Senior Controller – Construction Accounting & Client Advisory

Recruithook; Wayne (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Recruithook, in northern New Jersey, seeks a hands-on Senior Controller to blend construction accounting with client advisory and internal financial leadership for a CPA firm.

You will guide job costing, WIP, budgeting, and cash flow while supervising month-end close and financial reporting, interfacing with owners and senior leadership. A unique, non-traditional role with autonomy and broad scope.

Qualifications

• Strong controller or senior-level accounting experience, ideally in construction or project-based business.
• Solid understanding of job costing, WIP, financial reporting, budgeting, and cash flow management.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple businesses or engagements.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work directly with owners and senior executives.
• Hands-on, solutions-oriented approach beyond just preparing financial statements.
• CPA firm, outsourced accounting, client advisory, or fractional Controller experience is a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on Controller and accounting support to construction and closely held business clients.
• Oversee month-end close, financial reporting, cash flow, budgeting, job costing, WIP, and project-based accounting.
• Work directly with business owners and senior leadership to improve financial reporting and business processes.
• Manage multiple client engagements and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Serve as the internal Controller for the CPA firm, overseeing its books, reporting, cash flow, and financial operations.
• Help the Managing Partner with financial, administrative, vendor, insurance, and operational matters.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reporting, and financial visibility across both client businesses and the firm.

Skills

Construction accounting

Job costing

WIP

Financial reporting

Budgeting

Cash flow management

Education

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Financial reporting tools

Job description

Are you a hands-on Controller with strong construction accounting experience who wants more variety, autonomy, and direct interaction with business owners?

A well-established firm in Northern New Jersey is looking for a Senior Controller to join its team in a unique role that combines construction accounting, client advisory services, and internal financial leadership.

This is not a traditional accounting position. You will work directly with a group of construction and closely held business owners, helping them improve financial reporting, cash flow visibility, job costing, WIP, budgeting, and overall accounting processes. At the same time, you will serve as the internal Controller for the CPA firm, overseeing its financial operations and working closely with the Managing Partner.

What You'll Do

• Provide hands-on Controller and accounting support to construction and closely held business clients.
• Oversee month-end close, financial reporting, cash flow, budgeting, job costing, WIP, and project-based accounting.
• Work directly with business owners and senior leadership to improve financial reporting and business processes.
• Manage multiple client engagements and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Serve as the internal Controller for the CPA firm, overseeing its books, reporting, cash flow, and financial operations.
• Help the Managing Partner with financial, administrative, vendor, insurance, and operational matters.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reporting, and financial visibility across both client businesses and the firm.

What We're Looking For

• Strong Controller or senior-level accounting experience, ideally within construction or another project-based business.
• Solid understanding of job costing, WIP, financial reporting, budgeting, and cash flow management.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple businesses or engagements.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work directly with owners and senior executives.
• Hands-on, solutions-oriented approach with the ability to move beyond simply preparing financial statements.
• CPA firm, outsourced accounting, client advisory, or fractional Controller experience is a plus, but not required.

Why This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to step into a broader role where you can use your accounting expertise to actually influence how businesses operate. You will have exposure to multiple companies, direct access to business owners, and the opportunity to become a trusted financial resource rather than simply managing the books.

The ideal candidate enjoys variety, problem-solving, and working directly with decision-makers and is looking for a long-term opportunity with an established and respected CPA firm.