Controller

Job Title: Controller

Location: On-site

Job Type: Full-Time

Reports to: Executive Vice-President

At CALTEC, our mission is to deliver 100 percent client satisfaction through professional, high-quality construction services that are competitively priced and executed with integrity. As we continue to grow our presence across California and expand our impact through innovative project delivery, job creation, and giving back to the community, we are seeking a Controller to help build and safeguard the financial foundation of the business. This role is central to ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, and disciplined compliance—supporting CALTEC’s commitment to ethical leadership, operational excellence, and long-term sustainability.

We’re seeking a highly skilled Controller who will play a critical role in driving the financial health, integrity, and growth of CALTEC. The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong experience in construction-industry accounting or a closely related heavy-industrial or civil-construction business, ideally with public works projects.
• Proven ability working across departments (operations, project management, executive leadership) to implement best-practice financial processes and controls while mentoring accounting staff.
• Deep understanding of accounting principles (GAAP or comparable), internal controls, compliance, payroll, accounts payable/receivable, and cash flow management.
• Expertise in project accounting: job costing, cost tracking, revenue recognition, change-order tracking, and project profitability analysis.
• Excellent financial reporting skills — able to produce timely, accurate financial statements and management reports for leadership and stakeholders.
• A proactive, problem-solving mindset with high ethical standards, integrity, and a commitment to quality and safety.

If you bring both technical accounting acumen and a hands-on understanding of construction project finance — and you’re motivated to contribute to a company built on integrity, respect, commitment, and a solution-centered mindset — we’d love to meet you.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations of the accounting department, including AP, AR, payroll, general ledger, and job cost accounting.
• Ensure accurate financial reporting in accordance with GAAP and internal company standards.
• Manage budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes, including ongoing job cost tracking and variance analysis.
• Attend internal Project Kick Off Meetings and oversee project set up.
• Oversee subcontractor compliance (certificates of insurance, lien waivers, W-9s).
• Manage billing processes: progress billing (AIA forms), change orders, pay applications, and retention tracking.
• Oversee the collections process to ensure timely client payments, apply payments, and make deposits.
• Partner closely with project managers and operations to analyze project performance, monitor costs, revenue recognition, and identify financial risks/opportunities.
• Oversee cash flow management, including forecasting, payables timing, collections, and working capital management.
• Support external audits, tax preparation, bonding requirements, and lender reporting.
• Maintain internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures to safeguard company assets and ensure compliance.
• Prepare and analyze WIP and job cost reports, collaborating with project managers to recommend budget adjustments.
• Prepare timely monthly, semi-annual, and annual financial closings and lead associated closing routines.
• Drive process improvements, technology adoption, and system optimization to increase efficiency and financial clarity.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA preferred)
• 4+ years experience in a Controller role, with at least 4 years in a the construction industry
• Strong understanding of construction accounting practices, including percentage-of-completion, job costing, WIP schedules, revenue recognition, and financial reporting
• Proficient in construction accounting software (Sage 100 Contractor experience required)
• Strong Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, etc.)
• Experience with ERP migrations and new system implementations preferred
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
• Familiarity with AIA billing procedures and lien laws.
• Experience with union payroll, certified payroll, and government/commercial contract billing.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal tax laws affecting the construction industry especially California