Controller

J2T Recruiting Consultants, Inc.; Great Falls (MT); On-site; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health premiums paid by employer

Disability and life insurance

401(k) with employer match (50% on the

4% Safe Harbor contribution)

Job summary

J2T Recruiting Consultants, Inc. is assisting a Great Falls, MT company in finding a Controller to lead the accounting function. You will own the month-end close, oversee the accounting team, and sit on the executive team reporting to the CEO.

Construction, service contracting, manufacturing or technical services experience is a plus. This role offers significant influence on financial strategy in a non-corporate culture.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in accounting and finance.
• Bachelor’s in accounting, finance, business or related field is nice to have, but experience matters more.
• You've run an accounting function on your own and know how to set up and maintain a general ledger.
• 2+ years leading or supervising someone.
• You can run the month-end and year-end close. Revenue recognition, WIP and inventory are a plus.
• Cash flow forecasting and building financial reports and dashboards.
• Advanced Excel. QuickBooks and BuildOps are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own the month-end close and get the statements out by the 8th business day, enabling leadership to make decisions off current numbers.
• Be the person who knows why every entry is booked the way it is, ensuring accuracy as the assistant handles AP/AR/data entry.
• Figure out how to book unusual transactions when there is no one down the hall to ask.
• Run job costing, WIP and year-end percentage of completion across construction and service work.
• Build the cash flow forecast and the dashboards leadership team relies on.
• Bring the numbers into executive meetings and weigh in on major calls.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Cash flow forecasting

Financial reporting

People management

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business or related field

Tools

QuickBooks

BuildOps

Job description

• An independently owned and operated Great Falls company that doesn't feel corporate.
• A spot on the executive team, helping make the key strategic decisions.
• Room to own the accounting function and set up processes that work for you.
• Room to grow as the finance side gets more complex.

Why This Job - Controller

We've partnered with a Great Falls company that builds and services the systems that run commercial buildings. They're about 40 people, and they're looking for a Controller to take over from someone retiring at the end of 2026. You'll have an accounting assistant reporting to you who handles the AP, AR and data entry, but beyond that, you are the accounting function.

You'll also sit on the executive team and report directly to the CEO. He wants someone who will ask hard questions and disagree constructively when they think something is headed the wrong way.

Construction accounting experience (WIP, percentage of completion, job costing) is always preferred, but it's not required. The current Controller didn't have it coming in and picked it up quickly, and you'll likely get some time to train with her before she leaves.

If you're looking for an accounting role where you have a say in how the business runs, in a culture that doesn't feel corporate, this could be a fit for you.

What You'll Actually Do:

• Own the month-end close and get the statements out by the 8th business day, so leadership is making decisions off current numbers.
• Be the person who knows why every entry is booked the way it is. Your assistant handles most of the AP, AR and data entry, and you make sure it's right.
• Figure out how to book the unusual stuff. On a team this size there's nobody down the hall to ask, so your call is the call.
• Run job costing, WIP and year-end percentage of completion across construction and service work. It's how the company knows which jobs are making money and which ones aren't.
• Build the cash flow forecast and the dashboards the leadership team runs on. It's the piece they most want built out, and you get to decide what it looks like.
• Bring the numbers into executive meetings and weigh in on the big calls, from taking on a large project to how the sales team is run.
• Keep payroll, payables and collections on time and accurate, with payroll run through an outside provider.
• Handle year-end with the outside CPA firm and support the banking, bonding and surety side.
• Flag financial risks early. The CEO's words: "I'm never surprised by news."

What You Bring:

• 10+ years in accounting and finance.
• A bachelor's in accounting, finance, business or a related field is nice to have, but they care more about the experience you bring.
• You've run an accounting function on your own and know how to set up and maintain a general ledger.
• 2+ years leading or supervising someone.
• You can run the month-end and year-end close from beginning to end. Revenue recognition, WIP and inventory are a plus.
• Cash flow forecasting, plus building financial reports and dashboards.
• Advanced Excel. QuickBooks and BuildOps are a plus.
• Construction, service contracting, manufacturing or technical services experience is a plus. The construction side can be learned.
• You like people. Employees bring the Controller questions all day, and you'll switch gears a lot.

Where and How Much:

• Location: Great Falls, MT. Mostly in office, with an occasional day from home
• Compensation: $100K-$110K a year, depending on experience
• Health: medical, dental and vision premiums 100% employer-paid for you and your dependents
• Insurance: short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance
• Retirement: 401(k) after 1 year. 50% match on the first 4%, plus a 3% Safe Harbor contribution