Controller

Tovey/Shultz Construction, Inc.; Lake Elsinore (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Tovey/Shultz Construction, Inc. is seeking a Controller / Accounting Manager to lead the accounting operations for a busy general contractor with multiple projects.

You will work closely with the CFO to ensure GAAP compliance, manage A/R, A/P, payroll, job costing, WIP, and billing cycles while driving financial visibility and strategic planning. You will supervise a high‑performing team, oversee public works compliance including prevailing wage and certified payroll, and coordinate with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 5–10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including 2+ years in a leadership role within construction.
• Deep understanding of construction accounting: job costing, progress billing, WIP, prevailing wage, certified payroll, and public works compliance.
• Familiarity with lien releases and stop notices.
• Hands-on experience with construction accounting software (Accubuild, Sage Intacct, Sage 300 CRE, Foundation, Procore).
• Strong Excel and financial analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Partner with CFO to manage financial operations, contractual obligations, public works compliance, and strategic planning.
• Provide financial analysis and insights to support budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and project financial close-out processes.
• Track and manage project budgets, change orders, billing cycles, and project-related financial documentation.
• Oversee work-in-progress billing, subcontractor invoicing, lien releases, and stop notices; ensure accurate billing and payments.
• Supervise and mentor accounting team members, fostering accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Review and interpret project specs for contractual and compliance requirements, including labor rates, billing terms, and deadlines.
• Coordinate with clients, third-party labor compliance agencies, auditors, banks, and CPA firms.
• Implement and improve accounting processes and platforms in coordination with CFO (e.g., Accubuild, Procore).
• Maintain internal controls and drive process improvements.

Skills

Job costing

Progress billing

Prevailing wage

Certified payroll

Lien releases

Leadership

GAAP

Financial analysis

Excel

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

Accubuild

Sage Intacct

Sage 300 CRE

Foundation

Procore

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled Controller / Accounting Manager with a strong background in construction accounting, public works compliance, and team leadership. This hands‑on role combines strong tactical execution with strategic financial thinking. Working closely with the CFO, the position oversees day‑to‑day financial operations for a general contractor managing multiple concurrent projects, while providing insight and support to improve financial visibility, project performance, contractual compliance, internal controls, and company‑wide accountability.

The ideal candidate will bring expertise in job costing, progress billing, prevailing wage, certified payroll/public works compliance, and lien release/stop notice processes, as well as experience managing relationships with clients, subcontractors, and third‑party compliance firms. Maintaining a collaborative, positive, and patient approach with the internal team, clients, subcontractors, third‑party compliance companies, and bank/surety contacts is essential to fostering strong, productive partnerships.

This role will lead a high‑performing team, manage full‑cycle accounting functions, and collaborate closely with executive leadership, project managers, external partners, and subcontractors to ensure financial accuracy, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and strategic budget planning.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Leadership & Strategy:

• Partner with the CFO to manage and guide all financial operations, contractual obligations, public works compliance, and strategic planning
• Provide financial analysis and strategic insights to support budgeting, forecasting, and long‑term planning
• Support financial decision‑making across departments by aligning financial strategy with operational goals
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with operations, HR, and project management teams to ensure aligned financial planning with business goals

Accounting Operations:

• Manage day‑to‑day accounting functions including A/R, A/P, payroll (including prevailing wage and certified payroll), job costing, general ledger, and financial reporting
• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and work‑in‑progress (WIP) schedules
• Ensure GAAP compliance and regulatory adherence, including tax filings and audit readiness
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, financial project analysis and project financial close‑out processes
• Track and manage project budgets, change orders, billing cycles, and project‑related financial documentation
• Manage the work‑in‑progress billing process, including subcontractor invoicing, lien releases, stop notices, and supporting documentation to ensure accurate and timely billing and payments
• Supervise and mentor accounting team members, fostering a culture of accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement

Contract Administration & Compliance

• Review and interpret project specifications for contractual and compliance requirements, including maintaining subcontractor approved labor rates, markup limits, billing terms, due dates, and compliance deadlines
• Oversee coordination with clients and third‑party labor compliance agencies to ensure timely and accurate reporting and adherence to meet public works compliance and certified payroll reporting standards of both the company and its subcontractors

Systems & Process Management:

• Implement, maintain, and improve accounting processes and procedures and platforms in close coordination with the CFO (e.g., Accubuild, Procore)
• Manage the corporate spend management account, including merchant permissions and controls; ensure weekly import and reconciliation into the accounting system
• Support ongoing system optimization, internal controls, and process improvements

Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Manage and nurture relationships with clients, subcontractors, banks, surety partners, and third‑party compliance firms to maintain strong, collaborative partnerships.
• Coordinate with external auditors, banks, CPA firms, insurance providers, and financial institutions
• Represent the company in external financial matters including audits, insurance reviews, and banking relationships
• Communicate financial procedures clearly and patiently across departments to support team‑wide understanding and alignment

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field (preferred)
• 5–10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 2 years in a leadership role within the construction industry
• Deep understanding of construction accounting, including job costing, progress billing, WIP schedules, prevailing wage, certified payroll, and public works compliance
• Familiarity with lien releases and stop notice processes
• Hands‑on experience with construction accounting and software such as:
• Accubuild, Sage Intacct, Sage 300 CRE, Foundation, Procore
• Strong Excel and financial analysis skills
• Proven ability to manage complex financial operations
• Demonstrated ability to manage compliance and contractual requirements
• Experience managing relationships with clients, subcontractors, third‑party compliance firms, banks, and surety partners
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills

Preferred Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with a solutions‑oriented, “can‑do” attitude
• Ability to train and guide team members through system transitions and process improvements
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate financial concepts to non‑financial stakeholders
• Familiarity with project bidding workflows and importing bid data into accounting system
• Collaborative leadership style with patience and professionalism in managing diverse stakeholder relationships