WHAT LJA HAS TO OFFER

LJA is offering an exciting opportunity that will allow you to reach your full career potential. The structure of our organization is designed to amplify your capabilities while gaining the benefits of being an employee-owner. What truly sets this opportunity apart is the chance to collaborate every day with dedicated, skilled, and supportive leaders. Whether you are in the office, in the field, or behind the scenes, working at LJA gives you the chance to grow through hands-on experience and exposure to a broad range of clients and services.

WHAT MAKES LJA DIFFERENT

At LJA, our employee-owners take pride in their work and their workplace. We’re guided by leaders who foster a culture of respect, collaboration and a shared vision of success. Our difference is evident in the experiences and opportunities we provide:

• Employee-owned. Client-focused
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Consistently ranked as a Top Workplace
• Internal recruitment team, in-house training, and a marketing department specific to our industry
• We celebrate flexibility, allowing every team and office to lead with their proven approach
• Our culture champions continuous learning and personal growth
• We believe success comes through constant evolution and communication
• We are passionate about having fun and making money, all while creating impact

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Senior Accounting Manager - Special Projects reports to the Corporate Controller and provides dedicated leadership for acquisition integrations and other high priority Accounting initiatives. This role directly leads the Accounting Integration Team and is accountable for planning, coordinating, and executing accounting integrations from pre-close preparation through post-close stabilization. The Senior Manager also assumes ownership of complex special projects assigned by the Corporate Controller, including process redesign, systems implementation, automation, internal-control enhancement, and operational-improvement initiatives. Working across Accounting, Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Tax, Treasury, Operations, and executive leadership, the Senior Manager establishes clear project plans, ownership, milestones, risks, and communication protocols to deliver timely and sustainable business outcomes.

A TYPICAL DAY MIGHT INCLUDE:

• Lead the planning, execution, testing, training, and post-implementation support for accounting automation projects from inception through stabilization.
• Serve as the Accounting project manager for automation, systems implementation, and process improvement initiatives.
• Develop project plans, timelines, resource requirements, risk assessments, and communication strategies to ensure successful project delivery.
• Monitor project milestones, deliverables, risks, dependencies, and issue resolution while driving accountability across project teams.
• Facilitate requirements gathering sessions with stakeholders to identify business needs and translate them into system and process solutions.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts following implementation to optimize system performance and maximize business value.
• Lead the accounting integration of acquired businesses from diligence and pre-close planning through conversion and post-close stabilization, including integration workplans, opening-balance-sheet support, chart-of-accounts alignment, financial reporting, close processes, billing and collections, accounts payable, payroll coordination, internal controls, systems conversion, data migration, and resolution of legacy accounting issues.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to the Accounting Integrations Team.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives with Finance, IT, HR, Tax, Treasury, Operations, and other stakeholders.
• Partner with system administrators, software vendors, and IT teams to strengthen accounting-related security controls, system access governance, records management, and data governance practices.
• Identify manual accounting processes suitable for automation and develop business cases, project plans, and success metrics to support implementation efforts.
• Establish and track key performance indicators to measure automation effectiveness, efficiency gains, process improvements, and return on investment.
• Partner with accounting leaders to redesign and streamline end-to-end processes.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships and drive alignment, accountability, and change adoption across stakeholder groups.
• Independently own complex Accounting special projects assigned by the Corporate Controller, establishing the workplan, accountable owners, milestones, resource requirements, escalation points, communication cadence, and objective measures of completion.

REQUIRED EDUCATION/LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration required
• CPA strongly preferred

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including responsibility for complex projects or transformation initiatives.
• Experience leading accounting integrations, M&A workstreams, ERP implementations, or other cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting, month-end close, accounting operations, internal controls, and process governance.
• Ability to translate strategic objectives into practical, scalable accounting processes and system requirements.
• Experience in a project-based, engineering, professional services, or multi-office environment preferred.
• Demonstrated record of driving complex, cross-functional initiatives from planning through implementation and stabilization, with clear ownership, disciplined follow-through, and measurable results.
• Public accounting or acquisition integration experience preferred.
• Must be highly organized, detail oriented, and capable of balancing strategic priorities with hands-on execution.
• Must be able to lead through change, drive accountability, and maintain a collaborative, customer-focused approach.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex project status, risks, decisions, and recovery plans clearly and proactively to executive leadership.
• Ability to identify emerging risks early, escalate issues appropriately, and provide realistic completion forecasts rather than allowing deadlines or dependencies to drift.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel
• Experience with ERP and project accounting systems used in the AEC or professional services industry preferred.

LEVEL UP WITH LJA

At LJA, we’re 100% employee-owned. This drives results, rewards ambition and supports long-term success for every team member. With nearly 100 locations, more than 3,000 employee-owners, we’re building something big. We want you to be part of it. Your future grows here.

• Generous Time Off: PTO, paid holidays, and a full office closure between Christmas and New Year’s.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Multiple plan options for health, dental, and pets. Along with mental health support.
• Family Support: Paid maternity and parental leave to help you focus on what matters most.
• Education Support: Tuition reimbursement and in-house courses provided by our Learning and Development team.
• Referral Bonuses: Know great talent? Get rewarded for helping us grow.
• Community Impact: Company-sponsored volunteer days and philanthropic initiatives.
• Professional Development: Memberships to industry organizations to keep you connected and growing.
• Career Growth: Great internal mobility opportunities to advance your career.
• Fun Culture: LJA social events, employee sports teams, bring your kid to work day, etc.

To Executive Search Firms & Staffing Agencies: LJA Engineering, Inc. and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes from any agencies that have not signed a service agreement. All unsolicited resumes will be considered LJA's property. This includes resumes submitted directly to hiring managers without contacting LJA's Human Resources Talent Department.