ARA’s Project Setup - Accounts Receivable Team is committed to:

• Providing superior customer service and support
• Meeting deadlines with high levels of accuracy
• Building and maintaining relationships with our customers through communication, education, and collaboration

What you’ll do as a Project Setup Specialist:

• Provide excellent customer service
• Manage requests for contract and project support using a web-based help desk
• Maintain all aspects for new Direct project setup and existing project maintenance in Costpoint for projects of various types including Cost Plus, Time and Material, Fixed Price, and Inter-Company Work Orders including:
  • Initial Project setup at award of contract or with authorization to proceed
  • Process contract modifications to change funded values, change period of performance or other actions as applicable based on the contract document
  • Create new charge codes, project labor categories (PLC), PLC rate additions and maintenance
  • Set up employee workforce and maintenance
  • Collaborate with internal customers to recommend proper project setup to ensure accurate revenue recognition, billing, and cost reporting requirements are met
  • Ensure Financial Accounting Policies and Processes are met while processing requests
  • Maintain contract files
• Read and interpret government and commercial contract terms
• Provide documentation to support ad hoc audit requests
• Investigate and help resolve bi-weekly timesheet error discrepancies
• Provide support, troubleshoot and resolve problems in Costpoint Projects and Time Collection
• Actively participate in department meetings, support special projects, and training
• Support document requests and provide reports
• Other duties as required

Project Setup Specialist Requirements

• High school degree plus 5 or more years’ related experience in accounting, finance, or contracts administration
• Professional, reliable, willing to learn and a team player
• Self-directed with focus and initiative
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Detail-oriented and good organizational skills
• Must be able to multi-task and meet deadlines
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Applications (Excel, Word, Outlook)

Project Setup Specialist Preferences

• Prior experience with Project Setup and/or Billing modules
• Deltek Costpoint experience
• Basic knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)

REMOTE WORK NOTICE: This position is available for fully remote or hybrid work consideration at or near the Albuquerque, NM area.

Applied Research Associates, Inc. Company Information

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2, 200 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. We realize that employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Our motto is “Engineering and Science That Matters for Fun & Profit” and we live our core values of Passion, Freedom, Service and Growth every day. For additional information and an opportunity to join our unique team, please visit our website at www.ara.com.

Experience

• 5 year(s): Related Project Setup, Government contract or Accounting experience

Behaviors

• Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
• Leader: Inspires teammates to follow them
• Functional Expert: Considered a thought leader on a subject
• Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
• Dedicated: Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity

Motivations

• Work-Life Balance: Inspired to perform well by having ample time to pursue work and interests outside of work
• Self-Starter: Inspired to perform without outside help
• Goal Completion: Inspired to perform well by the completion of tasks
• Flexibility: Inspired to perform well when granted the ability to set your own schedule and goals
• Ability to Make an Impact: Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.