Controller

United Infrastructure Group; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

United Infrastructure Group is seeking an experienced accounting professional to take full-charge responsibility for project-based accounting and financial reporting. The role requires expertise in Deltek Ajera, WIP, and job costing, with oversight of AP/AR, payroll, and year-end tax coordination.

You will work directly with senior leadership to ensure accurate financial statements, cash flow management, and compliance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of full-charge accounting or controller-level experience.
• Deep understanding of project-based accounting, WIP, and job costing.
• Experience with payroll processing and statutory tax compliance.
• Strong autonomy, problem solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage back-office functions end-to-end.

Responsibilities

• Configure project structures, rate tables, billing terms, employee profiles, and workflow approvals.
• Establish SOPs for back-office data entry, reporting, and project tracking in Ajera.
• Serve as SME and administrator for software module updates and user training.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting processes, including GL, journal entries, and reconciliations.
• Lead month-end and year-end closes with income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow.
• Manage cash flow forecasting, banking relations, and liquidity.
• Coordinate with CPAs for annual tax prep, audits, and filings.
• Set up new client projects, tasks, phases, budgets in Deltek Ajera.
• Monitor project performance, labor burn rates, profitability, and WIP.
• Collaborate with project managers to ensure time/expense accuracy and timely billing.
• Manage AR cycle: invoicing, payments, AR aging.
• Manage AP cycle: vendor invoices, pay apps, distributions, coding.
• Payroll administration.
• Reconcile payroll with GL, manage withholdings and year-end W-2/1099.
• Administer employee benefits enrollments and workers’ compensation reporting.

Skills

Project-based accounting

WIP management

Job costing

AEC revenue recognition

Payroll processing

Tax compliance

Autonomy

Communication

Job description

Primary Responsibilities

• Configure project structures, rate tables, billing terms, employee profiles, and workflow approvals.
• Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for back-office data entry, reporting, and project tracking within Ajera.
• Serve as the primary subject matter expert and administrator for all software module updates and user training.
• Full-Charge Accounting & Controller Duties
• Oversee all monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting processes, including general ledger maintenance, journal entries, and reconciliations.
• Lead month-end and year-end closing processes, producing accurate income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports.
• Manage corporate cash flow forecasting, banking relations, and liquidity management.
• Coordinate with external CPAs and tax advisors for annual tax preparation, audits, and compliance filings.
• Project Accounting & Job Costing
• Set up new client projects, tasks, phases, and budgets within Deltek Ajera based on contract terms.
• Monitor project performance, labor burn rates, profitability, and WIP (Work in Progress) tracking.
• Partner with project managers to ensure accurate time/expense entries and timely progress billing.
• Manage the full Accounts Receivable (AR) cycle: client invoicing, payment posting, collections, and AR aging reports.
• Manage the full Accounts Payable (AP) cycle: vendor invoice processing, subcontractor pay applications, payment distribution, and expense coding.
• Payroll Administration
• Process bi-weekly payroll, ensuring accurate tracking of billable vs. non-billable hours, PTO accruals, and deductions.
• Reconcile payroll records with the general ledger and manage tax withholdings, state registrations, and year-end W-2/1099 generation.
• Administer employee benefits enrollments, worker’s compensation reporting.

Organizational Structure & Key Relationships

• Employment Status: Direct-Hire / Full-Time
• Direct Report: Reports directly to Rett and Dan (UEC Leadership).
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborates in parallel with Blake, Chris, and Michael on the UIG side to ensure aligned financial practices, intercompany reporting, and shared operational efficiencies.

Qualifications & Skill Requirements

• Experience: 5+ years of full-charge accounting or controller-level experience, preferably within architecture, engineering, construction, or professional services firms..
• Core Competencies: Deep understanding of project-based accounting, WIP management, job costing, and AEC industry revenue recognition.
• Payroll & Compliance: Proven track record in managing in-house or outsourced payroll processing and statutory tax compliance.
• Soft Skills: High level of autonomy, strong problem-solving abilities, excellent communication skills, and the capacity to manage end-to-end back-office functions independently.UIG IS PROUD TO BE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY (EOE) AFFIRMATIVE ACTION (AA) EMPLOYER