An established, employee-owned specialty construction company is seeking an experienced Controller to lead its accounting operations and help strengthen financial reporting, job costing, and project profitability analysis. This is a high-impact opportunity for a hands-on finance leader who enjoys improving processes, implementing new systems, and turning financial data into actionable insights that directly influence business performance.
Reporting to the company's Fractional CFO, the Controller will oversee accounting operations and partner closely with operational leadership to improve visibility into labor costs, overhead, inventory, and project margins. The role will also lead the transition from quarterly to monthly financial close, support the implementation of new accounting software, and supervise an Accounting Manager.
Key Responsibilities
Oversee daily accounting operations, including general ledger, AP/AR, payroll accounting, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
Lead the transition from quarterly to monthly close, ensuring accurate and timely financial statements.
Manage construction job costing, WIP reporting, cost-to-complete estimates, and percentage-of-completion accounting.
Analyze project profitability, labor costs, and margins to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
Develop and maintain fully burdened labor rates for engineering, shop, and field operations.
Evaluate overhead coverage and provide financial insights to support project bidding, pricing, and operational decisions.
Oversee inventory accounting, valuation, reconciliations, and internal controls.
Partner with project managers and estimators to improve cost tracking and project financial performance.
Support the implementation of new accounting software and improvements to financial reporting processes.
Supervise and develop the Accounting Manager while supporting organizational change and process improvements.
Collaborate with the Fractional CFO on financial analysis, reporting, and ESOP-related accounting.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including financial reporting and accounting operations leadership.
Construction accounting experience required, preferably in commercial construction or specialty contracting.
Strong expertise in job costing, WIP reporting, and project profitability analysis.
Hands-on experience with inventory accounting, labor burden rates, and overhead allocation.
Strong knowledge of GAAP, revenue recognition, and financial close processes.
Advanced Excel skills and experience with accounting or ERP systems.
Experience implementing new accounting systems, improving processes, or leading operational changes.
Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to explain financial information to nonfinancial stakeholders.
CPA preferred; experience in fire protection, mechanical, HVAC, plumbing, or electrical contracting is a plus.
Why Join?
Employee-Owned Company: Join an established, ESOP-owned business with a strong presence in the specialty construction industry.
Meaningful Business Impact: Help leadership understand project profitability, labor costs, and where operational improvements can drive stronger margins.
Financially Established Organization: Join a profitable business with a substantial project backlog and continued opportunities for growth.
Opportunity to Modernize: Lead improvements to financial reporting, accounting systems, job costing, and operational processes.
Collaborative Leadership: Work directly with an experienced Fractional CFO and partner with operations to support better financial decision-making.
Broad Ownership: Take on a leadership role that combines hands-on accounting, team development, systems implementation, and strategic financial analysis.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
- 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including financial reporting and accounting operations leadership
- Construction accounting experience, preferably in commercial construction or specialty contracting
- Expertise in job costing, WIP reporting, and project profitability analysis
- Experience with inventory accounting, labor burden rates, and overhead allocation
- Knowledge of GAAP, revenue recognition, and financial close processes
- Advanced Excel skills and experience with accounting or ERP systems
- Experience implementing accounting systems, improving processes, or leading operational changes
- Strong communication and leadership skills, including explaining financial information to nonfinancial stakeholders
- CPA certification
- Experience in fire protection, mechanical, HVAC, plumbing, or electrical contracting
What We Do
GHJ is an accounting and advisory firm that specializes in nonprofit, food and beverage, entertainment and media and health and wellness companies. Previous recipient of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Employee Champion For Life Work Harmony Award and named a “Best Places to Work” by the Los Angeles Business Journal eight times since 2008, GHJ is passionate about helping clients and its people #BeMore by focusing on building thriving businesses and creating a better future. GHJ works as a business advocate for its clients — providing personalized service and building long-term relationships to help position our clients for growth. Through its affiliation with HLB International, a global network of independent professional accounting firms and business advisers, GHJ is able to partner with other top firms across major cities throughout the U.S. and the world. GHJ’s audit, tax and advisory teams leverage the HLB network to better serve its clients and give clients access to member firms in over 158 countries across the globe and over 775 offices worldwide. Also ranked as a top-20 largest accounting firm on the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Book of Lists, GHJ has 15 partners and more than 160 staff members that serve over 3,000 clients. GHJ is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the AICPA Governmental Audit Quality Center (GAQC), the California Society of CPAs and the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofit).
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