The Corporate Accounting Department is seeking a passionate and driven Staff Accountant/Project Setup Specialist who is committed to excellence and continuous improvement. Our Setup Team supports the dedicated employees and leaders who have contributed to our company’s success. We are an employee-owned company with a mission to solve problems of global importance. This mid-level position involves interpreting contractual documents and government regulations to ensure accurate project setup and compliance, interfacing with auditors and special project support.

What you’ll do as a Staff Accountant/Project Setup Specialist

• Take ownership of contracts across multiple divisions to ensure compliant project setup, updates, and maintenance, entering contractual information into the Costpoint Project Setup module
• Create and update projects and modifications in Costpoint within established deadlines, including setup of revenue and billing formulas
• Assist with complex project setup and accounting issues related to contractual terms and project management requests, collaborating with subject matter experts as needed
• Read and interpret government and commercial contract terms
• Utilize a web-based help desk system to manage requests for contract and project support
• Troubleshoot revenue and billing issues in coordination with internal stakeholders
• Communicate project and timesheet error discrepancies and work to resolve associate project setup issues as needed
• Review new projects and modifications as part of the team’s quality assurance process
• Participate in audit support, special projects, reporting, and training initiatives
• Perform other duties as assigned

Staff Accountant/Project Setup Specialist Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field
  with 2 – 4 years of experience OR equivalent government or commercial contract experience, accounting experience (minimum 8 years)
• Professional, reliable, and proactive with a willingness to learn and teach
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational abilities
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and work under strict deadlines
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Staff Accountant/Project Setup Specialist Preferences

• Experience with Costpoint, including project setup
• Public accounting audit experience
• Experience with government and/or commercial contracts
• Basic knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)

Company & Division Information

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) 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.

Experience

• 2 - 4 years: Government or commercial contract experience, accounting experience, Deltek Costpoint software experience.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts or better in Accounting or related field

Behaviors

• Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
• Leader: Inspires teammates to follow them
• Enthusiastic: Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest
• 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
• Growth Opportunities: Inspired to perform well by the chance to take on more responsibility
• 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
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