Controller

STRADA Search Group; Warren (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Opportunities for professional development

Job summary

A leading heavy civil construction company is seeking an experienced Controller to manage financial operations and ensure accurate reporting. The role emphasizes cost accounting for projects, using tools like Viewpoint and HeavyJob for effective job costing and financial tracking. Responsibilities include supervising staff, cash flow management, and maintaining compliance. Ideal candidates need a degree in Finance or Accounting, CPA/CMA preferred, along with years of relevant experience in the construction sector. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7-10 years of accounting experience in heavy civil construction.
• Expertise in job costing and WIP reporting.
• Strong analytical skills for variance analysis and cost control.

Responsibilities

• Manage all financial operations ensuring compliance with GAAP.
• Oversee job costing for heavy civil projects.
• Supervise accounting staff providing guidance on cost accounting.

Skills

Cost accounting

Financial reporting

Variance analysis

Leadership

Microsoft Excel

Laserfiche

Power BI

Project cost control

Financial reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

CPA or CMA certification

Tools

Viewpoint

HeavyJob

Equipment 360

Laserfiche

Power BI

Job description

A leading heavy civil construction company specializing in infrastructure projects such as highways, bridges, and water treatment facilities. We are seeking an experienced Controller to oversee our financial operations, with a strong emphasis on cost accounting for project-based work. The ideal candidate will ensure accurate financial reporting, manage job costing, and drive cost efficiency across projects using our preferred software: Viewpoint, HeavyJob, Equipment 360, and Laserfiche. As the company builds its Power BI integration, the Controller will take on future responsibilities to optimize Power BI for enhanced financial reporting and data-driven decision-making.

Responsibilities

Financial Oversight: Manage all financial operations, including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, and financial reporting, ensuring compliance with GAAP and industry standards.

Cost Accounting: Oversee job costing for heavy civil projects, tracking direct costs (materials, labor, equipment) and indirect costs (overhead, subcontractors) using Viewpoint and HeavyJob. Maintain accurate job cost sheets and work-in-progress (WIP) reports to monitor project profitability.

Equipment Cost Management: Utilize Equipment 360 to track and allocate equipment costs (e.g., maintenance, depreciation, and rental) across projects, ensuring accurate cost attribution.

Document Management: Leverage Laserfiche to streamline financial documentation, ensuring secure storage and retrieval of invoices, contracts, and cost-related records.

Budgeting and Forecasting: Develop and manage project budgets in Viewpoint, collaborating with project managers to ensure accurate cost estimates for bids. Analyze historical cost data from HeavyJob to improve bidding accuracy.

Variance Analysis: Conduct post-project cost reviews to identify variances between estimated and actual costs, using insights from Viewpoint and HeavyJob to enhance cost control.

Power BI Optimization: In the future, lead efforts to optimize Power BI for financial reporting, creating dashboards to track project costs, profitability, and key performance indicators (KPIs) once the company establishes its Power BI foundation.

Cash Flow Management: Monitor cash inflows from clients and outflows for materials, labor, and subcontractors to maintain liquidity for ongoing and upcoming projects, using Viewpoint for real-time financial tracking.

Internal Controls: Implement and maintain robust internal controls to prevent fraud, errors, or cost misallocation, ensuring audit readiness with support from Laserfiche for document compliance.

Team Leadership: Supervise accounting staff, providing guidance on cost accounting processes and training on Viewpoint, HeavyJob, Equipment 360, and Laserfiche.

Stakeholder Communication: Present financial reports to senior management, owners, and external stakeholders (e.g., lenders, auditors), translating complex cost data into actionable insights.

Compliance and Taxes: Ensure timely tax filings and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including those specific to the construction industry, using Viewpoint for accurate financial data.

Qualifications

Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA or CMA certification preferred.

Minimum of 7-10 years of accounting experience, with at least 5 years in the construction industry, preferably heavy civil construction.

Expertise in cost accounting, including job costing, WIP reporting, and overhead allocation.

Proficiency in Viewpoint, HeavyJob, Equipment 360, and Laserfiche for financial and project cost management.

Familiarity with Power BI or similar data visualization tools; willingness to lead optimization efforts after initial integration.

Strong analytical skills for variance analysis and cost control.

Excellent leadership and communication skills to manage teams and collaborate with project managers.

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for financial modeling and reporting.

Knowledge of GAAP and construction-specific financial regulations.

Preferred Skills

Extensive experience with heavy civil construction projects (e.g., highways, bridges, or infrastructure).

Demonstrated success using Viewpoint, HeavyJob, Equipment 360, and Laserfiche in a construction environment.

Prior experience optimizing data tools like Power BI for financial or project management purposes.

Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

Health, dental, and vision insurance.

401(k) with company match.

Paid time off and holidays.

Opportunities for professional development, including Power BI and software-specific training.