Controller

Professional Search by Kingsley Gate; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Professional Search by Kingsley Gate is seeking a Controller for a Boston-based water services company. This hands-on, growth-focused role leads accounting operations, financial reporting, budgeting, and cash management while enabling expansion through acquisitions.

Reporting to the Co-CEO, the Controller will build teams, drive process improvements, oversee audits, and partner with executives on M&A due diligence and integration.

Qualifications

• Current or recent Controllership experience with full ownership of accounting operations.
• Strong knowledge of financial reporting, general ledger, monthly close, AR/AP, and cash management.
• Experience in construction, specialty contracting, field services, or project-based businesses preferred.
• Familiarity with WIP reporting and percentage-of-completion accounting highly desirable.
• Experience supporting acquisitions, financial due diligence, and integration is a plus.
• Strong leadership, communication, and process improvement skills.
• Bachelor's degree required; CPA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead accounting operations, including monthly close, financial reporting, AR/AP, cash management, and payroll oversight.
• Improve monthly close timelines and establish work-in-progress (WIP) and percentage-of-completion reporting.
• Develop budgets, financial forecasts, and operational KPIs to support business decisions.
• Oversee cash flow, collections, working capital, and financial controls.
• Lead external audits, ensuring financial accuracy and compliance.
• Support M&A activities, including financial due diligence, purchase accounting, and post-acquisition integration.
• Manage and develop accounting staff while improving processes, systems, and reporting efficiency.

Skills

Controllership

Financial reporting

Monthly close

Leadership

Communication

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree

CPA preferred

Job description

Professional Search by Kingsley Gate is seeking a Controller on behalf of our client, a rapidly growing, acquisition-focused water services company in Boston, Massachusetts. This hands-on leadership role will oversee accounting operations, financial reporting, budgeting, and cash management while supporting continued expansion through acquisitions. Reporting directly to the Co-CEO, this position offers a clear path to Director of Finance or CFO.

Location

Boston, Massachusetts | In-Person with hybrid flexibility once further established

Key Responsibilities

• Lead accounting operations, including monthly close, financial reporting, AR/AP, cash management, and payroll oversight.
• Improve monthly close timelines and establish work-in-progress (WIP) and percentage-of-completion reporting.
• Develop budgets, financial forecasts, and operational KPIs to support business decisions.
• Oversee cash flow, collections, working capital, and financial controls.
• Lead external audits, ensuring financial accuracy and compliance.
• Support M&A activities, including financial due diligence, purchase accounting, and post-acquisition integration.
• Manage and develop accounting staff while improving processes, systems, and reporting efficiency.

Ideal Background

• Current or recent Controllership experience with full ownership of accounting operations.
• Strong knowledge of financial reporting, general ledger, monthly close, AR/AP, and cash management.
• Experience in construction, specialty contracting, field services, or project-based businesses preferred.
• Familiarity with WIP reporting and percentage-of-completion accounting highly desirable.
• Experience supporting acquisitions, financial due diligence, and integration is a plus.
• Strong leadership, communication, and process improvement skills.
• Bachelor's degree required; CPA preferred.

Compensation Target

$150,000-$185,000 base salary + 5-25% bonus opportunity, based on experience

This is an excellent opportunity to join a rapidly expanding, entrepreneurial organization, partner directly with executive leadership, and play a key role in scaling the business through organic growth and acquisitions!

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Professional Search by Kingsley Gate is committed to the fundamental principle of equal opportunity and equal treatment for every prospective and current employee. It is the policy of Professional Search not to discriminate based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex and gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.