Senior Project Accountant

Overview

This role is responsible for developing, monitoring, and analyzing budget 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).

The work includes partnering with program management and purchasing, leading budgets and cost-tracking approaches for efforts that may become construction projects, and helping implement the financial and cost management system (WORKDAY) across projects. The role reports to the Director, Project Finance.

Responsibilities

• Track project commitments, cost-to-date, and EFC trending accurately.
• Create project cash flows and update them monthly with assistance from the Project Team.
• Provide up-to-date cost-to-complete forecasts (EFCs) and identify/communicate spending risks.
• Collaborate 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.
• Recommend improvements to project operations as needed.
• Monitor and evaluate each project step to ensure budgetary and deadline goals are met; produce recurring status reports 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, Retail, Bar/Café, front and back of house (including ticketing), and Exhibitions (show design, fabrication, and installation).
• Continuously review evolving design documents and update estimates at each stage of design to keep projects on budget.
• Maintain supporting project financial documentation (e.g., cost reports; contract signature pages; change order signature pages; contracts maintained with Contracts and within the Project Box file structure).
• Develop conceptual Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimates prior to and during Blue Sky Phase to support initial business-unit financial analysis.
• Create value-engineering components with the project team to mitigate cost overruns.
• Compile overall project cost summaries 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 to the Director, Project Finance, PM, and Executive Management.
• Support the Director, Project Finance with project labor tracking through the ERP Time Entry system.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of construction/theme-park estimating experience in retail, hotel, theme parks and themed attractions.
• Knowledge of Tenant Improvements (TI), attraction/exhibition (themed environments) estimating, and facility impact costing.
• 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.
• Ability to maintain positive, informative relationships with vendors and contractors to uphold the owner and owner’s representatives’ reputation.
• Ability to maintain and track separate project accounts.
• Experience reviewing and processing 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; manage field approvals; and ensure necessary submittals are completed in accordance with contract requirements, including statutory lien waivers.
• Ability to review General Contractor payment applications, including ensuring/validating schedule of values adjustments, field approvals, and required paperwork delivered in accordance with contract requirements, including waivers.
• Ability to influence decisions on major matters with tact and diplomacy to achieve favorable outcomes.
• Analytical and data-based decision-making skills.
• Executive presence and strong collaboration; relationship-building internally and externally; outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer, interpersonal, and customer-service skills.
• Ability to multitask and work effectively with a diverse group of vendors, executive managers, subcontractors, and consultants.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of cost-management software.

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 gift shop merch and cafes
• Admission to attractions for employees and guests

Location

On-site in Santa Fe, NM or 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.

Work Schedule, Travel, and Physical Demands

• 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 evenings or weekends based on business needs, and travel to off-site locations depending on role and need.
• Travel requirement: 10%-25%.

Work Environment: Professional office environment with use of standard office equipment (e.g., computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, scanners). May occasionally involve indoor settings with noisy environments, dim lighting, and exposure to strong visual effects including strobing lights, special effects, fog machines, and small and/or enclosed spaces.

Physical Demands: Primarily sedentary work with 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, office supplies) may be required. Requires mental focus, 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.
• This position does not require supervisory responsibility.
• This job description is not intended to be comprehensive; duties may change at any time with or without notice.

Application Deadline

The deadline for submitting applications for this position is September 30, 2026. The deadline may be extended if necessary.

Equal Opportunity

The employer is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind, based on business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

Workplace Safety and Accessibility

Employees must comply with company and OSHA standard workplace safety protocols. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.