Controller – Commercial Construction

Gilder Search Group; Ontario (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilder Search Group is recruiting for a senior-level Controller to own all accounting operations for a private commercial concrete contractor. This role partners with ownership, driving financial planning and tight controls in a fast-paced environment.

You will oversee union payroll, project costing, and monthly close while guiding a small accounting team in a collaborative office setting. Onsite work is essential and visibility is high across operations and leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Progressive accounting leadership experience, ideally as a Controller or Assistant Controller.
• Experience within commercial construction or project-based accounting environments.
• Strong knowledge of job costing, payroll, financial reporting, and account reconciliations.
• Experience using Sage 300 CRE (formerly Timberline) is strongly preferred.
• Experience processing union payroll and managing construction payroll compliance.
• Ability to work onsite in a collaborative office environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead all accounting operations, including financial reporting, general ledger management, month-end and year-end close.
• Oversee union payroll processing, payroll tax compliance, and job cost allocations within Sage 300 CRE.
• Manage cash flow, banking relationships, account reconciliations, and financial controls.
• Supervise the Accounts Payable Clerk while providing leadership across accounting and HR-related administrative functions.
• Oversee project accounting, including job costing, contract administration, billing, change orders, and work-in-progress reporting.
• Coordinate annual tax preparation, external CPA support, insurance reporting, and regulatory compliance.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes while bringing structure and organization to existing financial operations.

Skills

Leadership

Construction accounting

Job costing

Payroll compliance

Financial reporting

Account reconciliations

Onsite work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

Sage 300 CRE

Job description

This is an opportunity to take ownership of the financial operations for an established commercial concrete contractor. If you enjoy solving operational challenges, working closely with ownership, and making a measurable impact within a growing construction business, this role offers the visibility and autonomy to do exactly that.

Our client is a privately owned commercial construction company with a long-standing reputation in its market. The business operates with a close-knit, family-oriented culture where decisions are made quickly and employees work collaboratively across departments. The accounting team plays a central role in supporting both field operations and executive leadership, making this position highly visible within the organization.

In this role, you will…

• Lead all accounting operations, including financial reporting, general ledger management, month-end and year-end close.
• Oversee union payroll processing, payroll tax compliance, and job cost allocations within Sage 300 CRE.
• Manage cash flow, banking relationships, account reconciliations, and financial controls.
• Supervise the Accounts Payable Clerk while providing leadership across accounting and HR-related administrative functions.
• Oversee project accounting, including job costing, contract administration, billing, change orders, and work-in-progress reporting.
• Coordinate annual tax preparation, external CPA support, insurance reporting, and regulatory compliance.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes while bringing structure and organization to existing financial operations.

What we're looking for

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Progressive accounting leadership experience, ideally as a Controller or Assistant Controller.
• Experience within commercial construction or project-based accounting environments.
• Strong knowledge of job costing, payroll, financial reporting, and account reconciliations.
• Experience using Sage 300 CRE (formerly Timberline) is strongly preferred.
• Experience processing union payroll and managing construction payroll compliance.
• Ability to work onsite in a collaborative office environment.

If you're an experienced construction accounting professional who enjoys balancing strategic financial leadership with hands‑on operational involvement, we'd welcome a confidential conversation about this opportunity.