Staff Accountant

Company Overview:

Hillwood, a Perot company, is a premier commercial and residential real estate developer, investor and advisor of properties throughout North America and Europe. With a diverse portfolio of properties and home to many of the world's leading companies, Hillwood is committed to bringing long-term value to our customers, partners and the communities we serve.

Through its Communities division, Hillwood has delivered 50,000 single-family lots in master-planned communities across 13 states and Costa Rica. These communities continue to raise the bar in terms of quality, innovation, and the unmistakable sense of community that sets each property apart. Before laying the physical groundwork for any new residential development, Hillwood Communities takes the time to focus on the ideals that draw people together — and the everyday interactions that strengthen those bonds. By purposefully designing trails, gathering spaces, and structural amenities to spark spontaneous encounters and foster shared interests, Hillwood Communities believes in the power of community. For more information, please visit www.hillwoodcommunities.com.

Position Summary:

Hillwood Communities is seeking a Staff Accountant to join its Accounting team in Dallas, TX. Reporting to the Accounting Manager, this multifaceted role spans accounts payable, project accounting, and corporate accounting functions while supporting the financial management of active development projects. The Staff Accountant serves as the division owner of the systems and workflows that support payables and invoice processing, helping drive efficiency, accuracy, and continuous improvement across the accounting function. In addition, this position supports month-end close activities, financial reporting, and project accounting responsibilities while serving as a key financial resource to project and development teams throughout the lifecycle of residential development projects.

Responsibilities:

Accounts Payable and Vendor Management:

• Serve as the main point person coordinating vendor payments
• Process and monitor operational invoices and development pay apps through our AP automation platform, coding to the correct project, business unit, and account
• Own the weekly check run: prepare the open payables report, confirm approvals, and coordinate payment release
• Administer the invoice workflow platform — routing tables, approver assignments, exception handling, and user support
• Set up and verify vendors, including ACH enrollment with verbal verification controls and W-9 collection
• Research payable questions including prior balances and payment status
• Build strong working relationships with vendors and the Communities team, and coordinate with our third-party offshore accounting team
• Prepare stop payment requests and coordinate with the bank
• Review retainage held and released across active projects for accuracy

Expense Management and Corporate Card Administration:

• Review and process employee expense reports ensuring proper coding and policy compliance
• Administer the corporate card program: transaction review, receipt substantiation, approval routing, and the monthly journal entry

Project Accounting and Reporting:

• Manage all aspects of development and partnership accounting for designated community or ancillary business
• Own the month-end close process for assigned projects, including preparation of journal entries, accruals, cost of sales, and revenue recognition
• Collaborate with and support cross-functionally the Project and Development Managers, serving as a key financial resource and leading the monthly cost tracker meeting for assigned projects to ensure alignment and accurate, up-to-date cost tracking
• Prepare and submit monthly loan draw requests and supporting documentation to lenders
• Prepare and submit capital call notices for joint venture partnerships
• Maintain and reconcile intercompany transactions across operating entities, including preparation of monthly cash evaluations and wire transfers
• Partner closely with FP&A to ensure annual budgets and forecasts align with GAAP accounting principles and the company’s financial reporting practices
• Analyze variances between actual results and budgeted amounts, investigating discrepancies and communicating key drivers to leadership; present financial results at quarterly reviews and other management meetings
• Manage all aspects of financial reporting for assigned projects, including internal teams, lenders, joint venture partners, and public districts

Month-End Close and Financial Operations:

• Review bank deposits and record receipts; support bank reconciliation review and follow-up
• Support the AP close: monitor accrual cutoff, approval follow-up, and close reporting
• Prepare monthly AR aging report
• Produce monthly and quarterly division reports covering marketing, overhead, and division-wide results
• Assist with franchise tax accruals and property tax payment tracking

Process Improvement and Systems Support:

• Identify and build automation opportunities across AP and expense workflows
• Participate in system testing, enhancements, and change management
• Document procedures and serve as a resource to the accounting and operations teams
• Other duties and ad hoc projects that support the accounting team

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly to senior leadership
• Collaborative team player with a positive, solutions-oriented mindset
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to research discrepancies, identify root causes, and recommend solutions
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• Strong aptitude for process improvement and leveraging technology to drive operational efficiency
• Ability to build effective working relationships with internal business partners, vendors, lenders, and external stakeholders
• Proficient in Excel, including pivot tables and large data sets

Education and Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or a related field
• Mininimum 2+ years of accounts payable and/or project accounting experience
• Accounting software experience with a major ERP (JD Edwards preferred; Yardi, MRI, Sage, or Viewpoint also relevant)

Preferred:

• Experience with contract billing, pay applications, and retainage
• Real estate, land development, homebuilding, or construction accounting background
• Experience with company software including: Medius, JD Edwards, Power BI, Ramp, ReportsNow, OneStream
• Experience with vendor master data management
• Experience with corporate card and expense management platforms
• Exposure to AI tools such as Power Automate, Copilot, or Claude
• Involvement in a system implementation or process automation project

Benefits Highlights: 

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• Vacation time
• Sick time
• Holidays
• Paid family caregiver leave
• Mental health and wellness resources
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Tuition assistance
• Additional programs to support Associates and their families

 EEO Statement:

Hillwood is committed to providing Equal Opportunity in Employment, to all applicants and employees regardless of, race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, military status, veteran status, handicap, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.

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