Controller

About the Role

a growing commercial services and project-based organization, is seeking an experienced Controller to lead its accounting and financial operations. This is a highly visible leadership role reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a key business partner to operations, project management, and leadership teams. The ideal candidate is a hands-on Controller with a strong background in project-based accounting, job costing, and financial reporting who can operate independently and provide meaningful financial insight to support continued growth. This position is best suited for an experienced Controller with proven success in project-based accounting environments and deep expertise in job costing, WIP reporting, financial leadership, and operational partnership.

Responsibilities

• Financial Leadership & Accounting Operations
• Oversee all accounting functions, including month-end close, financial reporting, account reconciliations, and internal controls.
• Prepare timely and accurate monthly financial statements and supporting analysis.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a small accounting team while ensuring strong operational execution.
• Job Costing & Work-in-Progress (WIP) Reporting
• Maintain accurate job costing and project accounting processes.
• Manage monthly WIP reporting, including cost-to-complete analysis, labor and material variances, change orders, and project profitability tracking.
• Identify margin trends and potential project risks early, providing actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Budgeting, Forecasting & Cash Management
• Develop and manage annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and cash flow projections.
• Analyze financial performance against budget and forecast expectations.
• Provide clear explanations of variances and key business drivers.
• Reporting & Business Analytics
• Develop management reporting packages and KPI dashboards.
• Deliver meaningful financial insights that support strategic decision-making.
• Monitor trends across revenue, profitability, backlog, and operational performance.
• Systems & Process Improvement
• Improve financial processes and reporting efficiency through system enhancements and automation.
• Support integration and optimization of accounting, payroll, and operational systems to reduce manual processes and improve data accuracy.
• Cross-Functional Partnership
• Collaborate closely with operations, project management, sales, and executive leadership teams.
• Serve as a trusted financial advisor, translating financial information into practical business recommendations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CPA preferred but not required.
• Proven experience as a Controller or senior accounting leader with full ownership of accounting operations and financial reporting.
• Strong background in project-based accounting, including job costing, WIP schedules, profitability analysis, and cost-to-complete reporting.
• Experience developing budgets, forecasts, and cash flow projections.
• Prior leadership experience managing and developing accounting staff.
• Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience within construction, contracting, mechanical services, HVAC, engineering, or other project-driven environments strongly preferred.

Required Skills

• Independent, hands-on leader who takes ownership and drives results.
• Strong business partner capable of building credibility across operational teams.
• Proactive problem solver who identifies issues early and implements solutions.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and a collaborative leadership style.
• Comfortable working in a growing organization where agility and accountability are valued.