Construction Finance Controller: Drive Profitability

Tri State General Contractors; Escondido (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vis

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Tri-State General Contractors in Escondido, CA seeks an experienced Controller to lead all accounting and financial operations supporting construction projects.

The role partners with executives, project managers, estimating and operations to ensure accurate reporting, robust internal controls, and improved profitability across projects. Candidates should bring strong GAAP knowledge, construction accounting experience, and leadership capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• CPA and/or CCIFP designation preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive accounting experience.
• Minimum 5 years of accounting leadership experience.
• Construction accounting experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, job costing, WIP reporting, percentage-of-completion accounting, construction contracts, financial reporting, and cash flow management.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with Sage 100 Contractor or a comparable construction ERP system strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to lead teams, improve processes, manage deadlines, and effectively communicate with financial and operational leaders.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead all accounting and financial operations.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes.
• Prepare and review financial statements, accruals, reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, revenue recognition requirements, and company policies.
• Maintain the general ledger and accounting systems.
• Develop and enhance accounting policies, procedures, and reporting processes.
• Provide timely, accurate financial reporting to executive leadership.
• Oversee job costing, Work-in-Progress (WIP) reporting, and percentage-of-completion accounting.
• Ensure project costs are accurately recorded and allocated.
• Partner with Project Managers to review project costs, forecasts, contracts, change orders, margins, and profitability.
• Analyze project performance, investigate variances, and identify financial risks.
• Reconcile project profitability reporting to financial statements.
• Support project closeouts, retention reconciliations, and revenue recognition activities.
• Manage cash flow forecasting and working capital requirements.
• Monitor collections, aging, retainage, and overall financial performance.
• Coordinate payment timing with collections and contractual requirements.
• Support banking relationships, financing activities, and cash planning initiatives.
• Recommend improvements that enhance financial performance and operational efficiency.
• Maintain effective internal controls across accounting operations.
• Ensure appropriate approval workflows, segregation of duties, and system access controls.
• Review reconciliations, master data changes, and high-risk transactions.
• Monitor compliance with billing, payment, lien release, and cash receipt procedures.
• Identify control weaknesses and implement corrective actions to mitigate risk.
• Oversee Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable/Billing, Payroll, Project Accounting, and General Accounting functions.
• Ensure subsidiary ledgers reconcile accurately to the general ledger.
• Coordinate customer billings, retention billings, and lien release administration.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of seven accounting professionals.
• Establish department priorities, performance expectations, and accountability measures.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, training, coaching, and professional development.
• Foster collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement across the accounting team.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, and business analysis initiatives.
• Prepare reports for executive leadership, banks, sureties, insurers, and other stakeholders.
• Support bonding reviews with accurate financial, backlog, and WIP reporting.
• Partner with leadership and operations teams to improve profitability, efficiency, and overall business performance.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on financial and operational matters.

Skills

Leadership

GAAP knowledge

Financial reporting

Job costing

WIP reporting

Cash flow management

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA or CCIFP preferred

Tools

Sage 100 Contractor

Job description

Tri-State General Contractors in Escondido, CA seeks an experienced Controller to lead all accounting and financial operations supporting construction projects.

The role partners with executives, project managers, estimating and operations to ensure accurate reporting, robust internal controls, and improved profitability across projects. Candidates should bring strong GAAP knowledge, construction accounting experience, and leadership capabilities.