Construction Controller
A growing New Jersey civil construction company specializing in commercial and residential ground work, excavation, and site development is seeking an experienced, hands-on Construction Controller. Reporting to ownership, the Controller owns all accounting, job costing, financial reporting, budgeting, and cash flow management for the company, and serves as the financial backbone supporting field operations, project management, surety, and lending relationships. This is a full-time, on-site position based in New Jersey.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Management & Accounting
- Own the full accounting cycle, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, payroll, billing, credit card reconciliation, and bank reconciliations.
- Maintain the Chart of Accounts and the job cost coding structure so that costs map cleanly by project, phase, and cost type (labor, materials, equipment, subcontract, other).
- Lead month-end and year-end close processes and procedures.
- Build and maintain company budgets, project-level forecasts, and rolling cash flow projections.
- Ensure financial records are maintained in accordance with GAAP, including percentage-of-completion revenue recognition under ASC 606.
- Serve as primary liaison to the company's outside CPA firm for the annual reviewed financial statement, tax return preparation, and tax planning.
Construction Job Costing & WIP
- Work-in-process management. Prepare and maintain the WIP schedule – contract value, change orders, costs incurred, estimated cost to complete, percent complete, earned revenue, and billings – and analyze with project management and outside CPA.
- Job cost control. Track and analyze project costs against estimates and budgets, with particular focus on materials, owned equipment, fuel, subcontractors, and field labor; flag cost overruns and margin erosion early.
- Change orders. Track approved and pending change orders, ensure they flow through to the contract value, billing, and WIP, and reconcile against the original estimate.
- Billing & retainage. Produce progress billings, schedules of values, and requisitions (including AIA-style applications for payment); track receivable and payable retainage and follow billings through to collection.
- Profitability analysis. Provide project managers and ownership with job-level margin reporting and recommendations to improve project profitability.
Equipment & Fleet Accounting
- Maintain the fixed asset and equipment register for owned heavy equipment (excavators, loaders, dozers, trucks) including depreciation, maintenance, and fuel cost tracking. Track purchases and disposition details of each fixed asset.
Payroll, Prevailing Wage & Union Compliance
- Certified payroll. Process payroll and prepare certified payroll reports for public and prevailing-wage projects.
- Union reporting. Administer monthly union benefit (fringe) and dues remittance reporting across applicable locals, and maintain awareness of multiemployer pension and withdrawal-liability exposure.
- Maintain payroll records, prevailing-wage rate determinations, and supporting documentation for audit.
Compliance, Banking & Surety
- Subcontractor compliance. Collect, review, and track lien waivers, certificates of insurance (COIs), W-9s, subcontractor agreements, and prequalification documentation; manage year-end 1099 reporting.
- Tax & regulatory filings. Prepare and file required local, state, and federal reports and tax filings, including NJ sales/use tax on materials and equipment, business registration, and public works contractor registration.
- Banking & cash. Manage banking relationships, monitor daily cash position, and administer the line of credit and borrowing base.
- Surety & lending. Prepare WIP schedules and financial packages for the surety and lenders, and support bonding-capacity and working-capital discussions.
- Maintain organized digital records with all financial documentation properly scanned, indexed, and archived.
Process Improvement & Leadership
- Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) and internal controls to strengthen financial processes and safeguard company assets.
- Automate billing and bill-payment workflows and improve the integration between the accounting and job-cost systems.
- Provide ownership with financial insight, KPIs, and recommendations to support operational and strategic decisions.
- Supervise and develop accounting/administrative support staff as the company grows.
Qualifications
Required Experience
- 5+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, with proven experience as a Controller (or senior accountant ready to step up) in the construction industry.
- Strong working knowledge of construction job costing, WIP/percentage-of-completion accounting, and progress billing/retainage.
- Hands-on experience leading month-end and year-end close.
- Working knowledge of certified/prevailing-wage payroll and union benefit reporting.
- 2+ years applying GAAP in a construction or project-based environment.
Technical Skills
- Advanced proficiency in QuickBooks (Desktop).
- Advanced Microsoft Excel; proficient in Word and Outlook.
- Comfortable working across integrated accounting, job-cost, and payroll systems.
Professional Skills
- Exceptional organization, attention to detail, and analytical ability.
- Strong problem-solving skills and sound professional judgment.
- Self-motivated, proactive, and results-driven.
- Clear written and verbal communication and the ability to work effectively with field, project management, and ownership.
- Demonstrated leadership and a positive, team-oriented approach.
Position Details
- Job Type: Full-Time
- Schedule: Monday–Friday
- Work Location: On-Site, New Jersey (remote work not available)
Compensation & Benefits
Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. The company offers a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits.
Pay: $100,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
