Controller

$150,000-$180,000 base salary | 15% target annual bonus; up to 20% Bonus eligibility and payout are subject to performance and plan terms. Lead the financial function. Improve how the business operates. An established, privately owned commercial landscape construction company with approximately $25 million in annual revenue is seeking a hands‑on Controller. Approximately $1.5 million of revenue comes from maintenance; the business is primarily focused on construction. As the most senior internal accounting and finance leader, you will report directly to the President, lead a small team, and strengthen reporting, project profitability visibility and business processes. Major financial, staffing and systems decisions will be made with the President, with greater day‑to‑day autonomy as you establish results. Why this opportunity Join a business with longstanding contractor relationships and a project history spanning retail, office, industrial and community developments. Help shape a stronger finance function, work directly with ownership and expand your responsibility as you demonstrate results. This role calls for initiative, practical solutions and consistent follow‑through. What you will own Accounting and reporting. Lead month‑end and year‑end close, reconciliations, financial statements and internal controls. Deliver accurate, timely GAAP‑based financial reporting and manage tax and other reporting obligations with specialist support where appropriate. Project financial performance. Manage job costing, WIP, construction revenue recognition, progress billing, retainage and change‑order tracking. Partner with estimating and operations on costs to complete, labor/equipment allocations and emerging margin risks. Cash and financial planning. Own cash forecasts, collections oversight, budgets, variance analysis and financial models. Manage banking and surety reporting and advise the President on working capital, equipment and staffing investments. Team leadership. Oversee payables, receivables, billing and payroll staff; coach, delegate and work hands‑on when needed. Bring appropriate outsourced accounting in‑house and recommend additional resources to the President. Systems and improvement. Improve QuickBooks, Bamboo and Zoho workflows, reporting and data quality. Reduce duplicate entry, implement practical automation and document processes while maintaining effective review controls. Broader administration. Initially oversee and, where needed, perform HR/benefits administration, payroll oversight, insurance renewals, workers' compensation administration and IT/vendor coordination. Recommend dedicated hires or outside support as needs become clear. What you bring 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including financial analysis and substantial experience supporting physical projects valued at $400k or more, from project start through closeout. Relevant project-based industry experience in commercial landscaping, general contracting, civil/sitework, specialty construction or a comparable business delivering large physical projects. Landscape‑specific experience is not required. Strong accounting and analytical skills, including financial statements, close, job costing, budgeting, cash forecasting and project profitability analysis. Construction WIP, progress billing and retainage experience are strongly preferred. Strong Excel and systems capability, with the ability to build useful financial models, improve workflows and explain results to nonfinancial leaders. QuickBooks familiarity is valuable; Bamboo, Zoho or comparable platform experience is helpful. Ownership and follow‑through: you identify problems, take action, communicate clearly and make processes more reliable and efficient. Experience leading or mentoring accounting staff is strongly preferred. Preferred background: Three or more years as a Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager or comparable financial leader. A bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or Business and a CPA or CMA designation are preferred, not required. Strong Assistant Controllers and Accounting Managers ready to take ownership of a broader function are encouraged to apply. What success looks like A dependable close and reporting process; clearer project margins and cash visibility; fewer manual workarounds; stronger controls; and an accountable, well‑supported team. You will help the President make informed decisions and turn improvement opportunities into completed changes. Location and schedule This is an on‑site position in Mesa, Arizona, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., with no travel required. Candidates prepared to relocate for an on‑site role are welcome to apply. Standard health coverage; retirement plan; paid time off and holidays; vehicle or allowance; fuel/mileage; phone; and any other approved benefits, to be discussed upon offer. #J-18808-Ljbffr Waters Business Consulting Group, LLC