Construction Controller Multifamily

Burnett Specialists Staffing | Recruiting; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Burnett Specialists Staffing | Recruiting seeks an experienced Construction Controller to lead accounting for large multifamily, high-rise development projects in Houston. The role partners with executives, PMs, and development teams to ensure accurate job costing, WIP, and revenue recognition across multiple entities.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in construction or real estate accounting, with leadership experience and strong Excel/ERP skills.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience in construction or real estate development.
• Controller/Accounting Manager experience in multifamily or high-rise projects.
• Experience with job costing, WIP, and percentage-of-completion revenue.
• Strong GAAP knowledge and cost-to-complete forecasting.
• Advanced Excel and financial reporting skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance; CPA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead accounting and financial reporting for multiple large-scale multifamily, high-rise, and mixed-use construction projects.
• Manage GL, AP, AR, cash management, reconciliations, journal entries, and month-end close.
• Oversee job costing, WIP reporting, percentage-of-completion revenue recognition, and project profitability.
• Monitor project budgets, actual costs, committed costs, forecasts, cost-to-complete, and variances.
• Partner with Project Managers and construction leadership to review project financial performance.
• Manage construction draws, progress billing, retainage, change orders, subcontractor/vendor payments, and project-related accruals.
• Review and reconcile project costs to ensure proper allocation.
• Support financial management from preconstruction through closeout.
• Oversee intercompany transactions, consolidations, and multi-entity accounting.
• Lead cash flow forecasting and lender reporting.

Skills

Construction accounting

Job costing

WIP

Percentage-of-completion

Financial reporting

Excel proficiency

Leadership

GAAP knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA preferred

Tools

Sage 300 CRE

Yardi

Procore

Viewpoint

CMiC

Job description

Construction Controller Multifamily

Location: Houston, TX

Construction Controller Multifamily / High-Rise Development

We are seeking an experienced Construction Controller to lead accounting and financial operations for large-scale multifamily, high-rise, and mixed-use development projects. This position will work closely with executive leadership, construction, development, and project management teams to oversee project financials from preconstruction through completion.

The ideal candidate brings strong construction accounting, job costing, WIP, percentage-of-completion accounting, and multi-project financial reporting experience and understands the financial complexities associated with large, long-term construction projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead accounting and financial reporting for multiple large-scale multifamily, high-rise, and mixed-use construction projects.
• Manage the full accounting cycle, including GL, AP, AR, cash management, reconciliations, journal entries, and month-end/year-end close.
• Oversee job costing, WIP reporting, percentage-of-completion revenue recognition, and project profitability.
• Monitor project budgets, actual costs, committed costs, forecasts, cost-to-complete, and variances.
• Partner closely with Project Managers and construction leadership to review project financial performance and identify potential cost overruns.
• Manage construction draws, progress billing, retainage, change orders, subcontractor/vendor payments, and project-related accruals.
• Review and reconcile project costs to ensure proper job, phase, cost code, and entity allocation.
• Support financial management of projects from preconstruction and development through construction and closeout.
• Oversee accounting for multiple entities, projects, and development structures, including intercompany transactions and consolidations.
• Manage cash flow forecasting, project funding requirements, construction loans, and lender reporting.
• Prepare monthly financial statements, management reporting, project forecasts, and executive-level financial analysis.
• Coordinate with lenders, investors, auditors, tax professionals, and other external partners.
• Maintain strong internal controls and ensure compliance with GAAP and company accounting policies.
• Lead, mentor, and develop accounting staff while improving processes, reporting, and accounting systems.

Ideal Background

• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience with significant construction or real estate development accounting experience.
• Prior Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or Senior Construction Accounting experience.
• Strong preference for experience with a multifamily developer, general contractor, owner-builder, or construction management organization.
• Experience supporting large, complex projects, ideally $100M+ developments.
• Strong knowledge of job costing, WIP, percentage-of-completion accounting, construction draws, retainage, change orders, committed costs, and cost-to-complete forecasting.
• Experience with multifamily, high-rise, mixed-use, podium, wrap, or other large residential development projects strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of construction contracts, project budgets, subcontractor costs, and development/construction timelines.
• Experience with construction accounting/ERP systems such as Sage 300 CRE, Yardi, Procore, Viewpoint, CMiC, or similar platforms preferred.
• Advanced Excel and financial reporting skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.
• CPA preferred but not required.

Experience with large multifamily or high-rise projects from development/preconstruction through final completion is highly preferred.