Controller

About Klein & Hoffman

Klein & Hoffman is a 75-person structural and architectural engineering firm with offices in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia. Founded in 1953, we specialize in the assessment, restoration, retrofit, and rehabilitation of existing buildings including landmarks such as the Tribune Tower, Shedd Aquarium, and Chicago Union Station. Klein & Hoffman has been named one of Crain's Chicago Business Best Places to Work in Chicago sevem times since 2018.

In accordance with pay transparency laws, we are providing a good faith estimate of the salary range for this position. The anticipated salary for this role is $140,000 - $160,000, based on factors such as experience, qualifications, and internal equity. Employees may also be eligible for additional compensation, including bonuses and benefits. This estimate is subject to change based on business needs and market conditions. 

Position OverviewThe Controller will lead and provide oversight for the day-to-day accounting functions while also driving financial planning, forecasting, and business decision-making for the firm. This is the senior-most financial position at Klein & Hoffman, reporting directly to the President.

This is a highly visible, hands-on role. Strong working knowledge of Deltek Vantagepoint is highly preferred, including project accounting, general ledger, billing, and financial reporting. Just as important is the ability to get more out of the system than we are getting today.

Working with the CEO, President, and firm leadership, the Controller will implement policy, advise and train staff, and ensure a proper system of financial control and reporting is in place. The role leads a small accounting team, presents financial results and recommendations to the Board of Directors, and provides the forward-looking insight that supports firm performance, budgeting, and operational planning.

No layers above you. You will be the senior-most financial voice in the firm, reporting directly to the President and presenting to the Board.

Real influence on firm strategy. Klein & Hoffman is targeting 10-15% growth annually over the next three years. You will help determine which markets, offices, and service lines get us there, and build the reporting that tells us whether it is working.

You will build the reporting, not inherit it. We want to improve real-time dashboards and self-serve reporting for leadership, principals, and project managers. This is a chance to build that from the ground up rather than maintain someone else’s system.

• Guides financial decisions by establishing, monitoring, and ensuring policies and procedures are in place.

• Oversees the client invoicing, accounts payable, expense reporting, timesheet processing, and project set-up, maintenance and review processes and works with team members to identify ways to improve the process and implement best practices.

• Responsible for all aspects of the monthly financial close and preparation of monthly financial reports for leadership.

• Responsible for monitoring cash flow analysis and projections, coordinating disbursements, and ensuring a process is in place for the collection of cash.

• Oversees the onboarding training process for new employees relative to time tracking, project reporting and other processes necessary to have financially literate project managers and employees.

• Oversees payroll administration and coordination with HR and payroll systems.

• Prepares budgets by establishing schedules; collecting, analyzing, and consolidating financial data; recommending plans.

• Achieves budget objectives by scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions.

• Provides status of financial condition by collecting, interpreting, and reporting financial data.

• Prepares special reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.

• Monitors key financial performance metrics including revenue, project profitability, utilization, and backlog to support operational decision-making.

• Builds and maintains real-time dashboards and reporting in Deltek Vantagepoint so that leadership, principals, and project managers can see project and firm performance as it happens rather than waiting on a monthly report.

• Partners with the CEO, President, and Board on growth planning, analyzing which markets, offices, and service lines are driving performance and where the firm should invest.

• Leads, mentors, and develops the accounting team, and continually evaluates whether the function is structured and staffed correctly for the size of the firm.

• Complies with federal, state, and local legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation; anticipating future legislation; enforcing adherence to requirements; filing financial reports; advising management on needed actions.

• Monitors and confirms financial condition by conducting audits; providing information to external auditors for the annual review.

• Identifies opportunities to improve financial systems, reporting processes, and operational efficiency within accounting and project financial management.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field – CPA or CMA preferred.

• Advanced Excel skills and strong general proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite.

• Demonstrated proficiency with Deltek Vantagepoint. Candidates with deep Deltek Vision experience and a clear path to Vantagepoint will also be considered.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Exceptional knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting, cost accounting and cost control principles, and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

• 10+ years of accounting or financial management experience, preferably within an Architecture, Engineering, or Construction (AEC) firm.

• Previous experience as an Accounting Manager, Controller, or similar financial leadership role.

• Experience presenting financial results and recommendations to ownership, a board of directors, or an executive team or clear readiness to grow into it.

• Experience supervising and developing accounting staff.

Bonus: Annual discretionary bonus

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) with firm contribution; paid vacation, sick time, and holidays; professional development and continuing education support; and parking or transit benefit.

Klein & Hoffman is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.