Controller-Construction

Talent Edge Recruiting; Danville (CA); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Generous PTO

Hybrid flexibility

Job summary

Talent Edge Recruiting is seeking a Controller (path to CFO) for a growing commercial HVAC company in Danville, CA. This hands-on role owns accounting end-to-end, with a plan to move toward CFO responsibilities as the business scales.

You'll implement cost-based job costing, optimize commissions, manage banking relationships, and build budgeting/ forecasting processes. Hybrid work, strong ownership, and potential future CFO opportunities.

Qualifications

• Requires true controller-level experience.
• Revenues above $20M preferable.
• Experience with construction or project-based accounting.
• Experience with complex commission plans.
• Ownership of month-end close and GAAP accrual accounting.
• Budgeting/forecasting and banking/lines of credit experience.

Responsibilities

• Own all accounting functions hands-on, including AP and AR.
• Lead the month-end close with a target of 15 days.
• Maintain schedules for balance sheet accounts and reconciliations.
• Support the annual audit and keep books audit-ready.
• Build WIP schedule using cost-based percentage-of-completion.
• Define and track KPIs: close timing, DSO, DPO, cash flow.

Skills

Controller-level experience

GAAP accrual accounting

Month-end close ownership

Budgeting & forecasting

Balance sheet reconciliation

Audit support

Banking relationships

Leadership / team development

Independent / self-starter

Long tenure

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance

Tools

QuickBooks Online

Job description

Controller (Path to CFO) | Commercial HVAC | Hybrid, Danville, CA

Compensation: $200,000 - $250,000 per year, plus benefits

The Opportunity

Our client is a privately owned commercial HVAC company that is growing fast. Revenue has passed $50M and is still climbing. They need a true Controller who will build the finance function the business has outgrown, and who can step into the CFO seat in the next few years as the company keeps scaling.

This is a hands-on, builder role. You will own accounting end to end, fix and modernize how the company handles job costing and commissions, and become the financial partner the owners rely on. The role starts at roughly 70% Controller and 30% CFO. As the systems mature, the mix shifts toward strategy, forecasting, banking and transaction readiness. The Controller looks in the rear-view mirror; the CFO looks through the windshield. This role is designed to move from one to the other.

What You'll Do

• Own all accounting functions hands-on, including AP and AR
• Lead the month-end close. The team currently closes in 17 days, and the goal is day 15 or sooner
• Maintain schedules for every balance sheet account and reconcile them regularly
• Support the annual audit and keep the books audit-ready
• Build and maintain the WIP schedule using cost-based percentage-of-completion, applying practical judgment about which jobs to include or exclude
• Manage customer deposits and recognize revenue on shipment, progressively or all at once
• Calculate, accrue and reconcile sales engineer commissions. Engineers start on a draw, then earn a share of realized gross profit with no cap
• Manage gross profit adjustments such as administrative markups, finance charges for extended terms, internal PM hours, back charges, freight variances and vendor pricing disputes
• Move commission expense into the same period as the related revenue, and clean up legacy items, including how owner-sales commissions are handled
• Own the banking relationships, establish lines of credit, and give lenders everything they need
• Build a budgeting process and a rolling forecast from bookings and the high-probability pipeline
• Define and track KPIs: close timing, DSO, DPO, cash management, invoice timing vs. job close, and job profitability
• Prepare the company for a future transaction by setting a distribution policy, managing working capital, organizing diligence data and supporting QoE requests
• Document processes, partner with outside finance advisors on improvements, and teach and grow the existing team

What Our Client Is Looking For

• True controller-level experience. This is not an accounting manager role with a bigger title
• Experience at a company with $20M+ in revenue. The sweet spot is $20M-$125M
• Expert-level QuickBooks Online. The company has no plans to change systems
• Hands-on construction or project-based accounting: job costing, WIP and percentage-of-completion
• Experience with complex commission plans: gross-profit-based plans, draws, adjustments and accruals
• Ownership of month-end close and GAAP accrual accounting
• Strong balance sheet reconciliation and audit support experience
• Budgeting and forecasting experience
• Banking relationship and line of credit experience
• A builder mindset. You've built and matured systems before, you enjoy stepping into someone else's messy setup, and you want to make an impact rather than maintain the status quo
• The ability to run independently, bring best practices, and raise the knowledge of the team around you
• A record of long tenure at prior companies and the ability to earn the trust of owners quickly. You will have significant financial access
• A good reason for looking now, such as an acquisition of your current company
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or a related field

What You'll Get

• Base salary of $180,000 - $220,000, depending on experience & location
• A real path to CFO as the company grows, with a role built to evolve
• 401(k)
• Generous PTO
• Hybrid flexibility, with time on site in Danville
• The chance to shape the finance function at a fast-growing, privately owned company with direct access to ownership

LOCAL CANDIDATES HIGHLY PREFERRED

Please Note: This position is open to candidates who are authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future visa sponsorship. We are not able to consider C2C arrangements or third-party submissions.