Controller

AppleOne Employment Services; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work environment

Employee-owned culture

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

AppleOne Employment Services is seeking an experienced Controller in Santa Barbara, CA for a direct-hire role in a growing, employee-owned design and professional services organization.

You will lead the accounting team, oversee close processes and budgeting, and partner with executives to support strategic growth while improving systems and internal controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
• Approximately 5 to 6 years of Controller-level experience.
• Experience with project accounting.
• CPA certification preferred.
• Experience in ESOP or employee-owned organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead accounting team across project accounting, payroll, payables, receivables, and collections.
• Oversee month-end and year-end close, financial statements, reporting, and controls.
• Manage budgeting, forecasting, cash flow analysis, and financial planning.
• Partner with senior leadership to support strategic goals.
• Identify improvements to accounting systems, processes, and controls.
• Provide financial guidance to inform leadership decisions.

Skills

Leadership

Financial analysis

Budgeting & forecasting

Accounting controls

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

Unanet

Job description

Job Summary

A growing employee-owned design and professional services organization is seeking an experienced Controller for a direct hire opportunity in Santa Barbara, CA. This highly visible leadership role is ideal for an accomplished accounting and finance professional who enjoys leading teams, strengthening financial operations, and partnering with senior leadership to support strategic growth.

The Controller will oversee accounting operations across project accounting, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, collections, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and internal process improvement. Reporting to executive leadership, this role offers the opportunity to influence business strategy, improve systems, and provide meaningful financial insight across the organization.

This is a strong opportunity for a collaborative financial leader who values a people-first culture, supportive leadership, professional development, and the ability to make a measurable impact. The work environment emphasizes teamwork, innovation, flexibility, respect, and shared success.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting team across project accounting, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and collections.
• Oversee timely and accurate month-end and year-end close processes, financial statements, reporting, and accounting controls.
• Manage annual budgeting, business planning, cash flow analysis, forecasting, and financial planning activities.
• Partner with principals, market sector leaders, management, and senior leadership to support strategic business goals.
• Identify and implement improvements to accounting systems, processes, tools, internal controls, and operational efficiency.
• Provide financial insight, analysis, and guidance to support informed leadership decision-making.

Compensation and Benefits

• Direct hire opportunity.
• Salary range: $120,000 to $150,000 per year, depending on qualifications, skills, and experience.
• Flexible work environment.
• Support for professional development and continued growth.
• Employee-owned, people-first culture with the opportunity to contribute to and share in organizational success.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Lead accounting operations and manage financial reporting, close processes, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing accounting team across multiple functional areas.
• Partner with senior leadership and business leaders to support strategic planning and financial performance.
• Improve accounting systems, processes, controls, and operational efficiency.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
• Approximately 5 to 6 years of Controller-level experience.
• Experience with project accounting.
• Strong financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and reporting skills.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop accounting teams.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to work effectively with executive leadership and provide clear financial guidance.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA certification.
• Experience in an ESOP or employee-owned organization.
• Knowledge of AEC industry accounting, FAR requirements, or prevailing wage environments.
• Experience with Unanet.
• Previous experience within architecture, engineering, surveying, landscape architecture, planning, or related professional services environments.

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.