Client : Controller

Client Opportunity
:
Growing construction contractor is seeking a Controller in Syracuse, NY. The Controller leads the company’s accounting, financial reporting, and project accounting functions for a construction contractor. This hands-on leadership role is responsible for financial integrity, job-cost accuracy, work-in-progress reporting, cash flow management, compliance, and strategic financial planning. The position requires an active CPA with significant construction-industry experience and the ability to partner with executive leadership, project managers, and operations teams to improve profitability and support sustainable growth.

• Oversee day-to-day accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, equipment and fixed assets, and banking.
• Direct project accounting and job-cost reporting, ensuring labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor, and overhead costs are accurately assigned to projects and cost codes.
• Lead monthly and annual close processes, including journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, and consolidation of related entities, as applicable.
• Prepare timely financial statements and contractor-specific reporting, including work-in-progress schedules, backlog reports, costs-to-complete, over/under billings, gross profit analysis, and cash flow forecasts.
• Review contract values, approved and pending change orders, commitments, retainage, billings, and collections for completeness and accuracy.
• Partner with project managers to evaluate project performance, forecast final costs and margins, and identify financial risks or unfavorable trends.

• Lead preparation for annual financial statement audits or reviews and serve as the primary contact for the external CPA firm.
• Maintain audit-ready support for job costs, revenue recognition, contract assets and liabilities, equipment, payroll, and related-party activity.
• Develop and maintain internal controls over purchasing, subcontractor commitments, change orders, progress billings, cash disbursements, payroll, and project closeout.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, including the revenue recognition guidance applicable to long-term construction contracts, and with federal, state, and local tax and reporting requirements.
• Oversee applicable contractor-specific compliance matters, including certified payroll, prevailing wage requirements, sales and use taxes, subcontractor insurance certificates, and lien waivers.
• Coordinate income tax filings, property tax filings, and other regulatory submissions with external advisors.

• Partner with executive leadership and operations to develop the annual budget, project forecasts, and multi-year financial plans.
• Monitor actual results against budget and forecast, analyze project and company-level variances, and recommend corrective actions.
• Develop cash flow, overhead recovery, equipment, staffing, and capital expenditure models to support operational decisions.
• Analyze backlog, bid pipeline, bonding capacity, and project mix to evaluate future revenue, profitability, and resource needs.
• Provide financial insight for contract negotiations, project selection, equipment purchases or leases, and other strategic initiatives.

• Manage banking relationships, daily cash activity, and short-and-long-term liquidity planning.
• Prepare rolling cash flow forecasts that incorporate project billings, collections, retainage, payroll, subcontractor payments, equipment needs, and debt service.
• Oversee credit facilities, debt compliance, covenant reporting, and lender information requests.
• Maintain strong relationships with the company’s…