Project Controller

Lefferts Investments; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Lefferts Investments seeks a Project Controller to oversee accounting and financial operations for its construction and development projects. You will partner with development teams, project managers, and senior leadership to ensure accurate oversight, cost control and robust reporting across all assigned projects.

This role requires 5+ years in accounting/finance, construction project experience, and strong GAAP knowledge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance required.
• 5+ years of accounting or finance experience required.
• Experience in construction accounting, project accounting, or development-related financial management preferred.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and accounting procedures related to construction and capital projects.
• Experience with job costing, capital project budgeting, and project financial reporting.
• Superior analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively with project managers, contractors, and leadership teams.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, including advanced Excel skills.
• Experience with accounting and financial management systems such as QuickBooks, IES, and Yardi.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all project accounting activities, including AP/AR, job costing, compliance, financial reporting, and month-end close.
• Lead monthly close process for assigned projects, including reviewing financial statements, reconciliations, journal entries, and schedules.
• Oversee job cost accounting, ensuring costs are recorded, classified, capitalized, and reconciled to budgets.
• Review contractor invoices, pay apps, lien waivers, change orders, and draw schedules for accuracy and compliance.
• Coordinate with lenders and stakeholders for construction loan draws and funding.
• Prepare budgets, forecasts, and variance analyses; identify risks and cost overruns, offering management recommendations.
• Monitor project cash flow and coordinate debt and equity funding needs with leadership.
• Provide financial oversight across the project lifecycle with development, construction, and asset management teams.
• Ensure adherence to accounting policies, controls, and standards; identify opportunities to strengthen processes.
• Coordinate with lenders, investors, auditors, tax advisors, and project partners.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication

Independent work

Collaboration

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance

Tools

QuickBooks

IES

Yardi

Microsoft Excel

Job description

SUMMARY:

The Project Controller is responsible for overseeing all accounting and financial operations related to the company’s construction and development projects. The Project Controller works closely with development teams, project managers, and senior leadership to ensure accurate financial oversight, cost control, and reporting across assigned projects.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage and oversee all project accounting activities, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, job cost accounting, compliance, financial reporting, and month-end close.
• Lead the monthly close process for assigned projects, including the review and approval of financial statements, account reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting schedules.
• Oversee job cost accounting and ensure project costs are accurately recorded, appropriately classified and capitalized, and reconciled to project budgets and supporting documentation.
• Review contractor invoices, pay applications, lien waivers, change orders, and draw schedules to ensure accuracy and compliance with contracts, project budgets, and lender requirements.
• Manage the preparation and submission of construction loan draws and coordinate with lenders and internal stakeholders to ensure timely project funding.
• Review and assist in the preparation of project budgets, forecasts, and budget-to-actual variance analyses; identify trends, risks, and potential cost overruns and provide recommendations to management.
• Monitor project-level cash flow and funding requirements and coordinate debt and equity funding needs with development, finance, and executive leadership.
• Partner with development, construction, and asset management to provide financial oversight and insight throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure compliance with established accounting policies, procedures, internal controls, and applicable accounting standards; identify and implement opportunities to strengthen controls and processes.
• Coordinate with key external stakeholders, including lenders, investors, auditors, tax advisors, contractors, and other project partners.
• Prepare quarterly reporting schedules and support annual audits, tax compliance, lender reporting, investor reporting, and other financial reporting requirements.
• Drive process improvements, system enhancements, reporting improvements, and automation initiatives to increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of the project accounting function.
• Support the CFO with project-related financial analysis, strategic initiatives, organizational growth, and special projects.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• 5+ years of accounting or finance experience required.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required.
• Experience in construction accounting, project accounting, or development-related financial management preferred.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and accounting procedures related to construction and capital projects.
• Experience with job costing, capital project budgeting, and project financial reporting.
• Superior analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively with project managers, contractors, and leadership teams.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, including advanced Excel skills.
• Experience with accounting and financial management systems such as Quickbooks, IES, and Yardi.