Controller POST NUMBER: 480599

Vaco is hiring for a Construction Controller opportunity in Cincinnati OH
Direct Hire, Onsite
Salary: $120,000/yr

Position Summary

We are seeking a hands-on Controller to oversee all accounting and financial operations for a growing mechanical contracting and construction services organization. This role is responsible for managing the full accounting cycle, including payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, job costing, financial reporting, cash management, tax compliance, and financial analysis.

The ideal candidate will possess strong construction accounting experience, a deep understanding of job costing and work-in-progress (WIP) reporting, and the ability to partner closely with operations and project management teams to support profitable project execution. As a key member of the leadership team, this individual will play a critical role in maintaining accurate financial records, ensuring compliance with union and prevailing wage requirements, and providing actionable financial insights to support strategic business decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management & Reporting

• Oversee all accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, job costing, fixed assets, and financial reporting.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and supporting schedules.
• Perform account reconciliations, including bank accounts, loans, investments, and subsidiary ledgers.
• Maintain cash flow forecasts and monitor liquidity.
• Prepare monthly work-in-progress (WIP) and jobs-in-progress reports.
• Record depreciation, accruals, asset additions, and recurring journal entries.
• Develop KPI reporting, financial analyses, and management reports for leadership.
• Support annual audits, reviews, and other financial examinations.

Construction Accounting & Job Costing

• Oversee project setup, including budgets, labor allocations, tax requirements, and job coding.
• Monitor project costs and investigate variances to ensure accurate profitability reporting.
• Maintain job cost systems and proper allocation of labor, materials, subcontractor costs, and equipment charges.
• Review WIP reports and collaborate with project managers to ensure accurate forecasting.
• Administer prevailing wage compliance, certified payroll reporting, and project-specific reporting requirements.
• Coordinate notices of furnishing and other project documentation requirements.

Payroll & Union Reporting

• Oversee weekly payroll processing for union and non-union employees.
• Review and approve payroll submissions while ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Prepare payroll-related journal entries and labor reporting.
• Administer union fringe benefit reporting, pension contributions, dues payments, and prevailing wage calculations.
• Maintain payroll records, employee deductions, insurance contributions, vacation balances, and compensation updates.
• Respond to unemployment claims and payroll-related inquiries.
• Coordinate certified payroll reporting for government and prevailing wage projects.

Accounts Receivable & Billing

• Oversee customer billing, including progress billings, AIA billings, service billings, and contract invoicing.
• Monitor accounts receivable aging and collection activities.
• Partner with project managers and customers to resolve billing disputes and collection issues.
• Track and collect retainage balances.
• Manage cash receipts and ensure accurate application of payments.
• Reconcile receivables between operational and accounting systems.

Accounts Payable & Vendor Management

• Oversee accounts payable operations and payment scheduling.
• Ensure subcontractor payments align with project cash flow and collections.
• Review invoice coding and vendor setup processes.
• Approve ACH payments, wire transfers, and check disbursements.
• Reconcile credit card accounts and recurring payment activity.
• Maintain vendor compliance documentation and prepare annual 1099 filings.

Compliance, Tax & Audit Support

• Prepare quarterly Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) and local income tax filings.
• Coordinate annual insurance audits, union audits, and financial reviews.
• Maintain compliance with prevailing wage, certified payroll, and labor reporting requirements.
• Ensure accurate maintenance of employee, vendor, subcontractor, and project records.
• Support year-end close activities and external accountant requests.

Leadership & Business Partnership

• Partner with ownership, project managers, operations leaders, and administrative staff to support business objectives.
• Provide financial guidance related to project performance, cash flow, profitability, and operational efficiency.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, bonus calculations, and strategic planning initiatives.
• Develop and improve accounting processes, internal controls, and reporting capabilities.
• Perform special projects and financial analyses as requested by leadership.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 7 years of progressive accounting experience, preferably within construction, mechanical contracting, or project-based industries.
• Strong understanding of construction accounting, job costing, percentage-of-completion accounting, and WIP reporting.
• Experience managing payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, and financial statement preparation.
• Knowledge of prevailing wage requirements, certified payroll, union reporting, and fringe benefit administration.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with accounting and ERP systems.

Preferred

• Previous experience as a Controller, Assistant Controller, Construction Accounting Manager, or Senior Accountant.
• Experience with ComputerEase, ServiceTitan, Viewpoint, or similar construction accounting software.
• CPA designation or CPA-track candidate.
• Experience supporting audits, tax filings, and insurance compliance reviews.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual’s skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company’s 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.