Hands-On Controller — Construction

Location: Metro Atlanta, Georgia
Industry: Construction
Company Size: Approximately $50 Million in Annual Revenue
Reports To: Company Leadership
Position Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

An established, approximately $50 million construction company is seeking an experienced, hands-on Controller to manage daily accounting operations, oversee construction job costing, lead financial reporting, and supervise a small accounting team.

This is a working Controller position, not a high-level finance executive role. The successful candidate will be directly involved in the accounting process, including general ledger activities, month-end close, reconciliations, financial statement preparation, and work-in-progress (WIP) reporting.

The company has recently made significant investments in modernizing its accounting and operational systems, including Sage Intacct Construction and Salesforce. The Controller will play an important role in maximizing these investments, improving accounting efficiencies, and ensuring accurate and timely financial information.

The ideal candidate is a strong construction accounting professional who enjoys being involved in the details, solving problems, improving processes, and leading a small team.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting Operations & Month-End Close

• Manage daily accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and reconciliations.

• Personally participate in and oversee the monthly and annual closing processes.

• Prepare and review monthly financial statements, supporting schedules, and management reports.

• Prepare and review journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and general ledger activity.

• Ensure accurate and timely recording of financial transactions.

• Maintain organized accounting records and supporting documentation.

• Resolve accounting discrepancies and assist with daily accounting issues as needed.

Construction Job Costing & WIP Reporting

• Oversee construction job costing and project-level financial reporting.

• Prepare and maintain accurate work-in-progress (WIP) schedules.

• Monitor project costs, gross margins, profitability, and budget-to-actual performance.

• Review job-cost allocations and ensure expenses are assigned to the appropriate projects.

• Coordinate with project managers and operations to resolve job-cost discrepancies.

• Oversee construction revenue recognition and project accounting.

• Review project billing, retainage, underbillings, and overbillings as applicable.

• Provide management with accurate and timely project profitability information.

Sage Intacct Construction & Process Improvement

• Work directly in Sage Intacct Construction for accounting, job costing, and financial reporting.

• Improve accounting workflows and reduce unnecessary manual processes and spreadsheets.

• Identify opportunities to automate routine accounting activities.

• Improve the accuracy and efficiency of financial reporting.

• Support data accuracy and coordination between Sage Intacct and Salesforce.

• Help management maximize the functionality of existing accounting systems.

• Troubleshoot accounting and reporting issues as they arise.

Team Leadership & Supervision

• Supervise and support a small accounting team.

• Review accounting work and ensure deadlines are met.

• Establish clear responsibilities, efficient processes, and accountability.

• Provide training, coaching, and guidance to accounting staff.

• Assist directly with accounting tasks when needed.

• Maintain a collaborative, hands-on management approach.

Cash Management, Financial Support & Compliance

• Prepare and monitor cash reporting and short-term cash-flow forecasts.

• Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.

• Monitor accounts receivable, accounts payable, and working capital.

• Coordinate with outside accountants on tax preparation, audits, and year-end reporting.

• Maintain appropriate accounting procedures and internal controls.

• Assist company leadership with financial reporting and operational decision-making.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.

• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience.

• Strong construction accounting experience, including job costing and WIP reporting.

• Experience managing month-end close and preparing financial statements.

• Prior experience supervising accounting staff.

• Strong general ledger, reconciliations, and financial reporting skills.

• Experience with accounting ERP systems.

• Advanced Excel proficiency.

• Ability and willingness to personally perform accounting tasks rather than solely delegate responsibilities.

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Sage Intacct Construction experience.

• Experience with Salesforce or integrated accounting systems.

• Experience with accounting automation and process improvement.

• CPA designation or equivalent accounting expertise.

• Experience working in a $25 million–$100 million construction business.

• Experience with construction billing, retainage, revenue recognition, and project profitability reporting.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an experienced construction accounting professional who combines strong technical accounting skills with practical, hands-on leadership.

This individual should be comfortable managing a small team while personally preparing financial reports, reviewing reconciliations, maintaining WIP schedules, and resolving accounting issues.

The successful candidate will:

• Take ownership of the accounting function and month-end close.

• Understand construction job costing and project profitability.

• Be comfortable working directly in Sage Intacct Construction.

• Improve accounting processes and reporting efficiencies.

• Lead a small accounting team without losing touch with daily accounting activities.

• Provide company leadership with accurate, reliable financial information.

Opportunity

This is an opportunity for a hands-on construction accounting professional to take ownership of the accounting function within an established $50 million construction company.

The Controller will have the opportunity to improve financial reporting, strengthen job-cost accounting, maximize the company's technology investments, and support continued growth.

The company is seeking a working Controller who enjoys accounting, understands construction, and is willing to roll up their sleeves and get the work done.