Financial Controller

Job Title: Controller – Heavy/Highway Construction

Job Summary The Controller will plan, direct, and oversee the accounting and financial operations of the Company, a Cleveland‑based heavy/highway construction firm specializing in concrete paving, bridge work, underground utilities rehabilitation, and highway/roadway construction for public and private sector owners. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate financial reporting, implementing strong internal controls, and providing strategic financial insight to support bids, project execution, and long‑term growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the day‑to‑day operations of the Accounting Department, including job cost accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, payroll, and general ledger.
  • Take lead in collecting A/R
  • Take lead in verifying all billings are timely             
• Maintain and continuously improve a documented system of accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls tailored to a heavy/highway, union construction environment.
  • Research and implementation of more efficient processes in accounting and job costing
  • Research and implementation of better invoice costing
• Oversee the production of timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reports; ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and applicable construction industry standards.
• Direct the job cost process, including cost coding, work‑in‑progress (WIP) reporting, change order tracking, and margin analysis for concrete paving, bridge, utilities, and highway projects.
• Develop, monitor, and analyze the annual operating budget and rolling forecasts; highlight significant variances and trends for leadership and project management teams.
• Provide financial modeling and analysis to support bid strategy, capital investments (e.g., equipment and maintenance facility assets), and contract negotiations with owners and subcontractors.
• Partner with estimating and project management to evaluate project profitability, cash flow, and risk profiles on ODOT, municipal, county, and other public‑sector contracts.
• Manage cash flow, working capital, and banking relationships; optimize use of credit lines and bonding capacity to support a multi‑project portfolio.
• Coordinate quarterly and annual external financial reviews/audits; prepare required schedules and manage relationships with auditors, sureties, and tax advisors.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal tax and regulatory requirements, including payroll, sales/use, and other construction‑related filings.
• Oversee accurate and timely payroll processing for unionized craftspeople and staff, ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements, prevailing wage, and certified payroll reporting where applicable.
• Implement and maintain accounting and project cost software; ensure data integrity and provide reporting that supports field operations and executive decision‑making.
• Support continuous improvement in financial processes and reporting to align with the Company's philosophy of quality, cost‑effective, and creative solutions for its customers.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support the company's financial health and strategic objectives.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervise Accounting Department staff, which may include staff accountants, accounts payable/receivable specialists, payroll specialists, and billing personnel.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and performance feedback; identify training needs and support professional development for the finance and accounting team.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of construction accounting, job cost, and WIP reporting in a heavy/highway or civil infrastructure environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting field operations, project managers, and estimators with timely and relevant financial information.
• Excellent management and supervisory skills, with the ability to foster a collaborative, service‑oriented finance culture.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present financial information to non‑financial leaders and project teams.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast‑paced construction setting.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and commitment to accuracy and continuous improvement.
• Proficiency in accounting and job‑cost software commonly used in construction, plus Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook); experience integrating field and office systems is preferred.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration required.
• 7–10+ years of progressively responsible accounting experience, with at least 3–5 years in a construction industry role; heavy/highway or civil contracting experience strongly preferred.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation preferred.