Project Specialist

Job Summary: The Project Specialist supports project cost and financial control activities to ensure accurate and timely reporting. This role assists with budgets, change orders, earned value tracking, and project status reporting, and works with Project Managers, Branch Managers, and Regional Controllers to provide clear visibility into overall project performance. Specific Role Responsibilities: Ensuring all project budgets are set up in Vista (ERP) Ensuring all project related costs are booked to the correct project, phase code and cost type each month. Ensuring all Purchase Orders are properly managed by the requestors. Ensure monthly accruals are made at month end to project cost Reviewing and auditing job cost on projects to ensure accuracy Ensuring all Change Orders on projects are executed and projected revenue, cost and gross profit numbers are updated in Vista each month Ensuring all projects are billed to clients weekly and/or monthly Ensuring scope, cost, and schedule risks are brought before the Project Managers to assist with their decision making. Required Skills and Abilities: Experience with project accounting and cost control Construction Scheduling & Cost Control and/or Industrial Project Controls courses (preferred but not required) Hands-on exposure to tools like Primavera P6, MS Project, Excel/Power BI, and cost reporting (preferred but not required) Ability to review, interpret and organize data and information Understand financial terms and basic financial instruments (bonds; guarantees; payment security) Experience in Vista ERP beneficial Essential Core Competencies: Financial Acumen: Demonstrates strong understanding of project accounting, job cost controls, accruals, revenue recognition, and gross profit management. ERP & Systems Proficiency: Proven ability to accurately set up, manage, and maintain project budgets, cost codes, and financial data within Vista (or similar ERP systems). Attention to Detail: Consistently ensures accuracy in job cost reporting, billing, accruals, and change order processing through thorough review and auditing practices. Ensures Accountability: Holds self and project stakeholders accountable for proper cost coding, purchase order management, and timely financial updates. Collaboration: Partners effectively with Project Managers, Operations, and Procurement to align financial data with project execution and decision-making. Communication: Clearly communicates financial insights, risks, and discrepancies related to scope, cost, and schedule to support informed project decisions. Risk Identification & Mitigation: Proactively identifies financial, scope, and schedule risks and escalates them to Project Managers to minimize project exposure. Drives Results: Ensures timely billing, accurate cost tracking, and updated financial projections to support strong project performance and profitability. Process Discipline: Follows and enforces established financial processes to ensure consistency, compliance, and audit readiness across all projects. Situational Adaptability: Adjusts priorities and approach to meet changing project demands, deadlines, and operational needs. Education and Experience: Associates degree or equivalent industry experience required; Bachelors degree preferred. At least 1+ years of experience in project management, estimating, or sales within the construction or related industry preferred. Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times. Ability to walk job sites as needed. May be required to travel to job sites or other locations as necessary. Legal Disclaimer: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Penhall Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, compensation inquiries, discussions or disclosures, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. (41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a)) This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications required. Penhall Company reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other responsibilities as necessary.

Created: 2026-03-09