Financial Controller

Next One Staffing; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Next One Staffing partners with a California engineering firm to identify a seasoned Controller who will lead accounting operations and partner with the CFO and leadership team.

You'll oversee close processes, financial reporting, WIP and ASC 606, plus budgeting, forecasting, and controls. The role emphasizes strategic insight, process improvement, and strong collaboration across project managers and executives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Management, or related field
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience; 10+ years preferred
• 5+ years of AEC industry accounting/finance experience; 10 years preferred
• Previous supervisory or accounting leadership experience
• Strong command of GAAP and financial reporting
• Experience with WIP, percent-of-completion accounting, and ASC 606
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities

Responsibilities

• Oversee monthly close, general ledger, reconciliations, accruals, and financial reporting
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, P&L, balance sheet, backlog, KPI, and variance analysis
• Manage WIP accounting and ASC 606 revenue recognition
• Coordinate cost-to-cost and percent-of-completion across active projects
• Oversee AR/AP, billing, collections, and payroll
• Prepare financial packages for executive leadership and the Board
• Collaborate with outside CPAs on accounting and tax matters
• Strengthen financial controls, policies, compliance, and process improvement
• Manage banking, credit, and insurance relationships with the CFO
• Lead and mentor the accounting team
• Collaborate with Project Managers to improve financial visibility of QIP, project performance, and profitability

Skills

GAAP knowledge

WIP accounting

ASC 606

Financial reporting

Excel

Leadership

Communication with executives

Deltek Vision/Vantagepoint

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA preferred

Tools

Deltek Vision

Vantagepoint

Job description

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer

A well-established and highly respected California engineering firm is seeking an accomplished Controller to lead its accounting operations and serve as a key financial partner to executive leadership.

This is much more than a traditional Controller role. Working closely with the CFO, Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and operational leadership, the Controller will help translate financial performance into actionable business insights while strengthening the systems, controls, reporting, and processes that support the firm's continued growth.

For an experienced finance leader who understands the unique economics of the AEC industry, this is an opportunity to have genuine influence within an organization where financial leadership has a seat at the table.

What You’ll Lead

The Controller will oversee the firm's accounting and financial operations, including:

• Monthly and year-end close, general ledger, reconciliations, accruals, and financial reporting
• Budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, P&L, balance sheet, backlog, KPI, and variance analysis
• Work-in-Progress (WIP) accounting and ASC 606 revenue recognition
• Percent-of-completion and cost-to-cost accounting across active projects
• Accounts receivable, accounts payable, billing, collections, and payroll oversight
• Monthly, quarterly, and annual financial packages for executive leadership and the Board
• Coordination with outside CPA professionals on accounting and tax matters
• Financial controls, accounting policies, compliance, and process improvement
• Banking, credit, and insurance relationships in partnership with the CFO
• Leadership, mentoring, and development of the accounting team

You’ll also work closely with Project Managers to strengthen financial visibility around WIP, project performance, billing, collections, contracts, and profitability.

We’re Looking for More Than a Great Accountant

The ideal candidate understands the numbers but also knows how to use them to improve the business. You should be someone who can identify trends, anticipate issues, challenge inconsistencies, improve processes, and communicate financial information effectively to both financial and non-financial leaders.

The organization is also continuing to modernize its finance function, making this an excellent opportunity for someone interested in technology, automation, improved dashboards, AI-enabled finance tools, and smarter financial reporting.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Management, or related field
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience; 10+ years preferred
• 5+ years of AEC industry accounting/finance experience; 10 years preferred
• Previous supervisory or accounting leadership experience
• Strong command of GAAP and financial reporting
• Experience with WIP, percent-of-completion accounting, and ASC 606
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with executives, Project Managers, employees, clients, and outside advisors
• Strong attention to detail combined with the ability to see the bigger financial picture
• CPA preferred, but not required.
• Experience with Deltek Vision or Vantagepoint is highly desirable.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join an established California engineering organization with a strong professional reputation and long-term presence in the industry.

The Controller will have significant visibility within the organization and the opportunity to influence financial performance, project economics, reporting, technology, processes, and the continued development of the accounting function.

If you're an experienced AEC finance professional looking for a Controller position where you can do more than maintain the status quo, we'd like to talk to you.