• Costa Mesa, CA
  • $175,000–$250,000 Per Year
5 days ago

Job Description

The Controller is responsible for overseeing accounting, financial reporting, project accounting, internal controls, and financial operations for a growing construction organization. This role leads the accounting team while ensuring accurate financial reporting, compliance with U.S. GAAP, effective project cost management, and timely month-end and year-end close processes.
The ideal candidate is a Certified Public Accountant with deep experience in construction accounting, Work-in-Progress reporting, percentage-of-completion revenue recognition, project accounting, and Microsoft Dynamics. The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple competing deadlines, and partner effectively with operations and executive leadership.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Accounting & Reporting

  • Oversee general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, fixed assets, cash management, and related accounting operations.
  • Prepare and review timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
  • Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes, with clear calendars, ownership, and review controls.
  • Develop, document, and maintain accounting policies, procedures, reconciliations, and internal controls.
  • Prepare all documentation in a timely manner as requested for annual audits.

Construction & Project Accounting

  • Oversee project accounting across multiple construction projects and legal entities, as applicable.
  • Review project budgets, job cost reports, cost allocations, commitments, and project profitability analyses.
  • Ensure accurate accounting for change orders, retainage, subcontractor billings, project accruals, and estimated costs to complete.
  • Partner with project managers and operations leaders to monitor financial performance and identify project risks.
  • Analyze contract terms and their financial impact throughout the project lifecycle.

Work-in-Progress & Revenue Recognition

  • Prepare and review monthly Work-in-Progress (WIP) schedules.
  • Ensure accurate percentage-of-completion revenue recognition and accounting for long-term construction contracts.
  • Analyze contract value, costs incurred, estimated costs to complete, earned revenue, billings, overbillings, and underbillings.
  • Identify and communicate margin erosion, forecast deviations, loss contracts, and other project performance risks.
  • Facilitate disciplined monthly project reviews with operations and project management to maintain reliable forecasts.

Team Leadership & Development

  • Lead, mentor, and develop accounting personnel, including project accounting, general accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll resources.
  • Set clear performance expectations, assign responsibilities, and hold the team accountable for accuracy and deadlines.
  • Balance hands-on execution with effective delegation, coaching, succession planning, and cross-training.
  • Foster a collaborative, service-oriented, and high-performance culture.

Systems & Process Management

  • Serve as the accounting leader and subject-matter expert for Microsoft Dynamics.
  • Improve ERP utilization, financial reporting, project controls, data integrity, and workflow efficiency.
  • Partner with IT and operational stakeholders on system enhancements, integrations, access controls, and automation.
  • Drive continuous improvement while maintaining appropriate documentation and change management.

Compliance & Risk Management

  • Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local financial reporting requirements.
  • Maintain robust internal controls and support SOX-style documentation and control environments where applicable.
  • Protect company assets and confidential information through effective financial controls and sound professional judgment.

Qualifications

Required

  • Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license required.
  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
  • Minimum 8 to 10 years of progressive accounting experience, including significant construction industry experience.
  • At least 5 years of experience leading and managing accounting teams.
  • Demonstrated expertise in project accounting, job costing, WIP reporting, percentage-of-completion accounting, and revenue recognition for long-term contracts.
  • Hands-on experience with Microsoft Dynamics ERP systems.
  • Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial statement preparation.
  • Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel and financial analysis skills.

Preferred

  • Experience with a project-based contractor generating $200 million or more in annual revenue.
  • Experience with multi-entity or multi-location organizations.
  • Familiarity with construction bonding, surety requirements, and bank covenant reporting.
  • Experience leading accounting process improvements, ERP enhancements, or system implementations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

  • Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
  • Ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable business insights.
  • Strong leadership, coaching, communication, and team development capabilities.
  • Ability to partner cross-functionally with project management, operations, executive leadership, lenders, auditors, and sureties.
  • Results-oriented mindset with a consistent focus on accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and remain composed under tight deadlines.

Compensation & Benefits

  • Competitive base salary and annual performance bonus opportunity.
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • 401(k) plan with company match.
  • Paid time off and company holidays.
  • Professional development and CPA continuing education support.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal Controller is a hands-on accounting leader who understands both the financial and operational dimensions of a construction business. This individual brings deep expertise in WIP reporting, percentage-of-completion accounting, project financial management, and Microsoft Dynamics, while successfully leading teams in a fast-paced environment with competing deadlines and evolving business needs.

 

Pay: $175,000-$250,000


Numbers & Facts

LocationCosta Mesa, CA
Salary$175,000–$250,000 Per Year

Skills

  • Access Controlunmatched
  • Accountingunmatched
  • Accounting Closeunmatched
  • Accounting Policiesunmatched
  • Accounts Payableunmatched
  • Accounts Receivableunmatched
  • Analysis Skillsunmatched
  • Automationunmatched
  • Billingunmatched
  • Budgetingunmatched
  • Cash Managementunmatched
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)unmatched
  • Change Requests/Ordersunmatched
  • Coachingunmatched
  • Constructionunmatched
  • Construction Contractsunmatched
  • Construction Projectsunmatched
  • Continuous Improvementunmatched
  • Contract Analysisunmatched
  • Cost Allocationunmatched
  • Cost Engineeringunmatched
  • Cost Estimatesunmatched
  • Cost Reportingunmatched
  • Cross-Functionalunmatched
  • Data Qualityunmatched
  • Dental Insuranceunmatched
  • Detail Orientedunmatched
  • Document Change Managementunmatched
  • Documentationunmatched
  • ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)unmatched
  • Financeunmatched
  • Financial Accountingunmatched
  • Financial Analysisunmatched
  • Financial Complianceunmatched
  • Financial Controlunmatched
  • Financial Managementunmatched
  • Financial Operationsunmatched
  • Financial Projectionsunmatched
  • Financial Reportingunmatched
  • Financial Statementsunmatched
  • Fixed Asset Managementunmatched
  • Forecastingunmatched
  • General Ledger Accountingunmatched
  • Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)unmatched
  • Information Assetsunmatched
  • Leadershipunmatched
  • Legalunmatched
  • Loansunmatched
  • Mentoringunmatched
  • Microsoft Dynamicsunmatched
  • Microsoft Excelunmatched
  • Microsoft Projectunmatched
  • Multitaskingunmatched
  • Operational Auditunmatched
  • Operational Improvementunmatched
  • Operations Managementunmatched
  • Organizational Skillsunmatched
  • Performance Analysisunmatched
  • Problem Solving Skillsunmatched
  • Process Improvementunmatched
  • Process Managementunmatched
  • Profit & Loss Analysisunmatched
  • Progress Reportsunmatched
  • Project Controlunmatched
  • Project Estimatesunmatched
  • Project Evaluationunmatched
  • Project Lifecycleunmatched
  • Project Trackingunmatched
  • Project/Program Managementunmatched
  • Reconciliationunmatched
  • Revenue Accountingunmatched
  • Revenue Recognitionunmatched
  • Risk Analysisunmatched
  • Succession Planningunmatched
  • System Integration (SI)unmatched
  • Systems Administration/Managementunmatched
  • Team Buildingunmatched
  • Team Lead/Managerunmatched
  • Team Playerunmatched
  • Time Managementunmatched
  • Value Analysisunmatched
  • Vision Planunmatched

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