Controller - Capital Projects & Project Finance

Vaco by Highspring; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonuses

Medical, dental & vision benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking a Controller for Capital Projects & Project Finance in the Newark, NJ area onsite. The role oversees budgeting, forecasting, cash flow planning, and financial reporting for major capital investments, ensuring compliance with GAAP/IFRS and internal policies.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in finance/accounting, strong project accounting experience, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in finance or accounting, preferably in project accounting or capital investments.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and IFRS accounting standards.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee financial governance of capital investment projects including budgeting, forecasting, accounting, cash flow planning, and financial reporting.
• Develop and maintain project cash flow forecasts using inputs from project teams, contract terms, and approved investment plans.
• Monitor and report actual expenditures against budgets with data accuracy and timely insights.
• Ensure compliance with internal finance policies, financial reporting guidelines, contractual agreements, and shareholder reporting requirements.
• Review fixed asset capitalization, accruals, supplier invoices, and payment schedules with Accounting and project delivery teams.
• Evaluate financial impact of scope changes and budget adjustments, preparing business cases and scenario analyses.
• Support project risk management by identifying and monitoring financial risks.
• Analyze financial results and variances, provide fact-based recommendations for decision-making.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders to ensure controls and reporting align with project objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes and reporting efficiency.

Skills

Financial analysis

GAAP & IFRS knowledge

Budgeting & forecasting

Cash flow management

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance

Job description

Controller - Capital Projects & Project Finance

Location: Newark, NJ area

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Job Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

A leading global organization in the Newark, NJ area is seeking an experienced Controller to support the financial oversight and governance of major capital investment projects. This role will be responsible for project budgeting, forecasting, cash flow planning, financial reporting, and accounting, ensuring accurate financial information and compliance with applicable accounting standards and internal policies.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in finance or accounting, experience with capital investments and project accounting, and a continuous improvement mindset. This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented financial professional who enjoys analyzing complex financial data, partnering with cross-functional teams, and driving process improvements in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the financial governance of capital investment projects, including budgeting, forecasting, accounting, cash flow planning, and financial reporting.
• Develop and maintain project cash flow forecasts using input from project teams, contract terms, and approved investment plans.
• Monitor and report actual project expenditures against budgets, ensuring data accuracy, transparency, and timely financial insights.
• Ensure compliance with internal finance policies, financial reporting guidelines, contractual agreements, and shareholder reporting requirements.
• Review fixed asset capitalization, accruals, supplier invoices, and payment schedules in collaboration with Accounting and project delivery teams.
• Evaluate the financial impact of project scope changes and budget adjustments, preparing business cases, scenario analyses, and supporting recommendations.
• Support project risk management by identifying, quantifying, and monitoring financial risks associated with capital investments.
• Analyze financial results and variances, identify potential issues, and provide fact-based recommendations to support informed decision-making.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders to ensure effective financial controls, accurate reporting, and alignment with project objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, strengthen controls, and enhance reporting efficiency.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in finance or accounting, preferably within project implementation, capital investment, or project accounting environments.
• Strong knowledge of both GAAP and IFRS accounting standards.
• Demonstrated experience with project accounting, fixed asset capitalization, and capital expenditure tracking.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and financial reporting.
• Proven ability to analyze complex financial data, identify variances, and develop clear, actionable recommendations.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and engage confidently with senior leadership.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to handle confidential financial information with discretion and professionalism.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a proactive, analytical finance professional with a continuous improvement mindset and a natural curiosity for understanding how processes work and how they can be improved. They will be comfortable taking ownership of financial responsibilities, solving problems at their root, and partnering with stakeholders to support sound financial management and successful capital investment initiatives.

Benefits

The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (we, our, or Vaco by Highspring) are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present you as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

1. the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
2. licensure and certification requirements;
3. office location and other geographic considerations; and
4. other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).