Senior Project Accountant

Working at Watlow

Watlow is a global technology and manufacturing leader who provides world class engineering expertise through innovative thermal products and systems, enabling our customers to thrive. We are making a positive impact every day as our solutions enrich the lives of people everywhere. We have been providing breakthrough thermal solutions for over 100 years! Our corporate values guide us uncompromisingly to always do the right thing, continually learn and improve, respect everyone, and lead with service and humility.

At Watlow's global headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, our Finance team partners with sales, engineering, program management, and operations leaders to support how Watlow grows around the world. Part of a global thermal solutions leader founded in 1922, our heaters, sensors, and controls power industries like semiconductor, aerospace, energy, and industrial equipment.

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We are hiring a: Senior Project Accountant

St. Louis, Missouri

Watlow is seeking a Senior Project Accountant who will build the financial process behind our complex customer projects. This is a newly created role and the first of its kind in Watlow's Finance organization, supporting a fast-growing business that needs stronger financial structure as it scales. Rather than inheriting an existing process, you will design one, from bid and contract review through setup, execution, billing, revenue recognition, and closeout, and then make sure it works.

You will partner with Sales, Engineering, Program Management, Operations, Legal, and Billing to set clear responsibilities, monitor project financials, and drive follow-up. Over time, you will become the go-to expert and trusted advisor for project finance across the business. The ideal candidate brings 4 to 7 years of experience, a track record of building or improving a process and owning it, and strong financial acumen. We welcome candidates from finance, accounting, audit, project management, or related backgrounds.

What you'll do:

• Process design and implementation: Build and roll out a standard project process from bid and contract review through setup, execution, billing, revenue recognition, and closeout.
• Cross-functional governance: Partner with Sales, Engineering, Program Management, Operations, Legal, and Billing to define responsibilities, approvals, documentation standards, and escalation steps.
• Bid and contract review: Review proposals and contracts to flag accounting, billing, cash flow, and margin considerations before projects launch.
• Project setup: Establish budgets, contract lines, billing and revenue methods, and milestones in Oracle so each project starts on the right foundation.
• Revenue recognition: Apply and document revenue recognition under ASC 606, partnering with Corporate Accounting leadership on complex arrangements.
• Project performance reviews: Lead regular financial reviews with project managers covering costs, estimates to complete, billing milestones, cash flow, and profitability.
• Issue resolution: Identify and resolve cost overruns, billing delays, incorrect cost assignments, and incomplete data, and track corrective actions through completion.
• Month-end close and reporting: Perform revenue calculations, accruals, journal entries, reconciliations, and variance analysis, and build consistent metrics and dashboards for leadership.
• Systems and process improvement: Become the expert in Oracle Project Portfolio Management, help others use it correctly, and automate recurring reporting and controls.
• Training and audit support: Create practical guidance and training for project managers and Finance teams, and prepare documentation for internal and external audits.

What you'll need to succeed:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• 4-7+ years of experience in finance, accounting, audit, project management, or a related field
• A demonstrated track record of building, improving, or owning a process from the ground up
• Strong financial acumen, including how project costs, revenue, billing, and cash flow affect financial results
• Ability to translate contract terms and business requirements into practical procedures and controls
• Confidence coordinating across functions and holding stakeholders accountable for follow-up
• Strong analytical, organizational, and Excel skills

Preferred qualifications:

• Project accounting or contract financial management experience
• Experience in manufacturing, engineering, construction, aerospace and defense, or another business with complex customer projects
• Familiarity with ASC 606, percentage of completion, or over-time revenue recognition
• Experience with Oracle Cloud ERP, Oracle Project Portfolio Management, or other ERP and project systems
• Experience building dashboards or automating reporting and controls
• Experience working across multiple business units, sites, or regions
• CPA

Benefits: The Watlow Total Compensation Plan

The health, well-being and financial stability of you and your family is a high priority to us.The Watlow Total Rewards Plan includes competitive compensation and a full range of life and career enhancing benefits:

• Annual Incentive Program 
• 401(k) plan that includes a company match on your contribution and an annual company contribution that is tied to company performance
• Wellness incentives
• Employee Personal Assistance Program
• Dental, medical, vision and short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Paid holidays, personal time, and vacation
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement

Diversity & Inclusion

We proactively embrace diversity in all its dimensions across our company and cultivate a culture of inclusion and forward thinking that respects and reflects each team member’s individual strengths, views, and experiences. Watlow takes pride in being an inclusive equal opportunity employer and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Please let us know confidentially if you need or require any special accommodations to participate in our recruiting process by emailing us at accommodations@Watlow.com.