Controller / Finance Manager

Overview

This role involves serving as Controller / Finance Manager for a construction and engineering organization supporting civil construction, engineering, surveying, project management, and consulting work across the Mid-Atlantic region. The position is hands-on and designed to build and own the organization’s finance function, working directly with executive leadership and collaborating across operations, project management, engineering, and administrative teams, along with an external CPA.

The role is part-time and remote (20–30 hours/week). For the right person, responsibilities and hours may expand over time.

Responsibilities

Financial Oversight & Controls

• Own the monthly financial close process.
• Prepare accurate and timely:
  • Profit & Loss Statements
  • Balance Sheets
  • Cash Flow Statements
  • Accounts Receivable Aging
  • Accounts Payable Aging
  • Job Cost Reports
• Review and improve the Chart of Accounts across all divisions.
• Monitor labor coding, project costs, subcontractor costs, vendor spending, and overhead allocation.
• Ensure financial reporting accurately reflects project performance and company profitability.
• Establish and maintain strong financial controls and reporting standards.

Forecasting & Budgeting

• Develop and maintain:
  • Rolling 13-week cash forecast
  • Rolling 12-month cash forecast
• Assist leadership with annual budgets.
• Develop project revenue and cost forecasts.
• Analyze budget-to-actual performance.
• Identify financial risks before they become operational problems.
• Recommend actions to improve profitability, liquidity, and cash flow.

Treasury & Cash Management

• Own daily cash position and manage weekly cash planning.
• Prioritize vendor payments based on due date and available liquidity.
• Monitor working capital and improve cash conversion.
• Assist leadership in evaluating financing alternatives, lines of credit, and project funding opportunities.
• Recommend strategies that improve liquidity while minimizing financing costs.

Accounts Receivable & Collections

• Monitor Accounts Receivable aging.
• Coordinate with Project Managers to ensure timely billing, accurate progress billings, Change Order invoicing, and collection follow-up.
• Minimize slow-paying customers and reduce Days Sales Outstanding (DSO).
• Improve billing accuracy and collection processes.
• Identify collection risks early and recommend corrective actions.

Compliance & Audit

• Maintain General Ledger integrity and conduct internal financial audits to identify reporting errors, inconsistencies, and financial risks.
• Coordinate with the organization’s CPA and support annual tax preparation and audits.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards and company policies.
• Maintain depreciation schedules, fixed asset records, and overhead allocations.

Executive Reporting

Prepare concise executive reporting packages for the President, including:

• Daily Cash Position Dashboard
• Weekly Executive Financial Dashboard
• Monthly Financial Review Package
• Project Profitability and KPI Dashboards
• Financial Risk Register and Cash Flow Summary
• Action-oriented recommendations for improving business performance

Systems & Process Improvement

• Build scalable financial systems.
• Improve financial workflows and internal processes.
• Reduce manual work through automation.
• Design dashboards that improve visibility into company performance.
• Recommend software and technology improvements.
• Improve reporting accuracy, speed, and usability.
• Continuously improve efficiency across the finance function.

Team Leadership & Coordination

• Supervise and coordinate day-to-day finance operations.
• Review work performed by accounting support staff.
• Coordinate with external bookkeeping resources and the CPA.
• Establish standardized financial procedures.
• Improve accountability throughout the organization.
• Coach and develop finance staff.
• Promote a culture of ownership, accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in financial management, construction accounting, project accounting, engineering consulting, or similar industries.
• Demonstrated experience with:
  • Job Costing
  • Cash Flow Forecasting
  • Financial Reporting
  • Budgeting
  • Project Profitability
  • Treasury Management
• Experience building or improving finance functions (not just maintaining existing accounting processes).
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with QuickBooks Online.
• Experience with Procore or similar construction/project management software is highly desirable.
• Comfortable working within a small, entrepreneurial, fast-moving organization.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Calm under pressure.
• Able to balance hands-on execution with strategic thinking.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with:
  • Construction Accounting
  • Engineering Consulting
  • Heavy Civil Construction
  • Public Agency Contracts
  • FAR Compliance
  • Cost-Reimbursable Contracts
  • AIA Billing
  • WIP Reporting
  • Percentage-of-Completion Accounting
• Power BI or similar business intelligence platforms.
• CPA, CMA, or MBA preferred, but not required.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation and benefits details were not provided.

Location

• Remote
• Part-Time (20–30 hours/week)
• Mid-Atlantic region (work supported across this region)