Controller

The Controller is the day-to-day accounting leader for an assigned operating company within a $350+ million heavy highway construction group of entities serving South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The role is responsible for accurate and timely financial reporting, project accounting, work-in-progress reporting, balance-sheet reconciliations, internal controls, and budget-to-actual reporting for internal overhead departments. Because the organization includes multiple entities and joint ventures, the Controller must understand intercompany and joint venture accounting and work closely with the CFO, Director, peer controllers, project teams, corporate accounting, and department heads. This is a hands-on role suited to a strong construction accountant who can manage the details, communicate effectively, and improve processes without carrying enterprise-wide responsibility for every entity. Position Summary The Controller is the day-to-day accounting leader for an assigned operating company within a $350+ million heavy highway construction group of entities serving South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The role is responsible for accurate and timely financial reporting, project accounting, work-in-progress reporting, balance-sheet reconciliations, internal controls, and budget-to-actual reporting for internal overhead departments. Because the organization includes multiple entities and joint ventures, the Controller must understand intercompany and joint venture accounting and work closely with the CFO, Director, peer controllers, project teams, corporate accounting, and department heads. This is a hands-on role suited to a strong construction accountant who can manage the details, communicate effectively, and improve processes without carrying enterprise-wide responsibility for every entity. Key ResponsibilitiesFinancial Close Consolidation and Reporting Manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual close for the assigned operating company in accordance with the organization’s close calendar and accounting policies. Prepare and review entity-level financial statements, management reports, supporting schedules, account reconciliations, and variance analyses in accordance with U.S. GAAP and company policies. Record and reconcile intercompany activity for the assigned company; coordinate with peer controllers to resolve differences and support corporate eliminations and consolidated reporting. Maintain accurate general ledger, chart-of-account usage, recurring entries, allocations, and supporting documentation for the assigned company. Provide the CFO and operating leadership with practical analysis of results, trends, project risks, cash needs, margin movement, and forecast-to-actual performance. Prepare and file sales and use tax returns Construction and Project Accounting Assist in preparation for the monthly CTC/WIP process with project executives, project managers, estimators, and operations leaders; review assumptions and investigate margin fade, gain, and unusual cost trends. Ensure labor, equipment, materials, subcontract, indirect cost, and overhead allocations are complete, consistent, and accurately assigned to projects and entities. Maintain accounting documentation appropriate for public-sector, DOT, and other government-funded work, including support for certified payroll, indirect cost, and audit requirements as applicable. Partner with operations to improve project forecasting, cost coding discipline, billing timeliness, collections, and financial accountability. Overhead Budgeting and Variance Reporting Assist the Director of Financial Reporting, Internal Department heads, and the CFO with preparation of annual budgets and periodic forecasts for internal overhead departments. Prepare recurring budget-to-actual reports that clearly identify significant spending, staffing, allocation, and timing variances. Research variances by reviewing general ledger activity, supporting transactions, accruals, allocations, and coding; correct accounting errors when identified. Meet with department heads to understand operating drivers, explain results, resolve open questions, and document the reasons for material variances. Help department leaders develop practical corrective actions or updated forecasts when actual results differ materially from plan. Joint Ventures and Multi Entity Accounting Account for joint ventures involving the assigned company, as applicable, including partner billings, capital contributions and distributions, profit allocations, and due-to/due-from balances. Understand the organization’s joint venture structures and follow the accounting treatment established by corporate finance and external advisors. Prepare timely reconciliations, supporting schedules, tax information, and partner reporting for assigned joint ventures, coordinating with peer project controllers and JV partners as needed. Maintain clear documentation and audit trails for intercompany, related-party, and joint venture transactions. Controls Compliance and External Relationships Maintain and follow internal controls over cash, purchasing, accounts payable, payroll interfaces, billing, receivables, journal entries, master data, and financial reporting for the assigned company. Prepare schedules and respond to requests for the annual financial statement audit, tax compliance, agreed-upon procedures, insurance audits, and other external examinations. Provide accurate and timely entity-level information needed for banking, surety, bonding, covenant, and other corporate reporting. Help monitor compliance with contractual requirements, accounting standards, company policies, and applicable federal and state rules. Promote sound segregation of duties, approval practices, documentation, record retention, and fraud-prevention controls. Treasury Systems and Process Improvement Prepare short-term cash forecasts, review bank reconciliations, and monitor working capital for the assigned company. Improve reconciliations and recurring reporting, reduce unnecessary manual work, and document practical standard operating procedures. Prepare useful reporting on close status, WIP quality, billing and collections, cash flow, backlog, profitability, and balance-sheet items. Use the ERP, project management, payroll, equipment, AP, and reporting systems effectively and help maintain reliable data and appropriate system controls. Leadership and Business Partnership Supervise and support assigned accounting staff, clarify responsibilities, review work, provide coaching, and ensure dependable coverage. Serve as a credible, solutions-oriented partner to operations, estimating, equipment, human resources, IT, and executive leadership. Translate complex accounting matters into practical business guidance and communicate concerns early, clearly, and constructively. Participate in budgeting, forecasting, system improvements, and other projects assigned by the CFO or operating leadership. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including experience as a Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or Senior Project Accountant. Meaningful experience in construction accounting, preferably heavy highway, civil infrastructure, site development, or another project-based contractor environment. Demonstrated command of percentage-of-completion/revenue recognition, WIP schedules, job costing, cost-to-complete forecasting, and over/under billings. Experience with multi-entity consolidations, intercompany accounting and eliminations, and complex reconciliations. Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial statement preparation, internal controls, and audit coordination. Advanced Excel and financial systems skills, with the ability to improve reporting and data reliability. Ability to supervise staff, collaborate with peer controllers, and operate effectively in a fast-paced, operationally driven environment. Preferred Qualifications Public accounting experience serving construction or engineering clients. Experience accounting for joint ventures, including partner reporting and consolidation/equity-method analysis. Experience with DOT or other government-funded construction projects and related compliance requirements. Experience supporting surety, bonding, banking, and contractor-focused external reporting. Experience implementing or optimizing a construction ERP and business intelligence/reporting tools. CPA or CCIFP designation. Success Measures Accurate, complete entity-level monthly close delivered within the agreed timeline, with timely resolution of assigned intercompany or JV differences. Reliable WIP and project-margin reporting that gives management early visibility into risk and opportunity. Useful and timely budget-to-actual reporting for internal overhead departments, with material variances researched, explained, and resolved with department heads. Timely audits, tax packages, lender and surety reporting, with minimal adjustments and no significant control deficiencies. Improved cash forecasting, billing, collections, and balance-sheet reconciliation discipline. Documented, scalable processes and measurable reduction in manual work and reporting cycle time. Dependable support for the assigned accounting staff and strong working relationships with operations, corporate accounting, and peer controllers. Leadership Profile The successful candidate will combine technical depth with sound judgment, and a willingness to be hands-on. They will be organized without being bureaucratic, appropriately skeptical without losing momentum, and able to build trust with field and office leaders. High integrity, ownership, discretion, attention to detail, and clear communication are essential. Work Environment & Travel This position is based in Charlotte, NC and requires regular interaction with corporate, regional, project, and joint venture teams. Periodic travel to offices, project sites, and partner locations in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia may be required. The role may require additional hours during month-end, year-end, budgeting, audit, and other peak periods, with an average of 45-50 hours per week. Equal Employment Opportunity United Infrastructure Group, Inc., is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities. #J-18808-Ljbffr United Infrastructure Group