Financial Controller Construction

Controller- Must come from Construction Industry

Location: In office, full time Ontario, CA.

Salary Range: $120,000 to $150,000

Bonus: Discretionary

Industry: Construction, Union Contractor

Software: Sage 300 preferred

Overview

A well established construction company is seeking an experienced Controller to lead all accounting and financial operations. This is a hands on role for a construction accounting professional who can own the books, manage payroll, oversee AP and AR, and support leadership with accurate financial reporting. The ideal candidate comes from a construction environment, understands union reporting, and is comfortable working in a fast paced, in office setting.

This role supervises one accounting team member and works closely with AP and AR support staff. The Controller will be responsible for day to day accounting operations, monthly financials, banking, audits, payroll, and subcontractor compliance including lien releases.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all accounting operations for the company

• Prepare monthly financial statements and internal reporting

• Manage bank reconciliations and cash flow

• Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable processes

• Run or oversee in house payroll for approximately 100 to 200 employees

• Handle union reporting and compliance

• Manage subcontractor billing, payment processing, and lien releases

• Coordinate audits and support external accountants

• Maintain and improve accounting processes and internal controls

• Supervise one direct report and support accounting staff

• Work closely with leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning

Requirements

• Minimum 5 plus years of experience in construction accounting

• Experience as a Controller, Senior Bookkeeper, or Senior Accountant

• Strong understanding of union payroll and union reporting

• Experience with in house payroll for construction employees

• Sage 300 experience highly preferred

• CPA preferred but not required

• Strong experience with reconciliations, banking, and monthly financials

• Experience managing AP, AR, and subcontractor releases

• Detail oriented, organized, and dependable

• Comfortable working full time in office

Why Join

• Stable, established construction company

• High impact role with full ownership of accounting operations

• Direct access to leadership

• Competitive base salary plus discretionary bonus

At a high level, a Controller:

1. Owns the books
2. They are responsible for all accounting activity, making sure every dollar is recorded correctly. This includes the general ledger, journal entries, and month end close.
3. Produces financial statements
4. They prepare monthly financials such as the profit and loss statement, balance sheet, and cash flow report so leadership knows how the business is actually performing.
5. Manages cash and banking
6. They handle bank reconciliations, monitor cash flow, and make sure the company can meet payroll and pay vendors on time.
7. Oversees payroll
8. In many companies, especially construction, the Controller runs or oversees in house payroll, including taxes, benefits, and union reporting if applicable.
9. Runs AP and AR
10. They manage accounts payable and accounts receivable, making sure bills get paid, invoices go out, and money gets collected.
11. Ensures compliance
12. They handle tax filings, audits, and regulatory reporting. In construction this also includes union reporting, certified payroll, and subcontractor compliance such as lien releases.
13. Supports leadership decisions
14. They help ownership and executives with budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning by giving them accurate numbers to base decisions on.
15. Builds and improves systems
16. They maintain and improve accounting processes, internal controls, and financial systems such as Sage, QuickBooks, or other ERPs.