Construction Accountant / Office Manager

Construction Accountant / Office Manager JACKSONVILLE, FL | FULL-TIME | ON-SITE LOCATION: Jacksonville, FL - Relocation assistance is not available for this position. EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-time, salaried exempt REPORTS TO: Director of Operations, Blanchard Caulking and Coating WORKS CLOSELY WITH: The Divisional Controller and CFO on accounting deliverables, deadlines, and reporting standards.   ABOUT THE ROLE Blanchard Caulking and Coating is a commercial waterproofing and exterior restoration contractor in Jacksonville, Florida, and part of the RL James Family of Companies. This is an accounting-first position with office management responsibilities, and it is the financial and operational backbone of the business unit. You will own the day-to-day accounting for Blanchard, including work-in-progress schedules, job costing, progress billing, accounts receivable and collections, accounts payable, reconciliations, and month-end close, and you will be accountable for the accuracy and timeliness of Blanchard’s financial information. You will also run the office, supporting the Director of Operations and the project management team with project documentation, vendor and customer compliance, insurance administration, and customer service. This role suits someone who is equally comfortable reconciling a bank statement and chasing down a certificate of insurance. You will be the person the project managers, vendors, and customers come to, and the person the corporate accounting team relies on to close the books on time. If you like variety, ownership, and seeing your work connect directly to projects in the field, this is a strong fit. This position is on-site. The close calendar and the project management team both depend on your availability through the business day. AREAS OF FOCUS - Month-End Close and Account Reconciliations - Work-in-Progress Schedules and Job Costing - Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable - Progress Billing, Pay Applications, and Retainage - Collections and Customer Account Management - Office Operations and Project Documentation - Vendor and Customer Compliance, Insurance Administration KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Accounting and Month-End Close - Own Blanchard’s month-end close responsibilities and deliver them in line with the established close checklist and deadlines. - Prepare and post recurring and adjusting journal entries and maintain accurate general ledger records. - Perform monthly bank, credit card, and balance sheet account reconciliations, researching and resolving reconciling items. - Prepare accruals and supporting schedules, coordinating with project managers on estimated costs when invoices are outstanding. - Provide status updates on outstanding close items, risks, and potential delays before deadlines are missed. Work-in-Progress and Job Costing - Prepare the monthly work-in-progress schedule for Blanchard projects. - Confirm contract amounts and approved change orders agree to executed documentation. - Calculate percent complete, earned revenue, overbillings, underbillings, and gross profit. - Review estimated costs at completion against actual costs incurred and investigate significant variances. - Coordinate with project managers to obtain updated cost projections, change orders, and project status. - Reconcile contract amounts, job costs, billings, and revenue to the general ledger. Accounts Payable - Review vendor and subcontractor invoices for proper coding, approvals, and supporting documentation. - Enter and process invoices accurately and timely so that payables remain current. - Research and resolve vendor inquiries, duplicate invoices, and payment discrepancies. - Reconcile vendor statements and maintain accurate vendor records. - Monitor outstanding approvals and follow up with project managers to prevent payment delays. - Support the weekly payment and check-run process. Accounts Receivable, Billing, and Collections - Prepare customer invoices, progress billings, and pay applications, including retainage tracking. - Verify billing agrees to contract terms, approved change orders, and project progress before issuance. - Record and apply customer payments accurately and timely, researching unapplied cash. - Monitor accounts receivable aging and actively follow up on outstanding balances. - Maintain current collection notes, including date of last contact and expected payment dates. - Research billing disputes, short payments, deductions, and other issues delaying payment. - Escalate significantly past-due balances and collection or lien risk to leadership. Office Operations and Administration - Oversee day-to-day office workflow and operations. - Answer phones, manage mail, and handle general office communication. - Provide direct administrative support to the Director of Operations. - Respond to client inquiries and resolve customer service issues. - Support the coordination of project manager priorities and track follow-ups so tasks are not dropped. Project Documentation and Compliance - Maintain project digital and physical filing systems. - Support project managers and estimating with permitting, document tracking, and submission from startup through final completion. - Coordinate specialized project documentation including notices to owner, lien waivers and releases, terminations of contract, bonds, and owner-direct purchase paperwork. - Manage vendor and customer onboarding with compliance documentation, including W-9s, certificates of insurance, and subcontracts. - Manage the general insurance portfolio for the business unit. - Compile documentation and complete close-out for annual General Liability and Workers Compensation insurance audits. - Support audits, tax preparation, and internal controls by providing documentation and schedules as requested. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR Required - Three or more years of hands-on accounting experience including AP, AR, general ledger, and account reconciliations. - Demonstrated ownership of a monthly close cycle, start to finish. - Construction, contracting, or project-based accounting experience. - Experience preparing work-in-progress schedules, percentage-of-completion accounting, and job costing. - Strong understanding of GAAP and core accounting principles. - Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, lookups, filtering, and reconciliation work. - Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through on open items until they are resolved. - Ability to manage competing priorities across accounting and office operations and meet recurring deadlines. - Clear, professional written and verbal communication with vendors, customers, field personnel, and corporate leadership. - Comfortable working on-site full time in Jacksonville, FL. Preferred - Associate or bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience. - Familiarity with progress billing, pay applications, retainage, lien waivers, and notices to owner. - Experience with construction accounting or ERP software such as Sage Intacct, Foundation, Viewpoint, or QuickBooks. - Experience with Procore or similar project management platforms. - Prior office management experience in a small to mid-sized operating company. WHAT SUCESS LOOKS LIKE - Month-end close deliverables are complete and submitted within the published close calendar. - Accounts payable and receivable are current, with clean, organized supporting documentation. - Collection activity is documented and current, with no aged balances going unaddressed. - Project managers, vendors, and customers get timely, professional responses. - Issues, obstacles, and potential delays are raised early rather than discovered at a deadline. WHY JOIN US - Real ownership. This is the accounting and operations seat for the business unit, not a narrow slice of a large department. - Blanchard is part of a multi-company construction and restoration platform with room to advance. - You will work directly with a Divisional Controller and CFO who are invested in getting the process right. - Visible impact. Your work connects directly to projects in the field and to the financial health of the company. - Competitive compensation and benefits, including health coverage, retirement plan, and paid time off. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value a diverse and inclusive workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local law, including Florida law. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants with disabilities throughout the application and interview process. Please contact Human Resources to request an accommodation.