Apply as Controller (accounting and financial operations)
Controller Position Summary
The Controller is responsible for leading all accounting and financial operations for our client a fire protection construction and service company. This role oversees job costing, billing, cash flow management, payroll oversight, internal controls, and financial reporting across all divisions.
The Controller partners closely with executive leadership and Operations to strengthen financial controls, improve profitability, and support scalable growth. This is a hands-on leadership role in a fast-paced, high-volume environment requiring accuracy, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership & Governance
- Lead day-to-day accounting operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant financial reporting.
- Establish, document, and enforce internal controls, approval authorities, and financial policies that protect company assets and reduce risk.
- Serve as a trusted financial advisor to executive leadership through insight, forecasting, and scenario analysis.
- Maintain consistent financial governance standards across all offices and departments.
Construction Accounting & Job Cost Controls
- Oversee job costing processes, including labor, materials, change orders, work-in-progress (WIP, where applicable), and margin analysis.
- Ensure job cost data aligns with field production, labor reporting, and materials usage.
- Partner with Operations and Project Management to improve cost control, forecasting accuracy, and project profitability.
- Monitor projected versus actual margins and proactively identify overruns, scope gaps, and billing risks.
Billing, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable & Cash Management
- Oversee all billing functions, including progress billing, time-and-materials billing, service billing, and compliance with contract requirements.
- Ensure lien waivers and billing documentation are accurate and timely.
- Maintain oversight of accounts receivable, including aging, collections strategy, escalation of delinquent accounts, and enforcement of payment terms.
- Lead cash flow forecasting and working capital planning to support payroll, vendor payments, and operational needs.
- Oversee accounts payable workflows to ensure proper approvals, accurate coding, timely processing, and vendor compliance.
- Participate in contract and credit risk reviews for significant projects, including billing terms, retainage, and cash flow exposure.
Payroll & Labor Cost Oversight
- Oversee payroll controls and reconciliations in coordination with Payroll and HR.
- Ensure accurate labor allocations by job and cost code.
- Ensure compliance with union, non-union, and prevailing wage requirements where applicable.
- Monitor overtime, labor utilization, and efficiency trends.
KPI Reporting, Analysis & Strategy
- Build, maintain, and deliver weekly and monthly financial and operational KPI dashboards for leadership.
- Track key metrics including gross margin by division, WIP/backlog, AR aging and DSO, cash position, collections performance, labor efficiency, overhead ratios, and forecast-to-actual performance.
- Analyze financial and operational data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Translate analysis into clear, actionable recommendations that support business strategy, profitability, and growth.
- Proactively identify emerging risks and performance gaps.
Team Leadership & Development
- Directly manage and develop accounting and finance staff, including AP, AR, billing, payroll support, and related functions.
- Set performance expectations, provide coaching, and hold team members accountable to deadlines and accuracy standards.
- Establish cross-training and coverage to reduce key-person dependency.
- Drive continuous process improvement and standardization.
Audit, Tax, Compliance & External Partners
- Coordinate month-end and year-end close processes.
- Support audits, reviews, and tax filings in coordination with external CPAs.
- Serve as a primary financial liaison to banks, bonding companies, insurers, and auditors within approved scope.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual, and financial reporting requirements impacting construction and service operations.
Reporting Structure & Authority
- Reports directly and exclusively to executive leadership as designated.
- All material financial, procedural, or operational matters must be reviewed with executive leadership prior to engaging other departments or external parties.
- Operates strictly within defined Controller responsibilities unless otherwise authorized.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA strongly preferred).
- Minimum of 7 years of progressive accounting or finance experience, including leadership responsibility.
- Construction industry experience strongly preferred; fire protection experience is a plus.
- Strong knowledge of job costing, construction billing, WIP accounting, AR/collections, and month-end close.
- Advanced Excel skills and experience with accounting/ERP and job costing systems.
- Proven ability to lead teams, improve processes, and communicate effectively with executive and field leadership.
Core Competencies
- Strategic financial leadership in a project-based environment
- High ownership, discretion, and accountability
- Strong analytical and KPI reporting capability
- Cross-functional partnership with Operations
- Process improvement mindset with scalability focus
Working Conditions
- Fast-paced, high-volume construction and service environment with frequent shifting priorities.
- Extended hours regularly required during month-end and quarter-end close, audits, forecasting cycles, large billing periods, and cash or collections escalations.
- Primarily office-based with periodic travel to branch locations and job sites.
Occasional early or late meetings to support field operations and leadership cadence