Assistant Project Accountant, Construction

Assistant Project Accountant, Construction

The Assistant Project Accountant supports the financial administration of construction and development projects from the owner's side. Working under the guidance of more experienced project accounting team members, this role assists with project setup, budget and cost tracking, invoice and pay application processing, contract and change order administration, monthly reporting, and project closeout. The Assistant Project Accountant works closely with the Development & Construction team (DCM), Accounts Payable, Asset Management, and other internal stakeholders to help maintain accurate records, timely processing, and effective financial controls throughout the project lifecycle.

Location: Hybrid – Los, Angeles, CA or Costa Mesa, CA

Work Arrangement: This role requires a minimum of two days per week in the office, with additional in-office presence based on business needs. The position also requires regular visits to company properties as needed to support operational and business priorities.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with setting up and maintaining project cost codes, budgets, commitments, and financial records in Yardi and related project management systems.
• Enter and update approved budgets, contracts, work orders, service orders, and change orders; confirm that supporting documentation is complete and accurately reflected in project records.
• Review vendor, consultant, and contractor invoices and pay applications for coding, required approvals, contract alignment, and supporting documentation; route items for approval and follow up on outstanding information.
• Maintain contract, commitment, change order, invoice, and payment logs and support accurate, timely status reporting.
• Assist with tracking project budgets, actual costs, committed costs, and forecasted spend; identify discrepancies and support budget-to-actual variance analysis.
• Support monthly Construction in Progress (CIP) reporting by compiling project activity, reconciling supporting schedules, and researching variances.
• Assist with budget requests and revisions, including coordination of supporting documentation and approval records for soft costs and total project budgets.
• Prepare internal check requests and support the review and reconciliation of project-related corporate card expenses.
• Reconcile project transactions and coordinate with Accounts Payable, general accounting, and project teams to resolve coding, payment, or documentation issues.
• Support project managers and project accountants with forecasting, contingency tracking, cash flow updates, and cost-to-complete schedules.
• Organize and maintain electronic project accounting files, including contracts, invoices, approvals, lien waivers, and other audit-support documentation.
• Assist with project closeout activities, including final invoice reconciliation, accrual support, contract closeout documentation, retention release tracking, and archive preparation.
• Follow established project accounting procedures and internal controls, escalate issues appropriately, and contribute ideas that improve accuracy, consistency, and efficiency.
• Provide responsive support to cross-functional partners and perform additional project accounting duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Real Estate, Business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 1-3 years of accounting, accounts payable, construction administration, or project-based financial support experience; exposure to construction, development, or commercial real estate is preferred.
• Foundational understanding of accounting principles and an interest in developing knowledge of job cost accounting, pay applications, change orders, lien waivers, and construction contract documentation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the ability to learn accounting and project management systems; experience with Yardi is preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with strong attention to detail, organization, follow-through, and a commitment to accurate work.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across functions.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience supporting an owner, developer, owner's representative, general contractor, or other project-based organization.
• Exposure to ground-up construction, renovation, or tenant improvement projects, ideally within industrial or commercial real estate.
• Experience coordinating documentation with project managers, architects, consultants, vendors, or general contractors.
• Familiarity with Yardi, Smartsheet, AIA billing forms, or similar accounting and project management tools.

Compensation:

Rexford Industrial's reward plan includes great compensation packages, bonus eligibility, and long-term stock incentives. The expected hourly rate range for this role is $36.06 to $43.27 (annualized equivalent $75,000 to $90,000), with a 10% discretionary annual bonus target and stock grant eligibility.* The actual hourly rate and total compensation offered depend on a variety of factors, which include, without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location where the job will be performed. The final hourly rate and total compensation will be described in any offer letter.

ADA Requirements: The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; walk; sit for extended periods of time; use hands to feel, handle, or type; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move or carry up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus. Additionally, employee may be required to drive to a property, walk on uneven ground, walk through a construction site, be exposed to dust or fumes and work around machinery or equipment.