Service Senior Accountant (WIP & Project Analysis)

Company Overview

Upchurch is a rapidly growing, full-service building engineering company providing mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical services across the southeastern United States. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Horn Lake, MS, Upchurch has grown through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, establishing a strong reputation for quality, reliability, and service excellence. We offer end-to-end solutions—from design and installation to ongoing maintenance and emergency support—helping clients maximize building performance, energy efficiency, and equipment lifespan.

Position Summary

The Service Senior Accountant - WIP & Project Analysis owns the month-end close process for Upchurch's Service department and is responsible for the accuracy of Work-in-Progress (WIP) reporting across the Service locations. The scope of this role is the Service department and its locations, not the full company. This role goes beyond the numbers to analyze project performance, forecast final margins, and give Service operations and leadership a clear picture of where each job stands. Working closely with the Service GL Staff Accountant, who ensures costs are coded to the correct entity, location, and division, this position takes that clean data and turns it into reliable WIP schedules, revenue recognition, and actionable project insight.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

• Own the Service department month-end close calendar and deliver timely, accurate month-end financial packages to the Controller.

• Produce monthly WIP schedules that tie to the general ledger, with accurate over / under billings and revenue recognition in accordance with GAAP (ASC 606).

• Identify margin fade, cost overruns, and underbillings early, while there is still time to act.

• Partner with project managers and operations leaders to review and challenge estimated costs to complete each month.

• Maintain audit-ready WIP, backlog, and job cost documentation and document WIP and close procedures.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Month-End Close

• Lead and coordinate the month-end close calendar for the Service department, ensuring deadlines are met at each Service location.

• Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, and adjustments, including revenue, cost, payroll, and subcontractor accruals.

• Perform and review balance sheet reconciliations, including accounts receivable, retainage, billings in excess / costs in excess, and accrued liabilities.

• Review inter-location activity within Service and work with the Service GL Staff Accountant to resolve coding issues before close.

• Deliver timely, accurate Service month-end financial packages to the Controller.

  WIP Accounting

• Prepare monthly WIP schedules for all open Service projects, including contract value, approved change orders, costs to date, estimated cost to complete, percent complete, and earned revenue.

• Calculate and record over / under billings and reconcile WIP to the general ledger each month.

• Apply revenue recognition on long-term and project-based contracts in accordance with GAAP (ASC 606).

• Track change orders, pending change orders, and unapproved work, and ensure they are properly reflected in contract values and forecasts.

• Monitor retainage, billing status, and backlog by project and Service location.

  Project Analysis

• Analyze job cost reports to evaluate actual vs. estimated costs, labor productivity, material usage, and subcontractor spend.

• Identify margin fade, cost overruns, and underbillings early, and communicate findings to project managers and leadership.

• Partner with project managers and operations leaders to review and challenge estimated costs to complete each month.

• Prepare project- and location-level profitability analysis for Service work, including HVAC, plumbing, and industrial service lines.

• Conduct post-completion job reviews to compare final results against original estimates and capture lessons learned.

Reporting, Controls & Audit

• Support preparation of Service department financial statements and management reporting by location.

• Prepare WIP and backlog reporting for leadership and external auditors.

• Develop and document WIP and close procedures, and recommend process improvements that improve accuracy and speed.

• Support internal and external audit requests related to WIP, revenue recognition, and job cost.

• Provide guidance and review support to the Service GL Staff Accountant as needed.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)

Performance is evaluated against KPIs and service-level targets set by management, which may include:

• Month-end closes are completed on schedule with minimal adjustments after close.

• WIP schedules tie to the general ledger and are trusted by leadership.

• Margin fade and project risks are identified early, while there is still time to act.

• Project managers rely on accounting as a partner in understanding job performance.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.

• 4+ years of accounting experience, including month-end close responsibility.

• Hands-on experience with WIP schedules, percent-complete revenue recognition, and over / under billing calculations.

• Strong understanding of job costing, GAAP, and revenue recognition principles.

• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, financial modeling) and experience with a construction or job-cost accounting system (e.g., Sage, Viewpoint / Vista, Foundation, NetSuite, or similar).

• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills, with the confidence to work directly with project managers and operations leaders.

  Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the HVAC, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, or industrial contracting industry.

• CPA or CPA candidate.

• Experience with multi-location reporting in a service or contracting environment.

  Core Skills

• Ownership of a multi-location close calendar and the deadlines at each Service location.

• Analytical rigor in job cost review - actual vs. estimated costs, labor productivity, material usage, and subcontractor spend.

• Confidence to work directly with project managers and operations leaders, including challenging estimated costs to complete.

• Early, clear communication of margin fade, cost overruns, and underbillings to project managers and leadership.

• Process orientation, including developing and documenting WIP and close procedures and recommending improvements.

• Accountability to KPIs and performance targets set by management.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Typically, working in a hybrid office environment on a full-time basis.

• May require additional hours during month-end close, audit periods, or peak cycles.

• Requires prolonged sitting, sustained computer use, data review, reporting, communication, confidentiality, and deadline-driven coordination.

• May require occasional travel to Service locations, meetings, or training sessions.

STANDARD OF PRESENTATION

• Must maintain a professional appearance and demeanor in accordance with company standards.

• All documentation, WIP schedules, job cost records, management reporting, and work areas must be organized, accurate, complete, and professionally maintained.

• Must demonstrate discretion, confidentiality, and sound judgment when handling financial records, project and contract information, job cost detail, and internal business information.

COMPANY COMMITMENT

• Uphold the company's commitment to excellence, customer service, financial integrity, professionalism, and accountability.

• Contribute to a team-oriented culture that values leadership, accuracy, communication, continuous improvement, and responsible stewardship of company cash flow.

Benefits:

• Competitive pay based on experience.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Paid time off and holiday pay.

• Opportunities for professional development and certification assistance.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Upchurch Companies provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.