Controller - Mechanical & Construction

Talent Harbor; Lanham (MD); On-site; USD 175,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with 6% company match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Private office

Job summary

Talent Harbor seeks a Controller to join the executive Leadership Team in Lanham, MD. This role reports to the President and leads a 7–8 person team across Finance, Accounting, Payroll, and IT, guiding financial strategy and ensuring rigorous controls.

You will work with an interim consultant during onboarding to transition books and receive coaching, while driving cost-to-complete reviews and profitability analysis for construction and service operations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive financial leadership experience (Accounting, Finance, Budgeting, Treasury).
• Background in construction, mechanical contracting, or project-based/job-costing accounting preferred.
• Leadership style: supportive coach, values accuracy and quality.
• Location: on-site in Lanham, MD.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA/CMA a plus.
• Exposure to Viewpoint Vista ERP, Spreadsheet Server, BuildOps is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Partnership with the President and Leadership Team to drive financial strategy, risk management, and EOS scorecards.
• Financial Operations & Reporting: manage general ledger, AP, AR, monthly/quarterly closes, and annual tax/audit compliance.
• Project Accounting & WIP: lead monthly Cost-to-Complete reviews across construction and service segments.
• Team Leadership: coach and develop a 7–8 person team in Accounting, Payroll, and IT.
• Cash Flow & Treasury: oversee weekly cash forecasting, collections, and vendor/subcontractor payments.
• Payroll Compliance: oversee union payroll, certified payroll, prevailing wages, and union benefit reporting across DC, MD, VA.

Skills

Financial leadership

Project accounting

Team leadership

Cash flow management

Cost-to-Complete

Payroll compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

CPA or CMA (bonus)

Tools

Viewpoint Vista ERP

Spreadsheet Server

BuildOps

Job description

Base Salary: $175,000 – $210,000 + Discretionary Annual Bonus

Our client is a premier, family-owned union mechanical contractor that has been serving the Greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for over 130 years. They specialize in complex HVAC, plumbing, commercial refrigeration, and mission-critical mechanical systems for healthcare, higher education, commercial, and government facilities.

Operating on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), their company culture is built on low turnover, high trust, long-term stability, and strong core values centered on doing the right thing, helping others, and delivering excellence.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Controller to join our client's executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to the President. This individual will serve as both a strategic financial advisor and a hands‑on leader overseeing a team of 7–8 professionals across Finance, Accounting, Payroll, and IT.

This position offers a unique, high-support onboarding environment: you will work alongside an experienced interim financial consultant who will help transition the books and provide ongoing coaching/training over your first year.

• Strategic Financial Partnership: Collaborate with the President and Leadership Team to drive financial strategy, risk management, and EOS company scorecards.
• Financial Operations & Reporting: Manage general ledger, AP, AR, monthly/quarterly financial closes, and annual tax/audit compliance.
• Project Accounting & WIP: Lead monthly Cost-to-Complete reviews with Project Managers, tracking profitability across construction (60% revenue) and service operations (40% revenue).
• Team Leadership & Development: Coach, mentor, and build accountability across a 7–8 person team in Accounting, Payroll, and IT.
• Cash Flow & Treasury: Oversee weekly cash forecasting, collection strategies, and vendor/subcontractor payment batches.
• Payroll Compliance: Provide oversight for complex union payroll, certified payroll, prevailing wages, and union benefit trust fund reporting across DC, MD, and VA.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience: 10+ years of progressive financial leadership experience (Accounting, Finance, Budgeting, Treasury).
• Industry Focus: Background in construction, mechanical contracting, or project-based/job-costing accounting is highly preferred.
• Leadership Style: A supportive coach who leads by example, values accuracy and quality over "checking a box," and is comfortable rolling up their sleeves when needed.
• Location: Able to work full-time on-site in Lanham, MD.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required. CPA or CMA is a plus.
• Tech Stack (Bonus): Exposure to Viewpoint Vista ERP, Spreadsheet Server, or BuildOps is a plus.
• Base Salary: $175,000 – $210,000 per year (commensurate with experience)
• Bonus: Annual discretionary performance bonus
• Healthcare: 90% company-paid medical insurance premiums for your ENTIRE family
• Retirement: 401(k) with up to a 6% company match
• Paid Time Off: 3 weeks accrued PTO (with carryover/payout options) + Short-Term Disability
• Paid Holidays: 10 paid union holidays annually
• Work Environment: Private office with a window, collaborative leadership team, and low-turnover culture.