Construction Controller

McFate Group; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The McFate Group, based in Ann Arbor, MI, seeks a hands-on Construction Controller who builds disciplined financial controls, delivers reliable job-cost and WIP reporting, and improves cash-flow visibility for leadership decisions. This on-site leadership role blends detailed accounting with project-level analysis and executive reporting.

Ideal candidates bring construction accounting expertise, month-end ownership, and strong Excel/ERP skills; the position emphasizes on-site collaboration with

Qualifications

• 5+ years of accounting experience in construction-related fields.
• Strong knowledge of job costing, WIP schedules, and % complete reporting.
• Experience owning month-end close and financial statements.
• Cash-flow forecasting, budgeting, and financial analysis skills.
• Experience with Sage 300 CRE, Sage Intacct, Viewpoint, Foundation, CMiC, or similar.
• Advanced Excel skills and ability to translate data into insights.

Responsibilities

• Full-cycle accounting operations including G/L, AP, AR, payroll oversight, reconciliations, and month-end close.
• Construction job costing and cost-code reporting across active projects.
• Prepare monthly WIP schedules and project margin reviews.
• Deliver monthly financial statements and management reporting on time.
• Manage 13-week cash flow forecasting and near-term liquidity.
• Coordinate project billing, collections, and retainage with PMs to improve cash conversion.
• Lead budgets, rolling forecasts, and variance analysis; ensure internal controls.
• Support banking, bonding, insurance relationships and lender reporting.
• Coordinate year-end audit with external CPA and tax advisors.
• Provide financial oversight across multiple entities for consolidated reporting.

Skills

Construction accounting

Job costing

WIP reporting

Cash-flow forecasting

Advanced Excel

ERP software

Sage 300 CRE

Sage Intacct

Viewpoint

Foundation

CMiC

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CPA / CMA

Tools

Sage 300 CRE

Sage Intacct

Viewpoint

Foundation

CMiC

Excel

Job description

Construction Controller

The McFate Group is an award-winning commercial and industrial design-build firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We are looking for a hands-on Construction Controller who can do more than produce financial statements. This person will build disciplined financial controls, deliver reliable job-cost and WIP reporting, improve cash-flow visibility, and give leadership the financial information needed to make better operating decisions.

This is a working leadership role for someone who understands construction accounting and is comfortable moving between detailed accounting, project-level analysis, forecasting, banking and bonding relationships, and executive-level reporting.

• Ann Arbor, MI
• On-Site
• Full-Time
• Monday – Friday
• 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Minimal travel

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience with a commercial general contractor, design-builder, specialty contractor, or comparable construction business.
• Strong working knowledge of construction job costing, WIP schedules, percentage-of-completion accounting, over/under billings, retainage, and project financial reporting.
• Demonstrated experience owning month-end close and preparing financial statements.
• Strong cash-flow forecasting, budgeting, and financial-analysis skills.
• Experience with construction accounting or ERP software such as Sage 300 CRE, Sage Intacct, Viewpoint, Foundation, CMiC, or a comparable platform.
• Advanced Excel skills and the ability to turn accounting data into useful management information.
• Ability to work on-site in Ann Arbor and partner directly with project management, operations, estimating, and executive leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CPA, CMA, or equivalent professional accounting credential.
• Experience supporting banking, lending, surety/bonding, and insurance relationships.
• Experience in a multi-entity or multi-company construction environment.

The Person Who Will Thrive Here

You are comfortable being accountable for the numbers. You investigate discrepancies instead of passing them along, communicate problems early, and can explain financial information clearly to non-accounting leaders. You are organized, practical, systems-minded, and willing to challenge weak processes. You enjoy building a stronger finance function rather than simply maintaining the status quo.

Compensation + Benefits

Compensation range will be based on construction accounting experience, technical capabilities, leadership experience, and demonstrated ability to own the financial operations of a growing construction company. Benefits and additional compensation details will be discussed during the interview process.

Responsibilities

• Full-cycle accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll oversight, reconciliations, and month-end close.
• Construction job costing and accurate cost-code reporting across active projects.
• Monthly WIP schedules, including percent-complete analysis, over/under billings, estimated cost to complete, and project margin review.
• Monthly financial statements and management reporting delivered accurately and on time.
• 13-week cash-flow forecasting and ongoing cash management, including visibility into near-term receipts, commitments, and liquidity needs.
• Project billing, collections, retainage, and coordination with project managers to improve billing accuracy and cash conversion.
• Annual budgets, rolling forecasts, backlog and revenue forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Internal controls, accounting policies, approval processes, and scalable financial procedures.
• Banking relationships, borrowing-base or lender reporting as applicable, bonding and surety support, and coordination of insurance-related financial requirements.
• Year-end financial review/audit support and coordination with the company’s external CPA and tax advisors.
• Financial oversight across multiple related business entities and support for consolidated management reporting.
• Continuous improvement of accounting systems, reporting, workflows, and financial discipline.

What Success Looks Like

• Month-end financial reporting is timely, accurate, and decision-ready.
• Leadership has a dependable weekly view of cash, receivables, payables, backlog, and financial risk.
• WIP and job-cost reports accurately identify margin movement and project issues before they become surprises.
• Project managers understand the financial performance of their projects and are held accountable for forecasts and cost-to-complete updates.
• AR, billing, and collections are actively managed rather than reviewed after problems occur.
• The accounting function has documented controls, clear ownership, and repeatable processes capable of supporting continued growth.

Why The McFate Group

This role has direct access to company leadership and meaningful influence over how the business operates and grows. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to strengthen the financial infrastructure of an entrepreneurial design-build organization and help create the reporting, controls, and financial discipline required for the company’s next stage.

The McFate Group, Inc. (The McFate Group) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. The McFate Group is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunities for all employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at The McFate Group are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics, or any other status protected by the law.