Controller
Rochester, New York
Insero Talent Solutions is partnering with a well-established, privately held commercial construction and services organization in Rochester, NY to recruit a Controller to join its executive leadership team. With a longstanding history in the region, multiple locations, and a workforce of more than 200 employees, the organization has built a strong reputation for quality, integrity, and exceptional service.
The Controller will oversee the day-to-day accounting and financial operations of the organization while working closely with ownership, operational leadership, banking partners, bonding companies, vendors, and external advisors. This is a hands-on position requiring someone who is comfortable managing the financial function while also getting into the details of the business.
The ideal candidate will bring strong accounting fundamentals along with experience in construction, contracting, skilled trades, or a related project-based environment. The Controller should understand the unique financial requirements of a construction business, including job costing, WIP reporting, cash flow planning, bonding, prevailing wage requirements, and union payroll.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee day-to-day accounting and financial operations, including financial reporting, general ledger activities, accounts receivable, collections, and cash management.
- Prepare and maintain accurate monthly and year-end financial statements and management reporting.
- Manage construction-specific accounting activities, including job costing, WIP schedules, project profitability, and related financial documentation.
- Monitor cash flow and forecast short- and medium-term cash needs, particularly around seasonal fluctuations in material, labor, and operating requirements.
- Manage relationships with banking partners, including the company’s line of credit and financing needs.
- Coordinate bonding requirements and maintain relationships with bonding, insurance, and other external business partners.
- Provide oversight of union payroll, including prevailing wage requirements, fringe benefits, changing pay rates, and appropriate allocation of labor costs to jobs.
- Partner with operational leaders to ensure project costs, labor, materials, and other expenses are accurately captured and reported.
- Coordinate with external accounting advisors on tax planning, compliance, and annual financial reporting requirements rather than directly owning the tax function.
- Support budgeting and financial forecasting and provide ownership with practical financial information to support business decisions.
- Maintain and strengthen internal controls, accounting processes, and financial procedures.
- Assist with other administrative, HR, and operational needs as necessary within a collaborative, hands-on environment.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline required; CPA and/or MBA preferred.
- 5+ years of progressive accounting and financial leadership experience, ideally at the Controller level or in a comparable hands-on financial leadership role.
- Experience within construction, contracting, skilled trades, or a closely related project-based business strongly preferred.
- Strong knowledge of construction accounting concepts, including job costing and WIP reporting.
- Experience with cash flow management, forecasting, banking relationships, lines of credit, and bonding.
- Experience with union payroll, prevailing wage requirements, and related reporting/documentation strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of financial reporting, general accounting, internal controls, and month-end/year-end processes.
- Ability to build effective relationships with ownership, employees, vendors, banks, bonding companies, and external accounting partners.
- Comfortable working within a privately held business where responsibilities may extend beyond traditional accounting functions.
- Hands-on, resourceful approach with the willingness to step in wherever needed.
- Strong communication skills, judgment, integrity, and discretion.