Project Accounting Manager

JOB POSTING TITLE

Project Accounting Manager

SALARY RANGE:

$90,000-110,000

LOCATION

90% Remote; 10% In Office; Required to live in Eligible candidates must reside in AL, TN, MI, OH, IN, FL, WV, NC, PA, TX; preferably within 1 hour of Knoxville, TN

DESCRIPTION

IACMI - The Composites Institute managed by Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation is a national leader and collaborative partner for advanced composites design, manufacturing, technical innovation, and workforce solutions. We bring together a 180+ member community of industry, academia, national laboratories, and government agencies to grow the production capacity of composites, strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and elevate workforce training and job creation across the U.S. composite industry.

The Project Accounting Manager oversees IACMI’s project accounting, billing operations, and revenue processes, combining hands-on execution with ownership of financial accuracy and compliance across multiple contract types. This role leads monthly project accounting close activities, ensuring billings, revenue recognition, reconciliations, and related reporting are completed accurately, compliantly, and on schedule through direct involvement, detailed review, and close collaboration with the accounting team. The Project Accounting Manager partners closely with Finance, Accounting, Project Management, leadership, and clients to establish appropriate project structures and timelines, interpret contract terms and revenue recognition requirements, monitor project financial performance, and resolve complex or non-standard accounting, billing, and revenue issues as they arise.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee project accounting and billing activities for DOE and other government-sponsored awards, including cost-reimbursable, time-and-materials, fixed-fee, and milestone-based arrangements, ensuring compliance with federal financial assistance regulations, applicable contract requirements, approved budgets, and contract terms.
• Oversee project accounting and billing activities for commercial and privately funded projects in accordance with contract requirements.
• Review and approve project accounting transactions, billings, and supporting schedules prepared by members of the accounting team.
• Prepare, review, and approve revenue calculations, journal entries, reconciliations, and supporting schedules for all revenue types, including WIP, cost-plus, fixed price, and deferred revenue, ensuring alignment with GAAP, award conditions, and internal accounting policies.
• Review and approve project setup and modifications in Costpoint, including indirect rate application, revenue recognition configurations, client and billing setup, and alignment with executed agreements, funding authorizations, and IACMI policies.
• Set up new project codes in Costpoint, deactivate closed project codes, and monitor project status to determine when project codes should be closed.
• Lead project accounting month-end and close activities, including prebill review, billing adjustments, cost reconciliation, project analysis, monthly reporting, and timely preparation and submission of accurate, fully supported invoices in accordance with federal requirements.
• Serve as a key project accounting subject matter expert, partnering with Accounting, Finance, Project Management, leadership, and external stakeholders to interpret contract terms, resolve complex accounting and billing issues, monitor project financial performance, keep stakeholders informed, and address client inquiries.
• Supervise the project accounting team consisting of two to three accountants; mentor and develop the team by setting priorities, workload expectations, and performance standards, while providing guidance on federal and contract-specific accounting requirements, cost allowability, documentation standards, and internal controls.
• Lead the continued scaling and professionalization of the project accounting function to support organizational growth, increased contract complexity, and evolving regulatory requirements.
• Design and implement initiatives to strengthen project accounting accuracy, rate governance, revenue workflows, documentation, and internal controls to support audit readiness for federal and annual financial audits and other external examinations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Minimum of 5 years of project accounting, billing, or related accounting experience, ideally with government contracts.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Excel.
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively on a team in a remote environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of FAR, CFR, GAAP, and indirect rates.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license for traveling to the IACMI office for staff meetings.
• Experience with Deltek Costpoint is highly desirable.
• Willingness and ability to complete an exercise to show the candidate’s ability to follow instructions and perform basic functions in Excel.
• Ability to learn and understand complex general ledger coding and project account structures.

BENEFITS

• Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous paid time off and flexible work arrangements
• Professional development opportunities
• Collaborative and supportive work environment fostering growth and innovation

About IACMI:

The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, or IACMI - The Composites Institute, is focused on improving everyday lives through the power of composites and advanced manufacturing. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, IACMI is a 180-plus member community of industry, academic institutions, and government organizations to enhance competitiveness in U.S. manufacturing with a focus on meeting the needs of the private industry sector. Established in 2015 by the Department of Energy, IACMI is one of 18 Manufacturing USA Institutes working to secure U.S. global leadership in advanced manufacturing by connecting people, ideas, and technology. IACMI’s is also a leader in workforce development, education, and training experiences. We lead the America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) and Metallurgical Engineering and Trades Apprenticeship and Learning (METAL) programs focused on developing a U.S. workforce with machine tools, composite materials manufacturing, and other industrial skills for critical suppliers.