Controller

Headfarmer; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Headfarmer, a private equity-backed landscape design and construction firm, seeks a Controller to own the monthly close, WIP and percentage-of-completion accounting, audit prep, and bank reporting. This ground-floor role reports to the CFO and offers the chance to scale the finance function as the company grows.

You will lead the close process, establish internal controls, manage the cash cycle, and contribute to FP&A while supporting expansion across multiple states.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 5+ years in construction accounting
• Experience with percentage-of-completion and project-based accounting
• Proven ability to close books and deliver timely financial statements
• Experience with bank reporting and lender communications
• Knowledge of U.S. GAAP and tax compliance
• Willingness to work 100% on-site in Tempe, AZ
• Strong leadership and ability to develop an accounting team

Responsibilities

• Own monthly close and period-end close processes.
• Manage WIP schedules and percentage-of-completion accounting.
• Lead preparation for the first financial statement audit and opening balance sheet.
• Prepare financial reporting for banks and lenders to support covenant compliance.
• Partner with CFO on FP&A, analytics, and management reporting.
• Support expansion initiatives and potential M&A activity.
• Collaborate with AP/AR/bookkeeping and operations to strengthen processes.
• Oversee cash cycle and 13-week cash flow forecasting.
• Develop accounting policies, controls, and financial systems.

Skills

WIP accounting

Closing the books

Financial analytics

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field

Tools

Sage 300 CRE

Procore

Job description

Our client is a private equity-backed landscape design and construction company generating approximately $70 million in annual revenue, with an underwritten growth plan targeting $250-300 million in revenue. The company has recently taken on debt financing and is establishing bank covenant compliance, lender reporting, and its first-ever financial statement audit. Growth plan includes expanding geographically into Texas, Florida, and California while continuing to grow its footprint in the Phoenix, Arizona market.

POSITION OVERVIEW

This is a newly created role reporting directly to the CFO, designed to add critical finance capability as the business scales. The Controller will own the monthly close process, work-in-progress (WIP) and percentage-of-completion accounting, audit preparation, and bank reporting, while also establishing accounting policies and internal controls, overseeing the cash cycle and banking relationships, and contributing to FP&A, financial analytics, and the annual budgeting process as the company grows. This is a ground-floor opportunity to help build out the finance function of a fast-scaling, private equity-backed platform, with the potential to take on broader finance leadership responsibility - including managing and developing the accounting team - over time.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own and manage the monthly and period-end close process, ensuring accurate and timely financial statements.
• Manage WIP schedules and percentage-of-completion, project-based accounting; lead efforts to streamline and automate a currently manual, Excel-based WIP process.
• Lead preparation for the company's first financial statement audit, including the opening balance sheet audit and purchase accounting.
• Prepare and deliver accurate, timely financial reporting to banks and lenders, supporting ongoing covenant compliance.
• Partner with the CFO on FP&A, financial analytics, and management reporting as the company scales.
• Support the finance function's ability to provide financial information for geographic expansion and potential M&A activity.
• Collaborate closely with the AP, AR, and bookkeeping team, along with operational and commercial leadership, to strengthen finance processes across the business.
• Oversee the cash cycle - billing, collections, and progress billings - including preparation of monthly 13-week cash flow forecasts, and coordinate banking activities and relationships.
• Establish and maintain the company's accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls, and own the financial systems supporting the business, including evaluation of new accounting technology.
• Manage tax compliance and the optimization of tax strategies.
• Support preparation of the annual financial budget in partnership with the CFO.
• Manage and develop the accounting team, including recruitment, development, and performance management, as the finance function scales.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

Required:

• Bachelor's degree with at least 5 years of experience in the construction industry
• Construction accounting experience
• Percentage-of-completion accounting experience
• Project-based or job-costing accounting experience
• Demonstrated proficiency closing the books
• WIP accounting experience
• Experience preparing financial and bank/lender reporting
• Fluency and in-depth understanding of U.S. GAAP
• Demonstrated capacity and desire to grow into a broader finance role over time
• Ability and willingness to work 100% on-site in Tempe, Arizona

Preferred:

• FP&A or financial analytics experience
• Exposure to compliance certificates and credit agreements
• Prior experience with Sage 300 CRE and Procore
• Experience managing and developing an accounting team
• Outstanding leadership and communication skills
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills; deadline- and detail-oriented

WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY

• Ground-floor opportunity with a private equity-backed platform positioned to scale from approximately $70 million to $250-300 million in revenue.
• Direct exposure to a leveraged finance environment: bank covenants, credit agreements, and lender reporting.
• Hands-on involvement in the company's first audit and purchase accounting process.
• Multi-state expansion into Texas, Florida, and California creates an expanding scope of responsibility.
• Clear runway to grow into broader finance leadership as the company and finance function mature.