Assistant Controller

Job Title: Assistant Controller

Location: New Orleans, LA

Duration: Direct Hire Full Time Role

Summary

• The Assistant Controller serves as a hands-on partner to the Controller and supports the full accounting function for
• This role requires strong experience in project cost accounting, financial close, reporting, cash flow, and accounting operations.
• The Assistant Controller will help ensure accurate financial information, disciplined project financial controls, and timely business support across Engineering, Project
• Management, Sales, Service, and Operations. The successful candidate must be able to assume day-to-day Controller responsibilities when the Controller is unavailable, maintaining continuity, deadlines, controls, and leadership of the accounting function.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary operational backup to the Controller and assume day-to-day accounting leadership when the Controller is unavailable.
• Lead and maintain project cost accounting for active jobs, including budgets, actual costs, commitments, change orders, cost-to-complete estimates, work in progress, margin analysis, and project closeout.
• Partner with Project Management and operational leaders to review project financial performance, identify cost and margin variances, and support timely corrective action.
• Define & Execute project and contract billing requirements, including time and materials, milestone and progress billing, retainage where applicable, and change orders, ensuring billing aligns with contractual terms and project status.
• Support and lead month-end and year-end close activities, including journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, general ledger review, and financial statement preparation.
• Prepare and review financial reports, project profitability reports, cash flow information, accounts receivable aging, and other management reporting used to support business decisions.
• Manage accounts receivable, unbilled balances, collections, and cash conversion while coordinating with project and customer-facing teams to resolve issues promptly.
• Maintain strong internal controls, accounting procedures, documentation standards, and system data integrity while supporting audits, tax reporting, banking requests, insurance requests, and other Controller responsibilities as assigned.
• Provide day-to-day guidance, prioritization, and accountability to accounting teammates, particularly during close periods, deadlines, and Controller absences.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive accounting experience with significant hands-on project cost accounting experience.
• Experience in a project-based environment such as engineering, industrial services, manufacturing, construction, energy, or a similar business model strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience independently supporting or leading month-end close, general ledger accounting, financial reporting, reconciliations, and project financial analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to step into broader Controller responsibilities, maintain accounting operations and deadlines, and provide team direction when needed.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, general ledger accounting, financial statements, accruals, and account reconciliations.
• Strong project cost accounting knowledge, including work in progress, cost to complete analysis, revenue and cost alignment, project margin analysis, and variance investigation.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, formulas, and financial data analysis.
• Experience with ERP, accounting, and job cost systems with the ability to maintain accurate project and financial data.
• Ability to translate financial and project cost information into clear, practical information for operational and executive leadership.

Soft Skills

• Strong ownership, accountability, follow-through, and sound judgment with the ability to work independently and escalate appropriately.
• Confident leadership presence with the ability to establish priorities and maintain accountability within the accounting team.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across Finance, Project Management, Engineering, Sales, Service, and Operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA designation, CPA candidate status, or advanced accounting education preferred.
• Previous Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, Senior Accountant, or comparable experience with broad accounting responsibility, financial controls, process improvement, and management reporting.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate accounting team activities as assigned and provide operational leadership when the Controller is unavailable.