Controller

CLT Recruiters; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

CLT Recruiters is seeking a Controller for a prominent luxury residential and hospitality construction firm in Long Island City, NY. This is a strategic leadership role responsible for financial operations, accounting practices, and team management.

The ideal candidate should possess a strong background in construction accounting, a bachelor's degree in finance or accounting, and a minimum of 7 years experience, including 3 years within the construction sector. The company values leadership and innovation in financial reporting and management.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, 3+ years in construction.
• Proficiency in AIA billing and percentage-of-completion reporting.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day accounting operations including accounts payable and receivable.
• Prepare financial statements and manage project budgets.
• Oversee subcontractor compliance and manage cash flow.

Skills

Construction accounting

Job costing

Financial analysis

GAAP compliance

Strong analytical skills

Team leadership

Education

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

CPA, CMA, or CFMA preferred

Tools

Construction accounting ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Controller - Luxury Residential & Hospitality Construction, Long Island City, NY

Our client is an established Long Island City general contractor serving luxury residential and hospitality clients across New York City. The firm is seeking a Controller to serve as the company's senior-most financial leader, owning the accounting and financial reporting function and bringing discipline to job costing, billing, and cash management. This is a hands‑on leadership role for a construction finance professional who can build best practices, lead the accounting team, and partner closely with ownership.

Key Responsibilities

• Own day‑to‑day accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and general ledger.
• Maintain job cost accounting to ensure accurate tracking of project budgets, variances, and profitability.
• Prepare timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, including WIP and balance sheet review.
• Manage client AIA and T&M billing, coordinating review and approval with owners, architects, and project teams.
• Oversee subcontractor compliance, lien waivers, and vendor payments.
• Manage cash flow, bank reconciliations, and banking relationships.
• Establish and maintain internal controls, policies, and procedures to safeguard company assets.
• Lead budgeting and forecasting in partnership with ownership, estimating, and project management.
• Coordinate tax reporting, insurance renewals, and external audits with outside accountants and advisors.
• Manage, mentor, and develop the accounting and administrative staff.
• Provide financial analysis and reporting to support ownership's strategic decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; CPA, CMA, or CFMA preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including at least 3 years in construction, preferably with a general contractor.
• Strong command of construction accounting, including job costing, WIP schedules, AIA billing, and percentage‑of‑completion reporting.
• Working knowledge of GAAP and construction‑specific tax, insurance, and compliance requirements.
• Experience with construction accounting ERP and reporting systems, and strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop an accounting team.
• Proven ability to build internal controls and scalable accounting processes.
• Hands‑on, detail‑oriented approach with the willingness to own both high‑level reporting and daily execution.
• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills.

This is a high‑impact opportunity for a construction finance leader ready to own the financial backbone of a premier New York general contractor.