Controller

Our client is seeking an experienced and hands-on Controller to lead the accounting and financial operations for a growing specialty contracting organization with approximately $20M in annual revenue. This leadership role will oversee all accounting functions, financial reporting, budgeting, cash management, and internal controls while serving as a key business partner to executive leadership and operations teams. The Controller is a senior financial leadership role responsible for all accounting operations, financial reporting, and internal controls of a $20 million masonry restoration company. This position reports to the President and serves as the primary financial partner to company leadership and project management teams, with deep expertise in construction accounting - particularly project cost management, work in process (WIP) reporting, and percentage-of-completion (POC) revenue recognition. The Controller ensures financial data integrity, drives operational profitability insights, and maintains compliance with GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Project Costing & Job Cost ManagementEstablish and maintain job cost accounting systems for all active masonry restoration projects, ensuring accurate tracking of labor, materials, subcontractors, equipment, and overhead. Monitor actual vs. budgeted costs on a project-by-project basis; provide timely variance analysis to project managers and executive leadership. Collaborate with estimators and project managers to develop project budgets, cost codes, and cost allocation methodologies. Analyze labor productivity and cost trends across projects; identify and report on cost overruns or inefficiencies. Oversee the setup of new job cost records including contract amounts, change orders, and cost-to-complete estimates. Work in Process (WIP) ReportingPrepare and distribute monthly WIP schedules encompassing all open contracts, including earned revenue, billings to date, over/under billing positions, and estimated gross profit. Analyze and interpret WIP report fluctuations; communicate material changes to leadership and project managers. Coordinate with project managers to obtain accurate cost-to-complete and percent-complete estimates for each project at month-end close. Identify overbilling and underbilling positions and ensure proper recording and disclosure in financial statements. Maintain WIP aging and backlog schedules; track trends in contract profitability and completion timelines. Financial Reporting & General AccountingApply and manage percentage-of-completion (POC) revenue recognition in accordance with construction industry GAAP standards. Ensure accuracy and consistency of POC calculations during monthly and year-end close processes. Manage the full monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring timely issuance of accurate financial statements. Prepare and present monthly financial reports including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and executive dashboards. Maintain the general ledger and chart of accounts; ensure proper classification of transactions in accordance with GAAP. Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, including lien waivers, retainage tracking, and subcontractor compliance. Manage the annual financial audit or review engagement, serving as the primary liaison to external CPAs. Prepare and file all applicable tax returns and coordinate with external tax advisors on federal, state, and local tax obligations. Budgeting, Forecasting & Cash ManagementLead the annual company-wide budgeting process, working cross-functionally with operations, estimating, and executive leadership. Prepare rolling cash flow forecasts with attention to project billing cycles, retainage release schedules, and seasonal revenue patterns. Monitor banking relationships and credit facilities; manage line-of-credit usage and covenant compliance reporting. Analyze company-level gross margin and overhead absorption to support pricing strategy and operational decision-making. Internal Controls & ComplianceDesign, implement, and enforce internal controls over financial reporting, cash handling, and purchasing authorization. Ensure compliance with bonding, insurance, and prevailing wage requirements as applicable to public and commercial restoration contracts. Maintain organized financial records in accordance with document retention policies and contractual requirements. Assist in the preparation of certified payroll reports and other compliance documentation for government-funded projects as required. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS EducationBachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, or a closely related field from an accredited four-year college or university (required). CPA, CMA or equivalent professional certification is a plus, but not required. ExperienceMinimum of ten (10) years of progressive accounting experience, with demonstrated advancement in responsibility. A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the construction industry, with direct experience in a general contracting, specialty contracting, or restoration environment strongly preferred. Proven hands-on experience with job cost accounting, WIP reporting, and percentage-of-completion revenue recognition. Experience managing accounting staff and overseeing a full-cycle accounting function. Prior Controller or Assistant Controller experience preferred. Technical SkillsProficiency in construction accounting software (e.g., Sage 100 or 300 CRE, Viewpoint Vista, Foundation, Procore Financials, or similar). Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and financial modeling. Strong working knowledge of GAAP as applied to construction and long-term contracts, including ASC 606. Familiarity with certified payroll, prevailing wage, and public works contract requirements is a plus. COMPENSATION & BENEFITSThis position is office-based. Competitive base salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Performance-based bonus tied to company profitability and financial accuracy benchmarks. Comprehensive health insurance. 401(k) with employer match. Paid time off and paid holidays.Equal Opportunity NoticeHighspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact HR@vaco.com .Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.Representation NoticeBy submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.Privacy NoticeVaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.Residents of all other states may access our policies here.Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.Additionally, 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. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.Pay Transparency NoticeDetermining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:· the individual's skill sets, experience and training;· licensure and certification requirements;· office location and other geographic considerations; and· other business and organizational needs.With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).