Construction Controller

SC Executives; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan with company match

Paid time off and holidays

CPA continuing education support

Job summary

SC Executives is seeking a highly experienced Controller in California to oversee accounting, financial reporting, and project accounting for a growing construction organization. The successful candidate will lead the accounting team, ensure U.S.

GAAP compliance, and manage month-end and year-end closes with strong internal controls. The ideal candidate is a CPA with deep construction accounting expertise, WIP reporting, POC revenue recognition, and hands-on Microsoft Dynamics experience.

Qualifications

• Active CPA license required.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field.
• 8–10 years progressive accounting experience, construction preferred.
• 5+ years leading accounting teams.
• Strong WIP reporting and POC revenue recognition experience.
• Hands-on with Microsoft Dynamics ERP and GAAP knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Oversee general ledger, AP, AR, payroll, fixed assets, cash management, and related operations.
• Prepare timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements under U.S. GAAP.
• Lead month-, quarter-, and year-end close with clear calendars and controls.
• Develop and maintain accounting policies, procedures, reconciliations, and internal controls.
• Prepare documentation for annual audits.
• Oversee project accounting across multiple construction projects and entities.
• Review budgets, job costs, cost allocations, commitments, and profitability analyses.
• Ensure accurate change orders, retainage, subcontractor billings, accruals, and costs-to-complete.
• Partner with project management to monitor financial performance and risks.
• Manage WIP schedules and percentage-of-completion revenue recognition.
• Communicate margin erosion, forecast deviations, and loss contracts.
• Facilitate monthly project reviews and develop accounting personnel.

Skills

CPA license

Construction accounting

WIP reporting

Project accounting

GAAP knowledge

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics

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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.