{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"104a181dbc77fc2455e88189","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/104a181dbc77fc2455e88189","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/104a181dbc77fc2455e88189","title":"Assistant Controller","description":"How We Build at BIG\nBIG Construction is a construction management firm specializing in the interior built environment. Founded and led by millennials, we prioritize right-fit solutions over legacy processes and leverage a high-value network to deliver exceptional results.\nGuided by our core values—Drive, Trust, Ideas, and Build—we’re committed to building meaningful relationships by understanding and addressing the needs of all stakeholders.\nOur proven process—Ask, Listen & Learn. Align. Budget. Contract. Execute. Retain.—ensures every project is approached with curiosity, collaboration, and precision.\nAt our core, our brand promise remains simple:\nWe will ask. We will listen. We will learn. We will deliver.\nThe Opportunity Ahead\nBIG Construction is looking for an Assistant Controller to play a critical role in strengthening and scaling our accounting function as we continue to grow. This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for ensuring financial accuracy, supporting operational decision-making, and building processes that can scale with the business.\nYou’ll partner closely with the VP, Finance and Administration, project teams, and cross-functional leaders to bring clarity to our financials, improve consistency across projects, and ensure we are operating with discipline and visibility.\nThis is an opportunity for someone who wants to go beyond transactional accounting and truly influence how the business runs.\nWho Thrives in This Role\nThis role is a strong fit for someone who:\nTakes ownership and follows through without needing to be asked twice\nIs comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment where not everything is perfectly defined\nBalances attention to detail with the ability to see the bigger picture\nCommunicates clearly and confidently with both finance and non-finance partners\nEnjoys digging into problems, identifying root causes, and improving processes\nCan shift between hands-on execution and higher-level thinking\nBuilds trust through consistency, reliability, and sound judgment\nWhere You’ll Make Your Mark\nIn this role, you’ll take ownership of core accounting operations while helping bring structure, visibility, and consistency to how we manage financial performance across the business. You will own the accuracy and integrity of financial data and outputs across the business.\nFinancial Close & Reporting\nLead and own the monthly close process, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the general ledger\nPrepare and review journal entries and account reconciliations, including credit cards\nDeliver timely, accurate financial reporting and analysis\nMaintain fixed asset schedules and depreciation\nSupport year-end financial statement review and tax processes, including preparation of workpapers and coordination with external accountants\nConstruction Accounting & Project Oversight\nOwn WIP reporting and revenue recognition processes, ensuring accuracy and alignment with project performance\nOwn project accounting outcomes, including job costing, billing, and WIP accuracy\nReview job cost activity to assess project-level financial risk and ensure accurate reporting\nOversee client billing and lien waiver processes to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with contract requirements\nPayroll & HR Partnership\nProcess biweekly payroll and weekly union payroll\nEnsure compliance with quarterly and year-end payroll filings and union reporting/payment requirements\nPartner with HR on wage updates, payroll changes, and employee leave impacts\nCash Flow, Banking & Financial Health\nOwn cash flow visibility, including forecasting support and monitoring of working capital and A/R trends\nPartner with operations to support A/R collections and resolve aging balances\nPrepare ad hoc financial reporting for banking and surety requests\nPerform monthly calculation and monitoring of financial covenant compliance\nTeam Leadership & Development\nSupervise and mentor Project Accountant(s) to ensure accurate job cost, billing, and financial reporting\nProvide guidance, accountability, and development support to accounting team members\nControls, Compliance & Process Improvement\nMaintain strong internal controls and consistent processes across the accounting function\nIdentify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy\nWhat Building Success Looks Like\nIn the first 6–12 months, success in this role looks like:\nMonthly close is timely, accurate, and well-organized\nFinancial reporting is trusted by leadership and used to drive decisions\nWIP and job cost reporting are consistent and clearly understood across teams\nPayroll processes are smooth, accurate, and compliant\nProject accounting is operating with strong oversight and accountability\nCash flow visibility is improved, with fewer surprises\nKey processes are documented, repeatable, and scalable\nStrong working relationships are built across accounting, operations, and HR\nThe Tools You Bring\n7–12+ years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in construction\nBachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance\nStrong understanding of construction accounting, including job cost, WIP, and billing\nExperience owning or heavily supporting month-end close\nFamiliarity with payroll processing, including union environments (preferred)\nAbility to analyze financial data and translate it into clear insights\nExperience working with accounting systems and reporting tools\nProficiency in Excel and financial analysis\nStrong attention to detail with a process-oriented mindset\nAbility to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities effectively\nCore Competencies & Attributes\nAccountability – Takes full ownership of responsibilities and outcomes\nFinancial Acumen – Understands how financial data connects to business performance\nProblem Solving – Identifies issues quickly and works toward practical solutions\nCommunication – Clearly explains financial concepts to non-finance partners\nContinuous Improvement – Looks for ways to make processes more efficient and scalable\nCollaboration – Works effectively across teams and builds strong partnerships\nThe BIG Basics\nThis role is expected to consistently demonstrate BIG Construction’s core values:\nDrive – Takes initiative, owns outcomes, and pushes work forward with urgency and accountability\nTrust – Builds credibility through accuracy, transparency, and follow-through\nIdeas – Brings forward thoughtful improvements and challenges the status quo where needed\nBuild – Strengthens processes, relationships, and team capability over time\nWork Environment & Physical Demands\nOnsite in the Chicago office\nAbility to remain in a seated position for extended periods\nAbility to move about the office to access equipment and supplies\nOccasional lifting of materials or event items (up to 10 lbs)\nFinal Notes on the Build\nThis description outlines primary responsibilities but may evolve as BIG continues to grow. Other duties may be assigned as needed.\nPay: $115,000.00 - $135,000.00 per year\nBenefits:\n401(k)\n401(k) matching\nDental insurance\nDisability insurance\nEmployee assistance program\nHealth insurance\nLife insurance\nOn-site gym\nOn-the-job training\nPaid sick time\nPaid time off\nParental leave\nProfessional development assistance\nReferral program\nVision insurance\nLocation:\nChicago, IL 60606 (Preferred)\nAbility to Commute:\nChicago, IL 60606 (Preferred)\nWork Location: In person","company":"Bigconstruction","rawCompany":"bigconstruction","city":"Chicago","state":"IL","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-08-05T01:27:46.265Z","occupations":[{"code":"11-9021.00","title":"Construction Managers","slug":"construction-managers"},{"code":"11-3031.01","title":"Treasurers and Controllers","slug":"treasurers-and-controllers"},{"code":"43-3031.00","title":"Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks","slug":"bookkeeping-accounting-and-auditing-clerks"}],"industries":[{"code":"236220","title":"Commercial and Institutional Building Construction","slug":"commercial-and-institutional-building-construction"},{"code":"237990","title":"Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction","slug":"other-heavy-and-civil-engineering-construction"},{"code":"238990","title":"All Other Specialty Trade Contractors","slug":"all-other-specialty-trade-contractors"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Assistant Controller","description":"How We Build at BIG\nBIG Construction is a construction management firm specializing in the interior built environment. Founded and led by millennials, we prioritize right-fit solutions over legacy processes and leverage a high-value network to deliver exceptional results.\nGuided by our core values—Drive, Trust, Ideas, and Build—we’re committed to building meaningful relationships by understanding and addressing the needs of all stakeholders.\nOur proven process—Ask, Listen & Learn. Align. Budget. Contract. Execute. Retain.—ensures every project is approached with curiosity, collaboration, and precision.\nAt our core, our brand promise remains simple:\nWe will ask. We will listen. We will learn. We will deliver.\nThe Opportunity Ahead\nBIG Construction is looking for an Assistant Controller to play a critical role in strengthening and scaling our accounting function as we continue to grow. This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for ensuring financial accuracy, supporting operational decision-making, and building processes that can scale with the business.\nYou’ll partner closely with the VP, Finance and Administration, project teams, and cross-functional leaders to bring clarity to our financials, improve consistency across projects, and ensure we are operating with discipline and visibility.\nThis is an opportunity for someone who wants to go beyond transactional accounting and truly influence how the business runs.\nWho Thrives in This Role\nThis role is a strong fit for someone who:\nTakes ownership and follows through without needing to be asked twice\nIs comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment where not everything is perfectly defined\nBalances attention to detail with the ability to see the bigger picture\nCommunicates clearly and confidently with both finance and non-finance partners\nEnjoys digging into problems, identifying root causes, and improving processes\nCan shift between hands-on execution and higher-level thinking\nBuilds trust through consistency, reliability, and sound judgment\nWhere You’ll Make Your Mark\nIn this role, you’ll take ownership of core accounting operations while helping bring structure, visibility, and consistency to how we manage financial performance across the business. You will own the accuracy and integrity of financial data and outputs across the business.\nFinancial Close & Reporting\nLead and own the monthly close process, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the general ledger\nPrepare and review journal entries and account reconciliations, including credit cards\nDeliver timely, accurate financial reporting and analysis\nMaintain fixed asset schedules and depreciation\nSupport year-end financial statement review and tax processes, including preparation of workpapers and coordination with external accountants\nConstruction Accounting & Project Oversight\nOwn WIP reporting and revenue recognition processes, ensuring accuracy and alignment with project performance\nOwn project accounting outcomes, including job costing, billing, and WIP accuracy\nReview job cost activity to assess project-level financial risk and ensure accurate reporting\nOversee client billing and lien waiver processes to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with contract requirements\nPayroll & HR Partnership\nProcess biweekly payroll and weekly union payroll\nEnsure compliance with quarterly and year-end payroll filings and union reporting/payment requirements\nPartner with HR on wage updates, payroll changes, and employee leave impacts\nCash Flow, Banking & Financial Health\nOwn cash flow visibility, including forecasting support and monitoring of working capital and A/R trends\nPartner with operations to support A/R collections and resolve aging balances\nPrepare ad hoc financial reporting for banking and surety requests\nPerform monthly calculation and monitoring of financial covenant compliance\nTeam Leadership & Development\nSupervise and mentor Project Accountant(s) to ensure accurate job cost, billing, and financial reporting\nProvide guidance, accountability, and development support to accounting team members\nControls, Compliance & Process Improvement\nMaintain strong internal controls and consistent processes across the accounting function\nIdentify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy\nWhat Building Success Looks Like\nIn the first 6–12 months, success in this role looks like:\nMonthly close is timely, accurate, and well-organized\nFinancial reporting is trusted by leadership and used to drive decisions\nWIP and job cost reporting are consistent and clearly understood across teams\nPayroll processes are smooth, accurate, and compliant\nProject accounting is operating with strong oversight and accountability\nCash flow visibility is improved, with fewer surprises\nKey processes are documented, repeatable, and scalable\nStrong working relationships are built across accounting, operations, and HR\nThe Tools You Bring\n7–12+ years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in construction\nBachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance\nStrong understanding of construction accounting, including job cost, WIP, and billing\nExperience owning or heavily supporting month-end close\nFamiliarity with payroll processing, including union environments (preferred)\nAbility to analyze financial data and translate it into clear insights\nExperience working with accounting systems and reporting tools\nProficiency in Excel and financial analysis\nStrong attention to detail with a process-oriented mindset\nAbility to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities effectively\nCore Competencies & Attributes\nAccountability – Takes full ownership of responsibilities and outcomes\nFinancial Acumen – Understands how financial data connects to business performance\nProblem Solving – Identifies issues quickly and works toward practical solutions\nCommunication – Clearly explains financial concepts to non-finance partners\nContinuous Improvement – Looks for ways to make processes more efficient and scalable\nCollaboration – Works effectively across teams and builds strong partnerships\nThe BIG Basics\nThis role is expected to consistently demonstrate BIG Construction’s core values:\nDrive – Takes initiative, owns outcomes, and pushes work forward with urgency and accountability\nTrust – Builds credibility through accuracy, transparency, and follow-through\nIdeas – Brings forward thoughtful improvements and challenges the status quo where needed\nBuild – Strengthens processes, relationships, and team capability over time\nWork Environment & Physical Demands\nOnsite in the Chicago office\nAbility to remain in a seated position for extended periods\nAbility to move about the office to access equipment and supplies\nOccasional lifting of materials or event items (up to 10 lbs)\nFinal Notes on the Build\nThis description outlines primary responsibilities but may evolve as BIG continues to grow. Other duties may be assigned as needed.\nPay: $115,000.00 - $135,000.00 per year\nBenefits:\n401(k)\n401(k) matching\nDental insurance\nDisability insurance\nEmployee assistance program\nHealth insurance\nLife insurance\nOn-site gym\nOn-the-job training\nPaid sick time\nPaid time off\nParental leave\nProfessional development assistance\nReferral program\nVision insurance\nLocation:\nChicago, IL 60606 (Preferred)\nAbility to Commute:\nChicago, IL 60606 (Preferred)\nWork Location: In person","datePosted":"2026-08-05T01:27:46.265Z","dateModified":"2026-08-05T01:27:46.265Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Bigconstruction","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Chicago","addressRegion":"IL","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"104a181dbc77fc2455e88189"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/104a181dbc77fc2455e88189"}}