Controller

Job Description

Job Description

Controller
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Classification: Exempt
Work Arrangement: On-site
About the Company
A rapidly growing specialty contractor serving data centers, commercial facilities, and industrial environments is seeking an experienced Controller to build and lead its accounting function.
The company has a hardworking, collaborative culture where employees are trusted to take ownership, contribute ideas, and support one another. The environment is fast-paced and entrepreneurial rather than highly formal or corporate. As the business expands, leadership wants to introduce stronger financial systems and processes without losing the practical, connected culture that has contributed to its success.
The Opportunity
The Controller will bring structure, visibility, and financial discipline to a rapidly growing project-based business. This individual will be responsible for creating the accounting infrastructure needed to support significant expansion while remaining closely involved in the daily work of the department.
This is a hands-on leadership opportunity. Initially, the Controller will personally manage core accounting activities while evaluating existing practices, strengthening the close process, improving project reporting, supporting an ERP implementation, and building the accounting team.
The successful candidate will understand construction accounting, communicate financial information clearly, and be comfortable building reliable processes in an environment that is still developing its financial infrastructure. This role is best suited for an established Controller who has previously led an accounting function and does not require a fully developed team or mature processes to be successful.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the Accounting Function

• Own monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes
• Produce accurate and timely financial statements and management reporting
• Establish clear accounting schedules, deadlines, reconciliations, and documentation standards
• Evaluate current practices and correct gaps affecting the accuracy or usefulness of financial information
• Maintain a hands-on role while building the team and gradually delegating transactional responsibilities

Strengthen Construction Accounting

• Maintain reliable project accounting, job costing, and work-in-progress reporting
• Oversee percentage-of-completion accounting, revenue recognition, retainage, overbillings, underbillings, and cost-to-complete calculations
• Partner with Operations to evaluate project performance, labor costs, purchasing activity, billing status, change orders, backlog, and margin
• Review project forecasts and challenge assumptions when operational information does not align with financial results
• Help leaders identify project risks early enough to take corrective action

Lead ERP Implementation and Process Improvement

• Serve as the accounting leader for the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning system
• Help define the chart of accounts, reporting dimensions, workflows, approval structures, and accounting requirements
• Support data conversion, system testing, reporting, training, and post-implementation process discipline
• Ensure the system reflects how the business operates rather than transferring outdated or undefined processes into a new platform
• Improve purchasing, inventory, expense, and documentation processes as the company’s operational needs become more complex

Build Scalable Controls

• Develop internal controls appropriate for a growing project-based organization
• Establish practical approval paths, separation of duties, reconciliations, and documentation requirements
• Protect company assets and improve the reliability of financial information
• Create processes employees can consistently follow without adding unnecessary administrative burden
• Identify and resolve the underlying causes of recurring accounting or reporting issues

Manage Cash and Working Capital

• Oversee billing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, banking activities, collections, and cash forecasting
• Monitor retainage and project-related working-capital requirements
• Improve visibility into cash needs created by rapid revenue and workforce growth
• Strengthen billing discipline and follow-up procedures
• Provide leadership with clear reporting on cash position, expected inflows, upcoming obligations, and financial risk

Support Planning and Growth

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning, and financial analysis
• Develop practical reporting related to revenue, gross margin, backlog, labor performance, cash flow, billing status, and project risk
• Support financial planning for new locations, service offerings, entities, and other expansion initiatives
• Build accounting processes and reporting capabilities that can scale with the organization
• Prepare the accounting function for increased complexity, transaction volume, and future financial leadership needs

Manage External Relationships

• Coordinate audit, tax, banking, insurance, bonding, and external accounting activities
• Maintain ownership of the accuracy and completeness of financial information provided to outside partners
• Support lender, insurance, and bonding information requests
• Ensure external advisors receive timely and reliable documentation
• Help leadership evaluate financial recommendations from outside professionals

Build and Develop the Team

• Assess the current accounting structure and identify future staffing needs
• Clarify responsibilities across accounting, billing, accounts payable, and accounts receivable
• Recruit, train, and develop accounting team members as the business grows
• Establish routines and controls that reduce dependence on any one employee’s institutional knowledge
• Create a culture of accountability, accuracy, responsiveness, and continuous improvement

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• Established experience serving as a Controller or senior accounting leader
• Accounting leadership experience within construction, specialty contracting, or another project-based business
• Strong knowledge of job costing, work-in-progress reporting, percentage-of-completion accounting, retainage, construction billing, and revenue recognition
• Demonstrated ownership of monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes
• Experience producing and explaining financial statements and operational reporting
• Experience implementing, converting, or materially improving an ERP or accounting platform
• Proven ability to improve accounting processes, internal controls, and financial reporting
• Experience leading and developing an accounting team
• Willingness to work at both the strategic and transactional levels while the department is being built
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly to operational and executive leaders
• Sound judgment and the confidence to challenge assumptions respectfully

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with a specialty contractor, electrical contractor, low-voltage contractor, or similar field-service organization
• Experience with Sage Intacct, Sage 300 CRE, or another comparable construction accounting platform
• Experience leading an accounting function through rapid organizational growth
• Experience establishing purchasing, inventory, asset-management, or project-control processes
• Experience supporting multi-location or multi-entity operations
• CPA certification
• CCIFP certification or relevant ERP credentials

Leadership Profile
The successful candidate will be:

• A proven Controller rather than someone entering the role for the first time
• Comfortable building processes where limited structure currently exists
• Willing to personally handle accounting work while developing the department
• Confident enough to ask difficult questions and address weak practices
• Practical and solutions-oriented rather than overly theoretical
• Able to operate effectively in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment
• Comfortable working with field and operational leaders
• Direct, approachable, and able to communicate without relying on technical accounting language
• Motivated by the opportunity to build something rather than inherit a finished function

Why This Opportunity Stands Out
This position offers the opportunity to become the senior accounting leader within a rapidly expanding organization at a pivotal stage of its development. The Controller will have significant influence over the company’s accounting systems, reporting, controls, staffing, and decision-making capabilities.
The right person will help ensure that the company’s financial infrastructure keeps pace with its growth. If you enjoy making project information dependable, creating processes people can follow, building capable teams, and giving leaders a clearer view of what lies ahead, this may be the right opportunity for you.