Controller

Summary A growing mechanical contractor is seeking an experienced Controller to lead the transition of its accounting operations from an outsourced function to a fully developed in-house department. This is a hands-on leadership position responsible for overseeing company financials while remaining closely involved in construction accounting, WIP reporting, job costing, forecasting, and project profitability. The ideal candidate comes from a construction or specialty contractor environment and understands both corporate accounting and the project-level financials that drive a contracting business. This person will work directly with ownership, leadership, and Project Managers while building the accounting team, systems, and processes needed to support continued growth. Key Responsibilities Lead the transition from outsourced accounting to a fully functioning internal accounting department Build, hire, train, and develop the accounting team as the company grows Establish accounting procedures, internal controls, reporting standards, and scalable financial processes Oversee AP, AR, payroll, general ledger, reconciliations, and month-end/year-end close Prepare and review monthly financial statements and management reporting Own WIP reporting, job costing, percentage-of-completion accounting, and revenue recognition Monitor project budgets, actual and committed costs, billings, and projected margins Review cost-to-complete, underbillings, overbillings, and budget-to-actual performance Partner directly with Project Managers to identify cost variances, potential overruns, and changes in projected profitability Review job cost reports and provide actionable financial information to operations and ownership Manage forecasting, budgeting, cash flow, and financial planning Monitor progress billing, retainage, collections, change orders, and project cash flow Ensure accurate accounting for construction contracts and project-related transactions Coordinate with external CPAs, auditors, banks, insurance providers, and financial partners Provide ownership and senior leadership with financial reporting, analysis, and recommendations Develop the accounting infrastructure needed to support continued company growth Requirements 5+ years of progressive accounting experience Construction accounting experience strongly preferred Experience as a Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or senior construction accounting professional Strong understanding of WIP reporting, job costing, percentage-of-completion accounting, and construction financials Experience analyzing cost-to-complete, project margins, underbillings/overbillings, and budget-to-actual performance Strong knowledge of general ledger accounting, financial statements, AP/AR, payroll, and month-end close Experience working directly with Project Managers and construction operations teams Proven ability to establish or improve accounting processes, controls, and reporting systems Leadership experience with the ability to build and develop an accounting team Strong Excel, financial analysis, and reporting skills Experience with construction accounting or ERP platforms preferred Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills Comfortable being a hands-on Controller rather than solely overseeing the department Preferred Background Mechanical contractor Plumbing contractor HVAC contractor Electrical contractor General contractor Specialty construction contractor Experience within a project-based construction environment where job costing, WIP, progress billing, and project profitability are central to financial reporting is strongly preferred. Compensation & Benefits Competitive salary based on experience Performance-based bonus potential Medical, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) Paid holidays and PTO Direct exposure to company ownership and senior leadership Opportunity to build and lead the accounting department from the ground up Long-term advancement opportunity with a growing mechanical contractor