and multi-currency environments.
• manufacturing industry or experience with a Big 4 public accounting firm.
• Strong technical knowledge of ASPE and IFRS and their application to project accounting.
• Hands-on experience with large ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle Fusion, Dynamics 365, or Workday.
• Solid understanding of full-cycle accounting, including general ledger management, journal entries, reconciliations, month-end close, and balance sheet integrity.
• Experience preparing consolidated financial statements and performing consolidation analysis.
• Strong financial reporting skills, including preparation and analysis of financial statements.
• Ability to interpret and apply accounting standards to complex project arrangements, including fixed assets and grant-related accounting.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively and provide clear financial insights to non-finance stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, mentor, and support other accounting professionals.
• Comfort working in a dynamic, evolving environment with changing processes and priorities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• SAP experience is an asset, particularly in project and consolidation modules.
• A mix of Big 4 public practice and industry experience is considered advantageous.
• Experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries is an asset.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships across cross-functional teams.
• Coachable, bright, logical, and a fast learner who can quickly understand new systems and processes.
• Self-directed, proactive, and comfortable working in an environment undergoing transition and change.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining high accuracy and attention to detail.
• Interest in working within a science-driven, mission-led organization focused on supporting life-science research.

Work Environment

This role is based on-site five days per week in an office located on Production Way, working within the Corporate Accounting team. The environment is part of a large, private, BC-owned biotech organization with over 1,000 employees, characterized by a highly educated, science-driven culture and an active social atmosphere. The team structure includes a group of three professionals on the consolidation side and three on the reporting side handling day-to-day accounting, with this role collaborating closely across these functions. The organization operates in a multi-entity, multi-currency environment and uses large ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle Fusion, Dynamics 365, or Workday. Start times are to be determined, and the culture emphasizes mission-led work supporting life-science research in many countries, reinvesting profits into people and science

This is a Contract position based out of Burnaby, BC.

The pay range for this position is $43.27 - $50.49/hr.

This is a fully onsite position in Burnaby,BC.

Aston Carter fournit des solutions de talent de classe mondiale à des milliers de clients à travers le monde. Spécialisés dans la comptabilité, la finance, les ressources humaines, l'acquisition de talents, les achats, la chaine d'approvisionnement, et certaines professions administratives, nous étendons les capacités des entreprises à la pointe de l'industrie. Nous nous appuyons sur notre profonde expertise en matière de recrutement et sur notre vaste réseau pour répondre aux besoins évolutifs de nos clients et de notre communauté de talents avec agilité et excellence. Avec des bureaux aux États-Unis, au Canada, en Asie et en Europe, Aston Carter est au service d'un grand nombre d'entreprises du classement Fortune 500. Nous sommes fiers d'avoir remporté la désignation « Prix Platine » dans le cadre des prix Best of Staffing® Client et Talent décernés par ClearlyRated.

Aston Carter est un employeur souscrivant au principe de l'égalité des chances et accepte toutes les candidatures sans tenir compte de la race, du sexe, de l'âge, de la couleur, de la religion, des origines nationales, du statut d'ancien combattant, d'un handicap, de l'orientation sexuelle, de l'identité sexuelle, des renseignements génétiques ou de toute autre caractéristique protégée par la loi.

Si vous souhaitez faire une demande d'accommodement raisonnable, tel que la modification ou l'ajustement du processus de demande d'emploi ou d'entrevue à cause d'un handicap, veuillez envoyer un courriel à [email protected] pour connaître d'autres options d'accommodement.

Ordonnance sur l'égalité des chances de San Francisco: Conformément à l'Ordonnance sur l'égalité des chances de San Francisco, pour tous les postes situés dans la ville et le comté de San Francisco, nous examinerons les candidatures des personnes qualifiées ayant un casier judiciaire ou des antécédents criminels.

Utilisation de l'intelligence artificielle (IA): Nous pouvons utiliser l'intelligence artificielle (IA) pour soutenir certaines étapes de notre processus d'embauche, notamment la recherche, la présélection et l'évaluation des candidatures. L'IA aide à analyser les candidatures et les qualifications, mais les décisions finales sont prises par notre équipe de recrutement. En soumettant votre candidature, vous reconnaissez et acceptez que celle-ci puisse être examinée à l'aide d'outils d'IA.

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.