Staff Accountant

Job Title: Staff Accountant

Accountable To: Finance Director

FLSA Classification: Regular Full Time Exempt (Salary)

Who We Are

SHM Architects, PLLC is a Dallas-based architecture, landscape, and interior design firm with extensive experience in boutique planning, single-family and multi-family residential, master planning, retail, and niche commercial architecture. A review of our portfolio will show no singular “style,” reflecting our design philosophy that unites our client’s programmatic requirements, budget, and a healthy respect for their site. We are ordinary people that are extraordinarily good at our work. Through the collaborative process and strong working relationships, we believe our portfolio reflects a more thoughtful and engaging work than that achieved by a single individual. For more information, please visit our website at

What We Believe

Our passion is enriching lives by enhancing the beauty of our environment. We believe creating beautiful designs with purpose requires two things: passion and time. Our clients understand that, while our process may be uncompromising, it results in personalized, luxurious designs that are never flashy, and are always aspirational.

SHM Core Values:

• Embraces Imperfect Beauty
• Engaged to Make a Difference
• Displays Humility and Compassion
• Individually Driven
• Honest and Truthful

Are You a Fit?

Are you individually driven and engaged to make a difference at work and in the community? Does the idea of supporting a group of design professionals in creating beautiful living environments excite you? Would others describe you as a lifelong learner dedicated to taking a relaxed approach to finding new ways of solving complex problems? Are you comfortable embracing imperfect beauty?

If you answered yes, then read on!

A Day in the Office Looks Like This:

The primary role of the Staff Accountant is to own and be accountable for client billing, payment processing, and collections across all studios. This role is designed as a succession path to the Accounting Manager position, and therefore, offers hands-on exposure to all areas of the accounting function, including general ledger oversight, credit card and bank reconciliations, vendor management, procurement processes, and interior design studio accounting for furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E).

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented and proactive. The incumbent thrives in a high-volume professional services environment, communicates clearly with internal teams and clients, and has the aptitude and motivation to grow into a leadership role. A desire to learn and grow in the role as the firm continues to grow is essential.

Client Billing, Payments, and Collections

• Prepare monthly billing
• Maintain ongoing billing notes and ensure project records are current
• Monitor accounting email inbox for client questions about invoices and respond promptly
• Post client payments in a timely manner
• Send 30-, 60-, and 90-day collection reminders to clients
• Make proactive collection phone calls for accounts >120 days
• Collaborate closely with Project Managers and studio leadership to resolve collection issues and move accounts forward

New Client/Project Setup

• Monitor new project activations
• Send client welcome emails and retainer invoices
• Record retainer receipts as well as track and audit retainers

General Accounting

• Assist Accounting Manager with assigning proper general ledger (GL) accounts to vendors
• Support monthly close processes with journal entries, reconciliations, and accruals
• Assist in reviewing and reconciling revenue, work in progress (WIP), and retainer balances

Accounts Payable Support

• Assist Accounts Payable Clerk in reviewing and processing monthly expense reports
• Support the biweekly A/P payment cycle, including invoice review and approvals

Interiors Studio Accounting and Procurement Support

• Assist with procurement accounting in Studio Designer software for the Interiors FF&E Department
• Support monthly and annual sales tax reporting and payments
• Assist with Studio Designer training and year-end closeout
• Pay FF&E vendor invoices and maintain accurate project accounting for Interior Design Studio projects

IT Coordination

• Learn processes to support the Accounting Manager’s role as internal liaison with IT consultant
• Assist with ordering computer equipment and maintaining software licensing records

Other duties as assigned

Do You Have the Skills and Experience? Here’s What We’re Looking For:

• Proficient software skills in Microsoft Office 365 suite of products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) with intermediate to advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and SUMIF
• Experience with Deltek Ajera, Studio Designer, or other similar systems highly preferred
• Any experience in the following areas is a plus: financial reporting, sales tax, vendor management, and interior design FF&E accounting
• Process-minded with a strong attention to detail to ensure accuracy and precision in all tasks
• Strong organizational skills, accuracy, and follow through
• Ability to manage deadlines across multiple departments
• Proactive problem solver who can independently drive tasks to completion
• Comfortable learning and mastering new systems
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate in an articulate, courteous, respectful, and professional manner with design staff, administrative staff, and leadership internally and vendors and service providers externally
• Ability to work collaboratively with others and prioritize workload including being flexible to pivot priorities as needed
• Possess a high level of professional integrity by taking pride, ownership, responsibility, and accountability for self and outcomes while also demonstrating humility
• An interest in professional growth and long-term advancement with SHM Architects

And Here’s Our End of the Bargain:

• Competitive salary with additional bonus opportunities
• Medical insurance 100% paid for employee only, based on coverage selected
• 100% paid short- and long-term disability and group life & AD&D insurance for employees
• Other voluntary benefits like dental, vision, additional life insurance, Legal Shield/ID Shield, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, and pet insurance
• Annual healthy living benefit
• Free use of Energy Square Fitness Center for employees
• HSA quarterly employer contributions
• Safe Harbor 401(k) retirement plan with company contributions whether you contribute or not
• Personalized PTO
• Five (5) paid holidays plus a winter break typically 12/24 through 1/1
• Paid leave for new parents (birth, adoption, placement / maternal and paternal) to support work/life balance and family bonding
• Professional development opportunities
• Paid covered parking for all employees
• Other perks like weekly breakfasts, monthly happy hours, office lunches, our Spring/Summer event, Texas State Fair Day and team building event, Halloween contests, Thanksgiving Family Luncheon, Winter Holiday Party, and the list goes on!

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment

We work in a collaborative, indoor office environment at the top of the historic Meadows Building at Energy Square. This is a great location with quick access to US-75 and the Lovers Lane DART Station practically on site.

Normal work hours are 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM Central Monday through Friday with one hour for lunch, but we are flexible if our business and customers’ needs remain priority #1. Occasionally, there may be a need to work outside of normal work hours or weekends to meet business needs.

Physical Demands

This is a largely sedentary role and requires the ability to sit for long periods of time, operate a keyboard, and communicate clearly and effectively on the phone, in-person, and via written communication. However, there may be occasional specific situations that require lifting, bending, stooping, twisting, kneeling, and/or reaching.

Work Authorization Requirement

Must be authorized to work in the US when an offer of employment is accepted. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment verification form (Form I-9) upon hire.

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement

It is the policy of SHM Architects, PLLC to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, ideally in accounting, finance, business administration or a related field
• 3 – 5 years of accounts receivable, billing, or similar accounting experience in a professional services environment, preferably in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry
• Strong competence in invoicing, collections, cash application, and client communication
• Understanding of basic GAAP, general ledger structure, and accounting workflows
• Can demonstrate Excel competency through testing
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills