Controller

Job Description

Job Description

Controller

Department: Finance & Accounting
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer / Executive Leadership
Location: Austin, TX
Employment Type: Full-Time
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Annual Revenue: $25M–$50M
Compensation: $120,000–$165,000 base salary, commensurate with experience
Benefits: Health insurance, 401(k), and PTO
Work Arrangement: On-site

Position Summary

The Controller is responsible for overseeing and managing the financial operations of the company, ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, regulatory compliance, and effective cash-flow management. This position plays a critical role in supporting the company’s financial health and profitability while partnering closely with Executive Leadership, Operations, Estimating, Project Management, and Human Resources.

The ideal candidate will have strong construction-industry accounting experience and a thorough understanding of job costing, work-in-progress (WIP) reporting, percentage-of-completion accounting, subcontractor and vendor payables, retainage, project billing, cash flow, and construction financial reporting .

The Controller will provide leadership to the accounting function and ensure financial information is accurate, timely, and useful for management decision-making.

This is a lean, hands-on accounting team, and the Controller will have significant ownership over the function—shaping processes, systems, and reporting directly rather than operating through layers of staff. This is an excellent opportunity for a Controller who wants direct influence over how the accounting operation is built and run.

Essential ResponsibilitiesFinancial Management & Reporting

• Oversee all day-to-day accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, cash management, and financial reporting.
• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Ensure financial statements are accurate, complete, and prepared in accordance with applicable accounting principles.
• Develop and monitor financial reporting and key performance indicators for Executive Leadership.
• Provide financial analysis, forecasting, and recommendations to support business decisions.
• Monitor company profitability, overhead, margins, and operating expenses.
• Establish and maintain appropriate accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Manage the company’s annual budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Coordinate with outside CPA firms, auditors, tax professionals, banks, insurance providers, and other financial partners.

Construction Accounting & Job Costing

• Oversee construction accounting processes and ensure accurate job-cost reporting.
• Review job cost activity, including labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, and other project expenses.
• Monitor project profitability and identify potential cost overruns or margin concerns.
• Review and analyze WIP schedules and percentage-of-completion calculations.
• Work closely with Project Managers and Operations to ensure project financial information is accurate and current.
• Review contract values, change orders, committed costs, billings, payments, and projected costs to complete.
• Monitor project cash flow and identify potential billing or collection issues.
• Ensure proper accounting for retainage, deposits, prepaid expenses, and other construction-specific financial items.
• Assist leadership in evaluating project performance and financial risk.
• Establish financial controls to minimize project losses, errors, and unapproved expenditures.

Accounts Payable, Receivable & Cash Flow

• Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable functions.
• Establish appropriate payment procedures and ensure vendors and subcontractors are paid accurately and timely.
• Monitor outstanding receivables and assist with collection efforts when necessary.
• Review aging reports and identify past-due accounts.
• Monitor subcontractor and vendor balances, retainage, and payment status.
• Maintain appropriate cash reserves and manage daily cash-flow requirements.
• Review and approve significant expenditures in accordance with company policy.
• Ensure appropriate documentation is maintained for vendor and subcontractor payments.

Payroll & Benefits

• Oversee payroll processing and ensure accurate and timely payroll reporting.
• Coordinate with the Office Manager and our PEO partner (Employer Flexible) regarding employee changes, deductions, benefits, and payroll-related issues.
• Review payroll reports and ensure appropriate accounting treatment of payroll expenses.
• Assist with annual payroll reporting, audits, and compliance requirements.

Compliance, Risk & Internal Controls

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local financial and tax requirements.
• Maintain appropriate segregation of duties and financial controls.
• Monitor company banking relationships and authorized users.
• Oversee sales tax, payroll tax, business tax, and other applicable filings in coordination with outside professionals.
• Assist with annual financial, insurance, bonding, workers’ compensation, and other required audits.
• Maintain accurate and organized financial records and documentation.
• Identify financial risks and recommend corrective actions to Executive Leadership.

Leadership & Team Management

• Directly supervise the Accounting Specialist (Accounts Payable) and the Office Manager.
• Lead, mentor, and develop accounting personnel.
• Establish clear expectations, workflows, deadlines, and accountability within the accounting department.
• Review accounting processes regularly and identify opportunities for increased efficiency and automation.
• Promote accuracy, professionalism, confidentiality, and collaboration within the accounting team.
• Partner with the Office Manager, our PEO partner, and Executive Leadership on staffing, performance management, and organizational needs within the accounting function.

Executive & Operational Support

• Serve as a financial advisor to Executive Leadership.
• Provide financial information and analysis necessary for strategic planning and decision-making.
• Collaborate with Operations, Estimating, and Project Management to improve project profitability and financial performance.
• Assist with annual planning, business forecasting, capital expenditures, and long-term financial strategy.
• Evaluate financial implications of new contracts, major purchases, equipment acquisitions, and other significant business decisions.
• Provide financial guidance regarding project and company-level risks.
• Participate in leadership meetings and provide financial updates and recommendations.

QualificationsRequired

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field or equivalent combination of education and significant relevant experience.
• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, preferably within the construction industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing or supervising an accounting function.
• Strong understanding of construction accounting and job costing.
• Experience with WIP schedules and percentage-of-completion accounting.
• Strong knowledge of financial statements, general ledger accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cash-flow management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding financial, employee, and company information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with accounting software and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

Preferred

• Experience with Viewpoint Vista (our accounting platform) strongly preferred; familiarity with Procore (used company-wide for project management) is a plus.
• Experience leading or supporting an ERP/accounting system conversion or implementation (e.g., transitioning from a legacy platform to a system with stronger project-management integration) preferred.
• Experience working for a commercial general contractor.
• CPA or other professional accounting designation.
• Experience with bonding requirements and construction financial reporting.
• Experience preparing financial information for surety companies.
• Experience with multi-project job costing and WIP reporting.
• Experience managing construction-industry audits.

Key Competencies

• Financial Leadership: Understands the company’s financial position and provides meaningful guidance to leadership.
• Construction Knowledge: Understands the relationship between accounting, project performance, contracts, costs, billings, and profitability.
• Analytical Thinking: Able to identify trends, discrepancies, risks, and opportunities through financial data.
• Attention to Detail: Maintains a high degree of accuracy while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Leadership: Develops and holds the accounting team accountable while maintaining a collaborative work environment.
• Communication: Clearly communicates financial information to both accounting and non-accounting personnel.
• Business Judgment: Balances financial controls with the operational needs of the business.
• Integrity & Confidentiality: Handles sensitive financial and employee information with discretion and professionalism.
• Problem Solving: Proactively identifies issues and develops practical solutions.

Performance Measures

Success in this position will be measured by:

• Accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting.
• Accurate and timely WIP and job-cost reporting.
• Effective cash-flow management.
• Timely collection of accounts receivable.
• Accurate accounts payable and subcontractor payment processes.
• Effective internal financial controls.
• Accurate project profitability reporting.
• Compliance with financial, tax, insurance, bonding, and audit requirements.
• Development and performance of the accounting team.
• Ability to provide Executive Leadership with reliable financial information and actionable recommendations.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to work effectively in a professional office environment.
• Ability to sit, stand, and work at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally travel to project sites, banks, meetings, or other company-related locations as needed.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced construction environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Sabre Commercial is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment and to making employment decisions based on qualifications, experience, performance, and business needs.