Corporate Controller

BKF is a multi-service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering, construction management, environmental, planning, and surveying services across California, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. With offices throughout California and the Portland area, BKF has served transportation, water resources, land development, government, and federal clients for over 110 years.

We are seeking an experienced Corporate Controller to lead accounting operations for a growing firm. This is a highly visible leadership role responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and scalability of the company's accounting and financial reporting functions while strengthening the systems, processes, and controls needed to support continued growth.

The Corporate Controller will lead the accounting organization and oversee financial reporting, general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, project accounting, cash management, tax and audit coordination, and internal controls. The Controller will also be an important partner to executive leadership and operational leaders, translating complex financial information into actionable business insights.

The ideal candidate brings deep technical accounting expertise combined with strong business judgment and understands the financial complexities of a large, project-based professional services organization. Experience within the AEC industry, including project accounting, indirect cost structures, FAR requirements, and Deltek Vantagepoint or a comparable ERP platform, is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Accounting & Financial Reporting

• Lead the company's accounting operations and ensure accurate, timely, and consistent financial reporting across the organization.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, including consolidated financial statements, balance sheet reconciliations, accruals, and management reporting.
• Ensure accounting practices and financial statements are maintained in accordance with U.S. GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Establish appropriate close calendars, reporting standards, account reconciliations, and review controls to support timely and reliable financial information.
• Maintain oversight of the general ledger, chart of accounts, fixed assets, leases, and other balance sheet accounts.

Project Accounting

• Provide leadership and oversight for project accounting, billing, accounts receivable, revenue recognition, and project financial controls.
• Partner with operational leadership and project managers to strengthen project setup, contract review, billing practices, work-in-progress management, collections, and project closeout.
• Oversee indirect cost allocation methodologies and the preparation and support of FAR-compliant overhead rates, where applicable.
• Monitor project financial performance and develop processes that improve visibility into revenue, backlog, utilization, profitability, working capital, and project-level financial risk.
• Drive consistent accounting practices across offices, business units, and acquired organizations.

Controls, Compliance & Audit

• Develop, maintain, and continuously strengthen the company's internal control environment.
• Establish accounting policies, procedures, and standards that support both compliance and scalable operations.
• Coordinate annual financial statement audits, tax compliance, FAR/indirect cost audits, benefit plan audits, and other external reporting requirements.
• Partner with external auditors, tax advisors, banking partners, and other professional service providers.
• Proactively identify financial, accounting, and operational risks and implement appropriate controls and mitigation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local financial reporting requirements applicable to the organization.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing accounting organization.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, service expectations, and accountability across accounting functions.
• Develop leaders and succession capability within the accounting team while creating opportunities for professional growth.
• Build strong partnerships between Accounting, Finance, Operations, HR, IT, Legal, and project leadership.
• Create a culture of accuracy, responsiveness, continuous improvement, and strong internal customer service.

Systems, Automation & Process Improvement

• Lead improvements to accounting processes, workflows, reporting, and financial systems.
• Serve as a key business owner and partner in optimizing the company's ERP and associated finance technology.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes, improve data integrity, shorten close cycles, and increase the scalability of the accounting function.
• Partner with IT and business stakeholders on system implementations, integrations, upgrades, data governance, and reporting improvements.
• Develop standardized accounting practices that can scale with organizational growth.

Growth & Strategic Initiatives

• Support annual planning, budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow management, and other financial planning activities in partnership with Finance leadership.
• Provide financial analysis and recommendations to executive and operational leadership.
• Support mergers and acquisitions, including financial due diligence, purchase accounting, integration planning, ERP conversion, and transition of acquired accounting teams.
• Develop scalable processes and controls that enable continued organic and acquisitive growth.
• Manage banking relationships and support debt, covenant, treasury, and cash-management requirements as appropriate.
• Participate in strategic initiatives and special projects impacting the company's financial operations.