The posting
The Controller will oversee the company's accounting and finance functions, including financial reporting, job costing, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, cash management, HR, and project financial analysis.
The ideal candidate will have experience in construction accounting, preferably with an electrical, mechanical, or other specialty contractor. You should understand POC accounting and how project performance, labor costs, material costs, change orders, retainage, billing, collections, and work-in-progress affect the overall financial health of a construction company.
This position will work closely with CEO/CFO, project managers, operations, estimating, purchasing, and administrative staff.
Requirements
Financial Management & Reporting
- Oversee all day-to-day accounting and financial operations.
- Prepare accurate monthly financial statements and management reports.
- Provide ownership with meaningful financial analysis and recommendations.
- Monitor company profitability, margins, expenses, and financial performance by job.
- Track performance against annual budgets and financial forecasts.
- Establish and monitor financial controls and accounting procedures.
- Manage cash flow forecasting and working capital.
Construction Accounting & Job Costing
- Oversee job costing and project financial reporting.
- Monitor project budgets, committed costs, actual costs, and projected costs to complete.
- Review job profitability and identify potential issues before they become significant.
- Manage and analyze Work in Progress (WIP) reporting.
- Review percentage-of-completion calculations and revenue recognition.
- Monitor change orders, contract values, retainage, and project billing.
- Work with project managers to understand project financial performance.
- Identify labor, material, subcontractor, and other cost variances.
- Help establish financial accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
Accounts Receivable & Billing
- Oversee and prepare customer billing and collections.
- Monitor accounts receivable aging and cash collections.
- Review and prepare monthly pay applications and project billing.
- Track retainage and outstanding customer balances.
- Work with project management to resolve billing and collection issues.
- Establish procedures to improve cash flow and reduce outstanding receivables.
Accounts Payable & Purchasing
- Oversee accounts payable and vendor relationships.
- Ensure invoices are properly coded to projects and cost categories.
- Review and approve credit card charges to ensure proper coding and expense backup.
- Monitor subcontractor and vendor payments.
- Maintain appropriate approval procedures and internal controls.
- Work with purchasing and operations to monitor material commitments and costs.
- Review, approve, and sign outgoing payments.
Payroll & Employee Accounting
- Oversee payroll processing and payroll-related accounting.
- Ensure labor is properly allocated to projects and cost codes.
- Coordinate payroll tax filings and related reporting.
- Review payroll costs and labor trends for project profitability analysis.
Leadership & Business Support
- Partner with CEO/CFO and senior management on financial strategy.
- Provide financial guidance to project managers and department leaders.
- Develop meaningful KPIs and financial dashboards.
- Improve accounting processes, systems, and internal controls.
- Help identify opportunities to improve profitability and operating efficiency.
- Support banking relationships, insurance requirements, bonding, audits, and tax preparation.
- Coordinate with outside CPA, tax, and financial professionals as needed.
- Lead and develop the accounting team.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred.
- 5+ years of progressive accounting/financial management experience.
- MBA, CMA, or CPA preferred but not required based on experience.
- Construction accounting experience strongly preferred.
- Experience working for an electrical, mechanical, specialty, or general contractor is highly desirable.
- Strong understanding of job costing and project-based accounting.
- Experience with WIP schedules and percentage-of-completion accounting.
- Strong understanding of accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, and cash management.
- Experience preparing and analyzing financial statements.
- Advanced Excel skills.
- Experience with NetSuite accounting systems.
- Experience with Procore project management systems.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently while also partnering effectively with operations and project management.
Preferred Experience
Candidates with experience in the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply:
- Electrical contracting
- Commercial construction
- Industrial construction
- Specialty contracting
- Construction ERP/accounting software NetSuite
- Procore construction management platforms
- Job costing
- WIP reporting
- Percentage-of-completion accounting
- Bonding and surety requirements
- Construction billing and pay applications
- Retainage and contract accounting
- Project forecasting
What We're Looking For
We are looking for more than someone who can close the books.
The right Controller will understand the business behind the numbers. You will be expected to identify trends, challenge assumptions, recognize potential project problems, and provide ownership of the information needed to make better decisions.
You should be comfortable handling day-to-day accounting transactions while also overseeing and analyzing business and project profitability. This position will have a clear path to VP of Finance and eventually CFO over time.
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to become a key member of the leadership team of a successful private equity-backed electrical contracting company. The Controller will have a direct impact on financial performance, project profitability, cash flow, and the continued growth of the business.
If you are an experienced construction accounting professional who wants to be involved in the business—not just the books—we would like to hear from you.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume with salary requirements along with a brief description of your construction accounting experience and contractors you have previously supported.
Benefits
- Competitive salary based on experience
- Performance-based bonus opportunity
- Health, dental, and vision benefits
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan / 401(k)
- Professional growth opportunities
- Leadership role with direct exposure to ownership
