Controller, Accounting, Financial Reporting

NYC Office
245 Park Avenue
12th Floor
New York, NY 10167, USA

Our client, an architectural firm in NYC, is seeking a high-caliber Controller to lead the financial operations of a design-focused architectural practice. This is a senior, hands‑on leadership position responsible for financial reporting, project accounting, budgeting, cash management, billing oversight, payroll coordination, internal controls, and strategic financial guidance to firm leadership.

The ideal candidate has deep experience in professional services finance, preferably within architecture, engineering, design, or construction-related environments, and is highly proficient with Deltek Ajera. This individual must be able to move fluidly between executive-level financial strategy and day-to-day accounting operations, with a strong understanding of project profitability, utilization, work‑in‑progress, billing cycles, and labor-driven financial performance.

• Lead the firm's accounting and financial management function, serving as a trusted advisor to ownership, principals, and senior leadership.
• Prepare timely and accurate monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements, management reports, cash flow projections and performance dashboards.
• Analyze revenue, profitability, backlog, utilization, overhead, labor multipliers, project margins and other key performance indicators relevant to architectural practice management.
• Provide forward‑looking financial insight to support staffing, project planning, growth decisions, compensation planning and strategic investments.
• Partner with leadership to develop annual budgets, forecasts, financial models and long‑range planning assumptions.
• Present financial results and recommendations in a clear, practical manner to non‑financial stakeholders.

• Serve as the firm's senior financial owner for Deltek Ajera, ensuring accurate setup, use, reporting and data integrity across accounting and project management workflows.
• Oversee project accounting, including project setup, contract values, phases, budgets, labor coding, billing terms, reimbursables, consultant costs and project closeout.
• Monitor WIP, unbilled revenue, accounts receivable, retainage if applicable, write‑offs and project profitability.
• Collaborate with principals and project managers to review project financial performance, budget variances, billing status and corrective action plans.
• Develop and maintain Ajera reports, dashboards, procedures and controls that improve visibility into project and firm performance.
• Train and support internal users on Ajera‑related financial workflows, coding accuracy, timesheet discipline and project reporting.

• Oversee client billing processes, including fixed fee, hourly, percent complete, reimbursable, additional service and consultant pass‑through billing structures.
• Ensure invoices are accurate, timely, contract‑compliant and coordinated with project managers before submission.
• Manage accounts receivable activity, collections strategy, aging review, client follow‑up and escalation of payment concerns to leadership.
• Maintain cash flow projections and advise leadership on cash position, working capital needs, vendor payments, tax obligations and timing of major expenditures.
• Support banking relationships, credit facilities, insurance renewals and other financial administration as needed.

• Manage general ledger activity, reconciliations, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll coordination, expense reporting, month‑end close and year‑end close.
• Establish and maintain appropriate internal controls, approval procedures, accounting policies, document retention practices and separation of duties appropriate for the firm's size.
• Coordinate with outside CPA, tax advisors, insurance brokers, payroll providers, benefit administrators and other external partners.
• Prepare information for tax filings, audits or reviews, insurance audits, ownership reporting and other compliance requirements.
• Identify process improvements that increase accuracy, accountability, efficiency and…