Corporate Controller- Engineering & Construction

Overview

Talent Source
360 is supporting another client within the AEC industry in their search for a strong accounting and finance leader to assume the role of Corporate Controller. In this role will lead the accounting, financial reporting, and compliance functions for a growing middle-market engineering and construction services firm. This role will oversee corporate and project accounting, ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, drive process improvements, and support organizational and tax structuring initiatives.

The Controller will serve as a key business partner to executive leadership, operations, and external advisors.

Location:
Reston, VA area

Schedule:
Onsite

Compensation: $180,000-$220,000 (commensurate with experience)

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with GAAP.
• Prepare and review financial statements, management reports, and variance analyses for executive leadership.
• Maintain strong internal controls over financial reporting and cash management.
• Lead annual audits, reviews, and lender reporting, serving as the primary point of contact with external auditors and lenders.
• Oversee project accounting across multiple contracts, cost codes, and job types.
• Ensure accurate revenue recognition in accordance with ASC 606 and percentage-of-completion method.
• Manage Work-in-Progress (WIP) reporting, including under/over billings, contract assets/liabilities, job profitability, and backlog.
• Partner with operations, project managers, and estimating teams to improve job cost forecasting, margin analysis, and change order tracking.
• Lead tax compliance across federal, state, and local jurisdictions, including income, sales/use, property, payroll, and gross receipts taxes.
• Partner with external tax advisors on tax planning, entity structuring, and jurisdictional strategy to optimize the company’s tax position.
• Support organizational structuring related to acquisitions, joint ventures, new entities, and geographic expansion.
• Ensure compliance with bonding, insurance, and regulatory requirements specific to the construction industry.
• Manage and develop the accounting team, setting performance standards and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Oversee full-cycle accounting operations, including AP, AR, payroll, fixed assets, inventory/equipment accounting, and cash management.
• Design, document, and enhance accounting policies, procedures, and controls to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and data security.
• Lead or support ERP, accounting system, and reporting tool implementations and enhancements.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the CFO and executive leadership, contributing to budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning, and financial strategy.
• Provide financial insights to support operational decision-making, capital allocation, and risk management.
• Support M&A activity, including due diligence, integration planning, and post-acquisition reporting.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field;
  Master’s degree preferred.
• CPA or CMA preferred.
• 8-10 years of progressive accounting experience, including leadership roles within engineering, construction, or project-based services organizations.
• Strategic mindset with strong operational and financial acumen
• High attention to detail with the ability to balance accuracy and efficiency
• Strong communication skills, capable of influencing at all organizational levels
• Hands-on leader comfortable rolling up sleeves while building scalable processes
• Strong problem-solving and change management capabilities
• Deep expertise in construction accounting, WIP reporting, job costing, and revenue recognition
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, internal controls, tax compliance, and financial reporting.
• Experience working with external auditors, tax advisors, bonding agents, and lenders.
• ERP and construction accounting system experience (e.g., Viewpoint, Sage, Net Suite, JD Edwards, CMiC, or similar) strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to lead teams, improve processes, and operate effectively in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.