Finance Controller - M&A & Project Accounting Leader

Cobalt Service Partners, LLC; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Life and disability insurance

Professional development support

Job summary

Cobalt Service Partners seeks a Controller to own accounting for acquired operating companies, encompassing GAAP close, reporting, controls, payroll oversight, and the annual audit. Revenue recognition, job costing, and cash management are central to the role.

As you build a finance function, you’ll tighten controls, upgrade processes, and lead the team through joining the Cobalt platform. You’ll guide integration, budgeting, and compliance across multiple entities.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of technical accounting experience in public accounting, audit/assurance, or complex operational accounting, including inventory and job costing.
• Strong command of GAAP, including project revenue recognition (ASC 606), percentage-of-completion, and work-in-process accounting.
• Experience integrating acquired businesses, including consolidating systems, processes, or reporting across entities.
• Experience with construction or mid-market ERPs and payroll platforms, plus the ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Advanced Excel skills, including lookups, pivots, and building models from messy data.
• A track record of bringing structure to ambiguity and communicating clearly with non-finance operators.

Responsibilities

• Close & reporting: Run a monthly close delivering GAAP financial statements and the Cobalt reporting package within 7 business days.
• Maintain GL/chart of accounts, reconcile balance sheet accounts, and explain variances vs budget/forecast.
• Document judgment areas like accruals, revenue recognition, and inventory.
• Project revenue & WIP: Manage ASC 606 revenue recognition and percentage‑of‑completion; prepare monthly WIP and lead reviews.
• Job costing: Own margin visibility by job; flag erosion and compare estimates to completed jobs.
• Billing, collections & cash: Ensure billable work is billed promptly; manage AR aging and cash forecast.
• Planning & analysis: Lead annual budget and monthly forecast; prepare EBITDA reporting and covenants.
• Integration and consolidation: Lead finance integration of acquired businesses; align COA and policies.
• Controls & compliance: Enforce three‑way match, segregation of duties, payroll and tax compliance.
• Audit & tax: Support year-end close and audits; coordinate with tax advisors on the return.
• Team: Oversee payroll, AP, AR; develop accounting staff.
• Change management: Train staff on new systems/policies and ensure adoption.

Skills

Technical accounting

GAAP

ASC 606

Revenue recognition

Inventory

ERP systems

Excel advanced

CPA (preferred)

M&A accounting (ASC 805)

People management

Tools

Construction/mid-market ERPs

Job description

Cobalt Service Partners seeks a Controller to own accounting for acquired operating companies, encompassing GAAP close, reporting, controls, payroll oversight, and the annual audit. Revenue recognition, job costing, and cash management are central to the role.

As you build a finance function, you’ll tighten controls, upgrade processes, and lead the team through joining the Cobalt platform. You’ll guide integration, budgeting, and compliance across multiple entities.