Controller

Sunstall Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunstall Inc. seeks a Controller to lead the accounting and financial operations across projects, ensuring accurate reporting and strong internal controls.

You will manage AP/AR, GL, payroll, month-end close, and financial statements while partnering with executive leadership, project managers, estimators, and field staff to safeguard profitability. The ideal candidate has extensive construction accounting experience, mastery of job costing and WIP, and a hands-on approach to financial

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive accounting and financial management experience, with significant experience in the construction industry.
• Prior Controller or comparable senior‑level accounting leadership experience with a construction company, specialty contractor, or general contractor.
• Advanced knowledge of construction accounting, job costing, WIP reporting, project forecasting, and contract revenue recognition.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP.
• Experience overseeing AP/AR/GL, month‑end close, financial reporting, and payroll.
• Strong understanding of construction payroll and labor‑related accounting requirements.
• Ability to analyze project financial performance and identify profitability and financial risks.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day‑to‑day accounting operations including AP, AR, GL, cash management, payroll, reconciliations, and close processes.
• Ensure timely preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reports.
• Maintain GL integrity and reconcile balance sheet and income statement accounts.
• Establish and improve accounting policies, internal controls, and processes.
• Monitor cashflow and provide timely information on cash needs and obligations.
• Oversee construction billing, retention, and collections activities.
• Oversee job costing, revenue recognition, WIP, forecasting, and project financial analysis.
• Lead budgeting/forecasting and develop financial models to improve profitability.

Skills

GAAP

Construction accounting

Job costing

WIP reporting

Forecasting

Leadership

Financial analysis

Communication

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field

10 years of progressive accounting/financial management experience in construction

CPA designation (preferred)

Tools

Construction ERP system

Job description

PositionSummary

The Controller is a key financial leadership position responsible for overseeing the Company’s accounting and financial operations. This position works closely with executive leadership, project superintendents, estimators, and other operational leaders to ensure accurate financial reporting, effective project budgeting, strong financial controls, and overall project profitability.

The ideal candidate will have extensive construction accounting and finance experience, a strong understanding of job costing and work-in-progress (WIP) reporting, and a hands‑on approach to financial management. The Controller will provide both strategic financial guidance and day‑to‑day leadership of the accounting function.

EssentialDutiesandResponsibilities

Accounting&FinancialOperations

• Oversee the Company’s day‑to‑day accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, cash management, payroll, reconciliations, and month‑end and year‑end close processes.
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reports.
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and ensure appropriate reconciliation of balance sheet and income statement accounts.
• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve accounting policies, procedures, internal controls, and financial processes.
• Ensure financial transactions are properly documented, authorized, recorded, and reported.
• Monitor cashflow and provide leadership with timely information regarding cash requirements and financial obligations.
• Oversee accounts receivable, collections, retention / retainage, and other construction‑related billing activities.
• Coordinate with external accountants, auditors, banking partners, insurance representatives, and other financial professionals as necessary.

ConstructionAccounting&ProjectFinancialManagement

• Oversee job costing, contract revenue recognition, WIP reporting, project forecasting, and project financial analysis.
• Prepare and review WIP schedules and ensure project revenue, costs, margins, and estimated costs to complete accurately reported.
• Partner with project superintendents, estimators, and other operational leaders to review project budgets, costs, forecasts, and financial performance.
• Analyze project bids, estimates, budgets, change orders, and financial data to evaluate profitability and identify financial risks.
• Monitor actual project performance against estimates and budgets and identify significant cost, margin, or profitability variances.
• Provide leadership with timely analysis of project performance and recommendations for corrective action when necessary.
• Support effective management of contract billing, change orders, retention, collections, and project closeout.

Budgeting,Forecasting&FinancialAnalysis

• Lead the Company’s annual budgeting and financial forecasting processes.
• Develop short‑and‑long‑term financial forecasts to support operational and strategic decision‑making.
• Analyze financial results and provide executive leadership with meaningful information regarding trends, risks, opportunities, and business performance.
• Develop financial models and reporting tools to improve visibility into project and Company profitability.
• Provide recommendations designed to improve margins, cashflow, operational efficiency, and overall financial performance.

Payroll&ConstructionCompliance

• Provide oversight of payroll operations and ensure payroll is processed accurately and timely.
• Ensure payroll practices comply with applicable federal, state, and local requirements and construction‑industry requirements.
• Maintain appropriate financial controls related to payroll, labor costing, and allocation of labor expenses to projects.
• Work collaboratively with Human Resources and Operations regarding payroll, labor costs, employee changes, and related compliance matters.

Systems&ProcessImprovement

• Lead or support the implementation, conversion, integration, and optimization of ERP, accounting, payroll, and financial reporting systems.
• Evaluate existing accounting processes and recommend improvements to increase accuracy, efficiency, automation, and internal controls.
• Develop standardized financial reporting and accounting procedures across the organization.
• Ensure accounting systems provide accurate and timely information for project and executive decision‑making.

Leadership&StrategicPartnership

• Serve as a financial advisor to the President and executive leadership team.
• Translate complex financial information into clear, actionable information for operational leaders.
• Partner with Operations, Estimating, Project Management, Human Resources, and other departments to support Company objectives.
• Provide leadership, direction, training, and development to accounting department employees.
• Establish accountability and appropriate segregation of duties within the accounting function.
• Assist executive leadership with strategic planning, financial risk management, and major business decisions.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

RequiredQualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive accounting and financial management experience, with significant experience in the construction industry.
• Prior Controller or comparable senior‑level accounting leadership experience with a construction company, specialty contractor, or general contractor.
• Advanced knowledge of construction accounting, job costing, WIP reporting, project forecasting, and contract revenue recognition.
• Strong knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Demonstrated experience overseeing accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, month‑end close, financial reporting, and payroll functions.
• Strong understanding of construction payroll and labor‑related accounting requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze project financial performance and identify profitability and financial risks.
• Experienced developing and maintaining effective financial controls.
• Demonstrated experience improving accounting processes and operational efficiencies.
• Strong leadership, communication, analytical, organizational, and decision‑making skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership as well as accounting, estimating, project, and field personnel.
• Advanced proficiency with accounting and financial reporting systems and Microsoft Excel.

PreferredQualifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.
• Experience implementing or optimizing a constructionERP/accountingsystem.
• Experience with specialty contracting, including painting,coatings,waterproofing,orrelatedconstructiontrades.
• Experience with California construction payroll and labor requirements.
• Experience managing the accounting and financial operations of a mid‑size or large construction contractor.