Senior Cost Accountant - Government Contracting (Accounts Payable, Job Costing)

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Oversee full-cycle Accounts Payable (AP) processing, including coding, approvals, and disbursements in accordance with FAR-compliant accounting practices.
• Manage job cost coding and allocation to appropriate cost objectives, ensuring accuracy of direct and indirect charges and allowability determinations per FAR 31 and contractual terms.
• Perform subcontractor invoice reviews and reconciliations, ensuring alignment with contract terms, funding, and cost allowability.
• Process and audit employee travel expense reports, verifying compliance with company policy and JFTR/FTR regulations.
• Maintain and apply accurate per diem rates based on GSA schedules and contract-specific requirements.
• Calculate and record sales and use tax accruals for applicable purchases and ensure proper tax reporting and remittance.
• Maintain fixed assets and depreciation schedules per asset class, prepare and book adjusting entries as required.
• Collaborate with project managers, procurement, and contracts teams to validate costs and ensure timely invoice approvals and accruals.

Job requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field.
• 5+ years of accounting experience within a federal government contracting environment, with a strong focus on accounts payable and job costing.
• Advanced understanding of FAR/DFARS cost principles, allowability and government accounting standards.
• Proven experience processing and auditing travel expense reports in compliance with JFTR, FTR, and federal per diem rules.
• Strong background in job cost allocation, cost segregation, and subcontractor invoice tracking.
• Knowledge of sales and use tax accruals, thresholds, and multistate compliance.
• Proficiency with ERP systems such as PROCAS, Deltek Costpoint, Unanet, or similar platforms.
• Excellent Microsoft Excel skills: able to perform reconciliations and build cost reports.