Project & Operations Controller

AccruePartners; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

High-visibility role with leadership

Autonomy to shape back-office controls

Long-term growth opportunities

Job summary

AccruePartners is seeking a seasoned Controller-level professional to own the financial and operational back-office functions. You will drive the firm’s Deltek Ajera implementation, lead project accounting, and partner across accounting, project management, and operations.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in full-charge accounting within architecture/construction, deep GAAP knowledge, and a track record of improving processes and controls.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive full-charge accounting or Controller-level experience.
• Hands-on project-based accounting, job costing, WIP management, and project billing.
• Experience with Deltek Ajera is highly preferred (implementation, setup, admin, optimization).
• Strong general ledger, month-end/year-end close, reconciliations, and cash flow management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee accounting, project accounting, billing, AP, AR, payroll, and financial reporting.
• Lead Deltek Ajera implementation, optimization, and user training.
• Provide leadership with visibility into project profitability, WIP, labor utilization, and cash flow.
• Manage month-end and year-end close, reconciliations, journal entries, and financial statements.
• Collaborate with project managers to ensure accurate time/expenses, budgets, and timely billing.
• Establish and maintain strong financial controls and reporting processes.

Skills

Deltek Ajera experience

Project accounting

Financial reporting

Accounting leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business

Tools

Deltek Ajera

ERP systems

Job description

• A leading Southeast-based infrastructure and construction organization celebrating over 100 years of success, supporting transportation projects across multiple states
• A collaborative Payroll, HR, and Finance team responsible for supporting 500+ employees across three operating companies
• A performance-driven culture that values safety, accountability, quality, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Leadership committed to developing employees, improving processes, and investing in long-term organizational growth
• A stable organization experiencing continued expansion across the Southeast with a strong reputation in the construction industry

The Team You Will Be Joining

• A leading Southeast-based infrastructure and construction organization celebrating over 100 years of success, supporting transportation projects across multiple states
• A collaborative Payroll, HR, and Finance team responsible for supporting 500+ employees across three operating companies
• A performance-driven culture that values safety, accountability, quality, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Leadership committed to developing employees, improving processes, and investing in long-term organizational growth
• A stable organization experiencing continued expansion across the Southeast with a strong reputation in the construction industry

What They Offer You

• Opportunity to own the financial and operational back-office function while playing a key role in the firm's transition to Deltek Ajera (consulting firm doing the heavy lifting!)
• High-visibility position working directly with company leadership while partnering across accounting, project management, and operations
• Ability to build and improve project accounting processes, including job costing, WIP tracking, project setup, billing, and financial reporting
• Significant autonomy to establish financial controls, SOPs, workflows, and best practices across the organization
• Opportunity to become the organization's Deltek Ajera subject matter expert, leading implementation, system optimization, and user training
• Stable, long-term opportunity with an organization that values operational efficiency, employee development, and continued growth

Why This Role Is Important

• Serves as the financial and operational owner of the firm's back-office functions, overseeing accounting, project accounting, billing, AP, AR, payroll, and financial reporting
• Plays a critical role in the implementation and optimization of Deltek Ajera, including project setup, rate tables, billing terms, workflows, reporting, and user training
• Provides leadership with visibility into project profitability, WIP, labor utilization, job costing, cash flow, and overall financial performance
• Oversees the complete month-end and year-end close process, including reconciliations, journal entries, financial statements, and cash flow reporting
• Partners closely with project managers to ensure accurate time and expense reporting, project budgets, job costing, and timely progress billing
• Establishes and maintains strong financial controls and accounting processes while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and reporting
• Serves as a key connection between finance, project management, and operations, ensuring financial information supports better business decisions
• Helps build the infrastructure necessary to support the firm's continued growth and operational scalability

The Background That Fits

• 5+ years of progressive full-charge accounting or Controller-level experience, preferably within architecture, engineering, construction, or professional services
• Hands-on experience with project-based accounting, job costing, WIP management, project billing, and project profitability analysis
• Direct experience with Deltek Ajera strongly preferred, particularly implementation, system setup, administration, optimization, or power-user experience
• Strong understanding of general ledger accounting, month-end/year-end close, reconciliations, financial reporting, and cash flow management
• Experience managing or overseeing full-cycle AP and AR, including client invoicing, collections, vendor invoices, subcontractor payments, and expense coding
• Working knowledge of AEC industry accounting and revenue recognition, including WIP and project-based revenue considerations
• Experience managing payroll administration, payroll reconciliations, employee benefits, tax withholdings, and statutory compliance
• Strong systems aptitude with the ability to implement, configure, troubleshoot, and optimize ERP/accounting systems
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered