Accounting Manager at Ratcliff Architects Inc. – Emeryville, California

Ratcliff is an industry leader in the planning and design of healthcare, academic, and civic environments throughout Northern California. We are seeking an Accounting Manager, who also serves as our Deltek Vantagepoint SaaS Administrator. This strategic role blends high-level project accounting, Deltek system administration, and cross-functional support, including close collaboration with HR on Payroll and 401(k) processes.

The ideal candidate brings A/E industry accounting experience, strong technical aptitude, and a collaborative mindset to support Principals, Project Managers, HR, and Accounting leadership.

What You’ll Be Doing

Accounting Responsibilities

• Manage full-cycle accounting functions including accounts payable, invoicing, accounts receivable, and cash controls.
• Supervise and support other project accountants.
• Partner with Principals and Project Managers to prepare, review, and issue client invoices in accordance with contract terms, while monitoring financial performance across multiple projects and providing financial insight to project teams.
• Perform detailed account analysis and manage journal entries related to project activity.
• Track and reconcile project costs, budgets, and contract terms to ensure accuracy throughout the project lifecycle.
• Maintain accurate and organized contract documentation, budget data, and financial records within Deltek Vantagepoint.
• Ensure all financial work is completed with exceptional accuracy and attention to detail.

Deltek Vantagepoint SaaS Administration Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Deltek Vantagepoint SaaS Administrator for the firm.
• Manage user accounts, permissions, workflows, security settings, and module configuration.
• Troubleshoot system issues, coordinate updates, and act as liaison with Deltek support.
• Optimize system performance, reporting, and automation to support project accounting and firm operations.
• Develop and maintain dashboards, reports, templates, and system documentation.
• Train team members on Deltek functionality and serve as the go-to internal resource for system questions.
• Lead or support system upgrades, enhancements, and process improvements.

HR, Payroll & 401(k) Support

• Collaborate closely with HR to support payroll processing activities.
• Assist with payroll data entry, verification, and reconciliation within Deltek.
• Ensure timesheets, labor distribution, PTO, and payroll-related project data are accurate and complete.
• Participate in maintaining accurate and compliant 401(k) reporting and contribution processing, including data verification and coordination with HR and plan providers.
• Support HR in ensuring payroll and 401(k) data are processed confidentially, accurately, and on schedule.

Who We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of professional accounting experience, ideally within the architecture, engineering, or other professional services industries.
• Strong understanding of project-based accounting and full-cycle accounting.
• Prior experience as a Deltek Vantagepoint administrator or advanced user strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting payroll or HR processes, including 401(k), is a plus.
• Associate degree in accounting, business, or related field (or equivalent certification).
• High accuracy, strong analytical skills, and exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; comfortable working with senior leadership.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and other Microsoft 365 tools.
• A desire to expand and maintain expertise in Deltek Vantagepoint with the goal of being the firm’s internal system expert.

Why Work at Ratcliff

Ratcliff is an Equal Opportunity Employer, located near I-80 in Emeryville, California, just across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco. We offer competitive compensation, retirement planning, profit sharing, and comprehensive medical benefits for employees and their eligible family members. We also provide paid time off, sick leave, paid holidays, 16 Fridays per year, and flexible hybrid scheduling to ensure team members maintain a healthy work-life balance.