Controller

AppleOne Employment Services; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

AppleOne Employment Services is recruiting a hands-on Controller for a well-established construction organization in North San Diego. You will oversee accounting operations, lead job costing and WIP reporting, ensure GAAP compliance, and provide accurate financial reporting to ownership.

This in-person role offers visibility to leadership, opportunities to improve controls, and a collaborative environment focused on financial performance.

Qualifications

• 7 years of progressive accounting experience required.
• Construction accounting experience required.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and financial statement preparation.
• WIP reporting and job costing experience required.
• Knowledge of certified payroll and prevailing wage requirements.
• Proficiency with Excel, Outlook and Word.
• Experience coordinating with CPAs, banks, bonding companies, and insurance providers preferred.
• Excellent organizational, communication, follow-up, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead accounting processes and support administrative personnel.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day accounting operations including AP, AR, payroll, billing, collections, and GL.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial statements and reconciliations.
• Manage construction accounting functions: WIP reporting, job costing, project reporting, certified payroll.
• Coordinate year-end close, tax prep, audits, and CPA relationships.
• Maintain internal controls and GAAP compliance; support team as needed.
• Handle insurance matters, contractor registrations, renewals, and filings.

Skills

Construction accounting

GAAP

WIP reporting

Job costing

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Financial close

Excel

CPAs/banks/insurance relations

Tools

Excel

Outlook

Word

Job description

Job Summary

A well-established construction organization in North San Diego is seeking an experienced Controller to lead financial operations and oversee key administrative functions. This direct hire Controller opportunity is ideal for a hands-on accounting leader with strong construction accounting expertise, job costing knowledge, and the ability to support ownership with accurate financial reporting and operational insight. This in-person role offers the opportunity to make a direct impact within a stable, team-oriented environment where accounting, compliance, and operations work closely together. The company values strong leadership, clear communication, accountability, and collaboration. The right candidate will join a supportive workplace with visibility to leadership, meaningful responsibility, and the ability to help improve processes, controls, and overall financial performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, HR-related accounting, billing, collections, and general ledger activity.
• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial statements, reconciliations, escrow account balances, and financial reporting for ownership.
• Manage construction accounting functions, including WIP reporting, job costing, project financial reporting, certified payroll, and prevailing wage requirements.
• Coordinate year-end close, tax preparation, insurance renewals, audits, bonding, banking, contractor compliance, and outside CPA relationships.
• Maintain strong internal accounting controls, ensure GAAP compliance, and support accounting and administrative team members as needed.
• Manage insurance-related matters, contractor registrations, certifications, renewals, claims tracking, 401(k) deposits and filings, Letters of Credit, and minor tax returns.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: $90,000 to $125,000 per year, depending on experience.
• Job Type: Direct hire.
• Work Location: In person in San Diego, CA.
• Benefits include 401(k), 401(k) matching, dental insurance, life insurance, and paid time off.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Lead daily accounting operations across AP, AR, payroll, billing, collections, general ledger, reconciliations, and financial close.
• Manage construction financial reporting, including WIP schedules, job costing, project reporting, certified payroll, and prevailing wage accounting.
• Coordinate tax preparation, insurance audits, bonding, banking, compliance renewals, escrow accounts, and year-end close activities.
• Provide financial reporting, analysis, accounting controls, and operational support to ownership and internal teams.
• 7 years of progressive accounting experience required.
• Construction accounting experience required.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and financial statement preparation required.
• Experience with WIP reporting and job costing required.
• Knowledge of certified payroll and prevailing wage requirements required.
• Strong Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word skills required.
• Experience working with CPAs, banks, bonding companies, and insurance providers preferred.
• Excellent organizational, communication, follow-up, and problem-solving skills required.
• Ability to lead accounting processes, support administrative personnel, manage deadlines, and maintain accurate financial records.

Preferred Qualifications

• General Engineering Contractor or related construction industry experience strongly preferred.
• Foundation for Construction Software experience is a plus.
• Current or willingness to maintain a Notary Public license preferred.
• Experience managing contractor insurance compliance, workers’ compensation claims, auto claims, general liability claims, and insurance renewals preferred.
• Experience with contractor registrations, certifications, Letters of Credit, captive insurance requirements, and bid or payment bond requests preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans

The Know Your Rights poster is available here: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf

The pay transparency policy is available here: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.

AppleOne participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program. https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf

We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.