Senior Project Accountant

Overview

This role involves developing, monitoring, and analyzing budgets and actual costs for new construction projects, including estimate refinements prepared internally and/or with outside estimating firms. The position also provides financial support to pre-operations efforts (including Marketing and Merchandising).

Location

• On-site (Santa Fe, NM)
• Remote-eligible, provided the candidate lives in one of the following markets: Santa Fe NM, Denver CO, Las Vegas NV, Dallas TX, Houston TX or Los Angeles CA.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation

• Base annual salary range: $88,870 - $122,640
• “Off-scale salaries” and other components of pay may be offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Benefits (Full-time)

• Medical Insurance options: PPO & HDHP*
• Dental and Vision Insurance*
• HSA, HRA, and FSA options*
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Company paid Life Insurance Policy and Disability Coverage(s)*
• Voluntary Critical Illness and Life Insurance Policies*
• Company Paid Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Parental Leave for 12 weeks
• Discount off Meow Wolf Gift Shop Merch and Cafes
• Admission to Meow Wolf attractions for employees and guests
• Regular or Project Based Full-time positions

Key Responsibilities

• Accurately track project commitments, cost-to-date, and EFC trending.
• Create project cash flows and update monthly with assistance from the Project Team.
• Provide up-to-date cost-to-complete forecasting (EFCs) and identify and communicate spending risks.
• Partner with project/program managers, estimators, and purchasing to ensure budgeting, scheduling, and coordination processes run smoothly; monitor progress against deadlines and budget limits and generate progress reports for managers.
• Suggest improvements to project operations as needed.
• Continually monitor and evaluate each project step to help ensure budgetary and deadline goals are met; provide recurring status reports to stakeholders covering progress, staffing needs, schedule changes, and scope adjustments.
• Create and maintain reports addressing all aspects of project development and completion.
• Develop and manage project budget estimates for:
  • TI (Tenant Improvements)
  • Retail
  • Bar/Café
  • Front and back of house (including ticketing)
  • Exhibitions (show design, fabrication, and installation)
• Continually review evolving design documents and update estimates at each stage of design to ensure projects are tracking on budget.
• Maintain supporting project financial documentation (e.g., cost reports, contract signature pages, change order signature pages). Contracts reside with Contracts and on Project Box file structure.
• Develop conceptual Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimates for projects prior to and in Blue Sky Phase to develop initial costs for business-unit financial analysis.
• Create value-engineering components with the project team to mitigate cost overruns.
• Compile overall project summaries on cost at project conclusion.
• Develop and maintain a database of cost comparisons for various exhibition and non-exhibition facilities (BOH).
• Provide weekly and monthly project cost reports for the Director, Project Finance, PM, and Executive Management.
• Support Director, Project Finance with project labor tracking through ERP Time Entry system.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of construction/theme-park estimating experience in retail, hotel, theme parks and themed attractions required.
• Knowledge of Tenant Improvements (TI), attraction/exhibition (themed environments) estimating, and facility impact costing required.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft applications to create reports and present information in Excel and PowerPoint; knowledge of cost-management software preferred.
• Ability to present cost estimates to upper-management level positions.
• Ability to navigate and analyze large datasets.
• Maintain positive and informative relationships with vendors and contractors to uphold the reputation of the owner and owner’s representatives.
• Ability to maintain and track separate project accounts.
• Ability to review and process project invoices and contract payment applications for approval hierarchy, cost coding, contract compliance, payment milestones; confirm capital versus expense; validate integrity of the schedule of values; handle field approvals and necessary submittals in accordance with contract requirements, including but not limited to statutory lien waivers.
• Ability to review General Contractor payment applications, ensuring/validating schedule of values adjustments, field approvals, and necessary paperwork delivered in accordance with contract requirements, including but not limited to waivers.
• Influencing skills for decisions of major nature, requiring tact and diplomacy to obtain favorable results.
• Analytical and data-based decision-making skills.
• Executive presence and strong collaboration; ability to build relationships internally and externally; outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong computer, interpersonal, and customer-service skills.
• Ability to multitask and work with a diverse group of vendors, executive managers, subcontractors, and consultants.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of cost-management software.

Work Schedule

• Full-time position averaging 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday
• 9am to 5pm MT or 10am to 6pm MST
• Occasionally requires flexibility to work during evenings or weekends based on business needs, and travel to off-site locations depending on role and need.

Travel

• 10%-25% travel required.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Professional office environment with standard office equipment (computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, scanners).
• May occasionally work indoors with exposure to noisy environments, dim lighting, strong visual effects including strobing lights, special effects, fog machines, and small and/or enclosed spaces.
• Primarily sedentary; extended periods of sitting, working at a computer, and viewing screens.
• Frequent use of standard office equipment; may require repetitive hand and wrist movements for typing and data entry.
• Occasional standing, walking, and light lifting (e.g., files, binders, or office supplies).
• Requires mental focus, the ability to analyze complex financial information, and sustained concentration for accuracy and compliance.

Additional Information

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The employer is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
• Deadline for submitting applications: September 30, 2026. The employer reserves the right to extend this deadline if necessary.
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required; duties may change at any time with or without notice.
• The employer will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law, including the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance.
• Equal opportunity employer; prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind and makes employment decisions based on business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications without regard to protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.