Construction Controller: Lead Financials & Project Costing

The Quest Organization; West Caldwell (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Quest Organization seeks a senior accounting leader to oversee construction and service divisions, ensuring GAAP-compliant reporting, and strong internal controls. You will supervise the accounting team, manage complex WIP, AIA billing, and cost-to-complete forecasts, and partner with PM, Estimating, Purchasing, and executives.

Ideal candidate has 7–10+ years in accounting with Sage 300 CRE, Procore, and Paylocity experience, CPA/CMA preferred, and a proven track record in commercial

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 7–10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including 3–5+ years as a Controller, Assistant Controller, or senior construction-accounting leader.
• Strong construction accounting experience, including percentage-of-completion, WIP, job costing, AIA billing, retainage, change orders, and cost-to-complete forecasting.
• Strong knowledge of AR, AP, purchasing, inventory, payroll, cash management, budgeting, and financial reporting.
• Advanced Excel and financial-reporting skills.
• Proven experience leading, supervising, and developing accounting teams.
• Sage 300 CRE experience is mandatory; ServiceTrade, Procore, and Paylocity experience preferred.
• CPA or CMA preferred.
• Experience in fire protection, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, specialty contracting, or commercial construction preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead accounting operations, month-end close, financial reporting, and GAAP-compliant accounting for the company’s Construction and Service divisions.
• Manage construction accounting, including percentage-of-completion, WIP reporting, job costing, cost-to-complete forecasting, AIA billing, change orders, retainage, and project profitability.
• Oversee Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, purchasing controls, inventory accounting, payroll, and collections.
• Prepare and manage 13-week cash-flow forecasts, daily cash reporting, banking activity, debt, and working-capital management.
• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and departmental reporting.
• Establish and enforce strong internal controls, accounting policies, compliance procedures, and fraud-prevention measures.
• Supervise, develop, and hold the accounting team accountable while partnering closely with Project Management, Estimating, Purchasing, Warehouse, Service Operations, HR, and executive leadership.
• Oversee financial systems, including Sage 300 CRE, ServiceTrade, Procore, Paylocity, Microsoft 365, and Excel, and improve system integration and reporting accuracy.

Skills

Accounting leadership

Financial analysis

GAAP expertise

Team supervision

Excel advanced

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

Sage 300 CRE

ServiceTrade

Procore

Paylocity

Microsoft 365

Excel

Job description

The Quest Organization seeks a senior accounting leader to oversee construction and service divisions, ensuring GAAP-compliant reporting, and strong internal controls. You will supervise the accounting team, manage complex WIP, AIA billing, and cost-to-complete forecasts, and partner with PM, Estimating, Purchasing, and executives.

Ideal candidate has 7–10+ years in accounting with Sage 300 CRE, Procore, and Paylocity experience, CPA/CMA preferred, and a proven track record in commercial