Assistant Controller

Assistant Controller

The Assistant Controller serves as a hands-on partner to the Controller and supports the full accounting function for Company's project-based engineering and industrial services business. 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.

Working Conditions

• Onsite office-based in New Orleans, Louisiana, within a fast-paced project environment requiring accuracy, responsiveness, and effective management of multiple deadlines.
• This position is onsite and is not eligible for remote or hybrid work.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary commensurate with experience.
• Performance-based incentive bonuses.
• Comprehensive benefits package including:
• 401(k) matching
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional development opportunities

Schedule

• Full-time, Monday through Friday, with flexibility as needed for closing periods, reporting deadlines, audits, and business needs.

Work Location

• New Orleans, LA