Controller – POSITION SUMMARY ($120K-$140K)
The Controller is a senior financial leadership role responsible for all accounting operations, financial reporting, and internal controls of a $20 million masonry restoration company. This position reports to the President and serves as the primary financial partner to company leadership and project management teams, with deep expertise in construction accounting — particularly project cost management, work in process (WIP) reporting, and percentage-of-completion (POC) revenue recognition. The Controller ensures financial data integrity, drives operational profitability insights, and maintains compliance with GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Costing & Job Cost Management
- Establish and maintain job cost accounting systems for all active masonry restoration projects, ensuring accurate tracking of labor, materials, subcontractors, equipment, and overhead.
- Monitor actual vs. budgeted costs on a project-by-project basis; provide timely variance analysis to project managers and executive leadership.
- Collaborate with estimators and project managers to develop project budgets, cost codes, and cost allocation methodologies.
- Analyze labor productivity and cost trends across projects; identify and report on cost overruns or inefficiencies.
- Oversee the setup of new job cost records including contract amounts, change orders, and cost-to-complete estimates.
Work in Process (WIP) Reporting
- Prepare and distribute monthly WIP schedules encompassing all open contracts, including earned revenue, billings to date, over/under billing positions, and estimated gross profit.
- Analyze and interpret WIP report fluctuations; communicate material changes to leadership and project managers.
- Coordinate with project managers to obtain accurate cost-to-complete and percent-complete estimates for each project at month-end close.
- Identify overbilling and underbilling positions and ensure proper recording and disclosure in financial statements.
- Maintain WIP aging and backlog schedules; track trends in contract profitability and completion timelines.
Financial Reporting & General Accounting
- Apply and manage percentage-of-completion (POC) revenue recognition in accordance with construction industry GAAP standards.
- Ensure accuracy and consistency of POC calculations during monthly and year-end close processes.
- Manage the full monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring timely issuance of accurate financial statements.
- Prepare and present monthly financial reports including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and executive dashboards.
- Maintain the general ledger and chart of accounts; ensure proper classification of transactions in accordance with GAAP.
- Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, including lien waivers, retainage tracking, and subcontractor compliance.
- Manage the annual financial audit or review engagement, serving as the primary liaison to external CPAs.
- Prepare and file all applicable tax returns and coordinate with external tax advisors on federal, state, and local tax obligations.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Cash Management
- Lead the annual company-wide budgeting process, working cross-functionally with operations, estimating, and executive leadership.
- Prepare rolling cash flow forecasts with attention to project billing cycles, retainage release schedules, and seasonal revenue patterns.
- Monitor banking relationships and credit facilities; manage line-of-credit usage and covenant compliance reporting.
- Analyze company-level gross margin and overhead absorption to support pricing strategy and operational decision-making.
Internal Controls & Compliance
- Design, implement, and enforce internal controls over financial reporting, cash handling, and purchasing authorization.
- Ensure compliance with bonding, insurance, and prevailing wage requirements as applicable to public and commercial restoration contracts.
- Maintain organized financial records in accordance with document retention policies and contractual requirements.
- Assist in the preparation of certified payroll reports and other compliance documentation for government-funded projects as required.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a closely related field from an accredited four-year college or university (required).
Experience
- Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive accounting experience, with demonstrated advancement in responsibility.
- A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the construction industry, with direct experience in a general contracting, specialty contracting, or restoration environment strongly preferred.
