Cost Accountant jobs in Los Angeles, CA

Essential Functions:

• Analyze and track project costs, including expenses, labor, materials, and overhead costs.
• Prepare budgets for projects and forecast future costs. Ensures that projects stay on budget and identifies potential cost overruns.
• Develop and analyze cost standards.
• Carry out cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis, including for small businesses.
• Establish costs of business processes such as administration, labor, shipping, etc.
• Perform account reconciliations.
• Prepare audit reports and present findings to management.
• Recommend changes to the company’s processes and policies to reduce cost and maximize profit.
• Create financial reports and statements specific to each project, summarizing financial performance and providing insights to project managers and stakeholders.
• Compare actual project costs to the budget and identify any variances. Investigates the reasons behind cost discrepancies and takes corrective actions.
• Verify contract and change order characteristics for [projects that are medium-sized and/or of a moderate-level of complexity, including reading and interpreting contract language, method of compensation, modifications.
• Effectively communicate with Project Managers and support staff regarding contract documents, change orders and other contract modifications.
• Report on project profitability to management.
• Ensure the financial integrity of project reporting through analysis of weekly and monthly job cost reports.
• Request insurance certificates from subcontractors.
• Manage the company’s balance sheet and accounting books.
• Prepare invoices for clients based on project costs and ensure that billing is accurate and complies with contractual agreements.

 Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Accounting, Business or Economics.
• Two to four years of in-depth knowledge and understanding of project-based cost accounting.
• Strong project management and organizational skills and a deep knowledge of cost accounting and analysis is required.
• Must be proficient with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and any other accounting software that enhances the company’s goals.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Job Knowledge:  Understands facets of job, aware of duties and responsibilities, keeps job knowledge current.

• Problem Solving:   Strives to understand contributing factors, works to resolve complex situations.
• Interpersonal Skills:  Builds strong relationships, is flexible/adaptable, works well with others, solicits feedback, maintains confidentiality.
• Communication:  Communicates well (both written and verbal), delivers presentations, has good listening skills, edits work for spelling and grammar, presents numerical data effectively, and can read and interpret written information.
• Teamwork:  Accountable to team, works to meet established deliverables, appreciates view of team members, respectful
• Dependability:  Meets deadlines, works independently, accountable, maintains focus, punctual and maintains good attendance record.
• Safety and security:  Promote and personally observe safety and security procedures and uses equipment and materials properly.

• Multiple medical plans to choose from 
• 50% employer-paid medical, dental & vision plans and 100% life & AD&D insurance coverage for employees. Effective on the first of the month following the date of hire. 
• Employer-matched 401(k) plan 
• 24/7 access to coaches & mental health benefits 
• Monthly commuter stipend of $115.00 
• Monthly technology stipend of $25
• Bereavement leave 
• 10 days of paid time off per year with unlimited accrual  
• 6 days of paid sick time per year 
• 11 paid company-wide holidays 
• Hybrid work environment (option to work remotely on Fridays) 
• Volunteering and learning & development opportunities. 
• Fully stocked kitchen (occasionally lunches and happy hours too) 
• Team building events and activities throughout the year.