Controller
| Verified Pay check_circle | Provided by the employer$135000 - $175000 per year |
|---|---|
| Hours | Full-time |
| Location | 230 N. 2nd St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania open_in_new |
About this job
Job Description
We are building a high-performance, multi-entity construction and development platform — and we need a financial operator who can build the accounting infrastructure to match our growth.
We are scaling rapidly in high-end residential and multi-family construction and development. Project volume is increasing. Entity complexity is increasing. Capital sophistication is increasing. Our accounting function must level up accordingly.
We are not looking for a traditional “keep the books clean” Controller. This Is Not a Maintenance Role. If you are a strategic construction finance leader who thrives in high-accountability environments, builds systems that scale, and wants a real seat at the table — this role is for you. If you prefer slow-moving environments, unclear standards, or “that’s how we’ve always done it,” this will not be a fit.
What You Will Own
You will own the integrity, structure, and scalability of our financial operations across multiple entities.
This is a hands-on leadership role with direct impact on cash, profitability, capital strategy, and operational decision-making.
What Winning Looks Like:
Within 30–90 Days
- Diagnose gaps in our accounting team and present a hiring/upgrade plan
- Implement a disciplined monthly close calendar
- Improve reporting clarity and timeliness
- Establish weekly executive dashboard cadence
- Strengthen immediate internal controls
- Build a rolling 13-week cash forecast updated weekly
You are not here to observe. You are here to upgrade.
Within 6–12 Months
- Deliver consistently on-time financial statements (10–15 business day close)
- Implement or significantly optimize accounting/project management systems
- Present technology and infrastructure recommendations to Ownership/Board
- Build a scalable accounting department that supports growth without chaos
- Create real-time visibility into job profitability and cash position
Core Responsibilities:
Financial Leadership
- Own FP&A for construction operations (job costing, WIP, margin analysis)
- Provide clear day/week/month financial snapshots to partners
- Lead annual budgeting and quarterly reforecasting
- Ensure capital and liquidity planning aligns with project pipeline
Construction Accounting Mastery
You must deeply understand:
- Percentage-of-completion accounting
- WIP schedules and margin fade/gain analysis
- Retainage tracking
- Draw schedules and lien waiver management
- Multi-entity and intercompany accounting
- Development and partnership structures
We are not looking for someone who needs to learn construction accounting on the job.
Operational Rigor
- Own monthly, quarterly, and annual closes
- Ensure all bank reconciliations are completed monthly
- Oversee AP, AR, payroll, and subcontractor payments
- Implement daily cash reporting
- Maintain GAAP compliance
- Lead audit and tax coordination
Systems & Scalability
- Evaluate QuickBooks and current software stack
- Recommend and lead ERP upgrades if needed
- Improve reporting automation and data reliability
- Build processes that reduce dependency on individual heroics
Performance Standards
We measure performance. You will be accountable for:
- Monthly financials delivered within 10–15 business days
- Weekly accounting dashboard sent by Monday 12 PM
- Accurate WIP reporting every month
- Rolling 13-week cash forecast updated weekly
- Clean reconciliations with no surprises
- AR metrics improving as HIP business scales
Required Experience
- 10+ years progressive accounting experience
- Minimum 5 years as Controller (or equivalent senior finance leader) in residential or multi-family construction
- Proven experience scaling accounting operations
- Expertise in job costing and WIP reporting
- Experience managing multiple entities
- Experience working directly with ownership
Preferred
- CPA strongly preferred
- Experience with Sage 300, Procore, BuilderTrend, or similar
- Experience with development capital structures and joint ventures
- ERP implementation leadership experience
Who Thrives Here
- You have built accounting departments before
- You move fast and don’t wait to be told
- You think like an owner
- You are comfortable being measured
- You communicate clearly and directly
- You care about precision
- You can operate strategically and still dive into detail
Who Should Not Apply
- Controllers who only manage existing systems
- Accountants uncomfortable with growth-stage ambiguity
- Candidates without real construction accounting depth
- Leaders who avoid accountability
This is a career-defining opportunity to build the financial backbone of a scaling construction and development platform. If you are elite at what you do — and want to build something that matters — we want to talk.