Director of Construction Finance

WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS

This is not a traditional finance position.

The Director of Construction Finance exists to protect margin, discipline forecasting, and bring executive-level financial clarity to complex construction operations. As Mendoza Companies evolves from a founder-led construction business into a structured, scalable ecosystem of business units, this role serves as the financial control tower for project performance, risk, and long-term sustainability.

This position partners directly with executive leadership and ownership, translating field execution into predictive financial intelligence. It requires confidence, sound judgment, and the ability to challenge assumptions respectfully while elevating financial maturity across the organization.

This role is a strong fit for finance leaders who can build structure while the business is operating, protect margin under pressure, and partner directly with ownership to guide scalable growth.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Director of Construction Finance provides executive-level leadership over Mendoza Companies’ operational financial discipline, ensuring margin protection, forecasting accuracy, cash flow visibility, claims substantiation, and financial governance remain aligned with Mission 2040.

As Mendoza Companies transitions from a family-operated construction business into a structured, scalable ecosystem of business units, this role must bring strategic rigor while respecting the entrepreneurial foundation of the organization. The Director will guide leadership through disciplined financial evolution, installing structure where needed while collaborating constructively with ownership and executives.

This role bridges execution and financial strategy—translating field operations into predictive financial clarity across all business units. The Director installs structured forecasting systems, internalizes WIP production, enforces disciplined billing and cost controls, and strengthens financial literacy across operational leadership.

Operating at the parent-company level, this seat carries authority over project-level financial approvals, margin validation, forecasting integrity, and financial risk oversight. This role serves as the company’s financial control tower for project performance and scalability.

WHAT THIS ROLE REQUIRES:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Construction Management, Business, Mathematics, or related analytical field.
• 7+ years in construction finance, project controls, or operational financial leadership.
• Demonstrated success building forecasting systems and internal WIP structures.
• Experience collaborating with external CPA firms.

Preferred:

• Experience in public works or infrastructure is preferred.
• Unionized construction experience preferred.

MENDOZA WAY:

The Director of Construction Finance embodies disciplined excellence.

This role protects the Mendoza Way by ensuring financial integrity under pressure, teaching operational leaders to think beyond execution and into sustainability, and modeling urgency, structure, and accountability.

This seat balances firmness with mentorship—challenging assumptions respectfully while elevating the financial maturity of Area Operations Managers, Project Managers, Estimating, and Project Accountants. Emotional discipline and executive maturity are required when guiding ownership and leadership through financial transformation initiatives.

Active participation in leadership development sessions, seminars, and cultural initiatives is expected to ensure alignment with Mission 2040 and the Mendoza Way.

ACCOUNTABILITY ROLES:

1. Lead, Manage, and Hold Accountable (LMA):

Lead financial governance across business units, ensuring Project Accountants and operational leaders adhere to forecasting, WIP, billing, and cost control standards.

2. Operational Financial Architecture:

Design and implement internal WIP systems, forecasting models, cost monitoring frameworks, and margin tracking processes across all active projects.

3. Margin Protection & Financial Authority:

Validate budgets, cost transfers, change order pricing, and billing releases. Maintain authority to override operational financial decisions when necessary to protect company interests.

4. Forecasting & Cash Flow Strategy:

Own rolling 30–60–90 day cash flow projections and monthly forecast accuracy within defined tolerances. Leverage technology, automation, and emerging tools to improve forecasting accuracy and financial visibility.

5. Estimating & Pre-Construction Financial Validation:

Collaborate explicitly with the Estimating Department to stress-test production rates, validate margin assumptions, review financial exposure in contracts, and ensure risk-adjusted pricing prior to project execution.

6. Claims Financial Strategy & Cost Substantiation:

Partner with the Claims Manager to validate labor inefficiencies, extended overhead calculations, escalation impacts, and cost documentation to ensure defensible and strategically aligned claim submissions.

7. Executive Financial Reporting & Governance:

Provide weekly executive-level financial visibility reports and deliver structured monthly consolidated financial performance reviews to leadership and ownership, including WIP analysis, forecast variance, margin trends, risk exposure, and claims impact summaries.

8. ML10 Financial Leadership Integration:

Hold a leadership seat within the Parent Company ML10 structure, presenting financial scorecards, forecast status, margin risks, and actionable corrective strategies.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Internalize and produce monthly WIP reporting across all business units.
• Validate cost-to-complete assumptions and percentage-of-completion calculations.
• Approve billing releases and ensure timely and accurate change order pricing.
• Oversee cost code discipline and budget transfer approvals.
• Produce weekly executive financial dashboards highlighting margin, billing lag, and cash projection status.
• Deliver consolidated monthly financial performance reviews to executives and ownership.
• Develop and present structured financial proposals and process improvements for executive and ownership review.
• Identify early margin erosion indicators and implement corrective measures.
• Collaborate with external CPA by feeding validated operational financial data into month-end processes.
• Lead structured forecast review sessions with AOMs and Project Managers.
• Strengthen financial literacy within operations through training and accountability.
• Review financial exposure in contracts in coordination with internal departments.
• Support claims strategy by substantiating financial impacts and modeling recovery scenarios.
• Participate in DML10 meetings periodically or as required to reinforce financial discipline within business units.
• Remain available to address urgent financial matters impacting company risk, cash flow, or margin.

CORE VALUES EXPECTATIONS:

• Optimistic & Positive Mindset: Communicate financial challenges with clarity and solutions.
• Disciplined – Expects and Delivers Excellence: Maintain high standards in forecasting accuracy, WIP integrity, and margin protection.
• Leads and Conducts with Integrity & Respect: Challenge financial assumptions professionally while safeguarding company stability.
• Driven by Desire, Guided by Purpose: Continuously improve systems that protect profitability and scale.
• Embrace Change & Enjoy the Ride: Build forward from ambiguity, adapt to growth, and drive progress without waiting for perfect structure.

COMPETENCIES:

Soft Skills

• Executive presence with firm, respectful communication style.
• High-level teaching ability to elevate financial thinking in operational leaders.
• Strong decision-making under pressure.
• Emotional discipline and maturity when guiding executive leadership.
• Strategic mindset grounded in operational realities.
• Resilience and adaptability during organizational growth.

Hard Skills

• Advanced knowledge of construction WIP and percentage-of-completion accounting.
• Strong forecasting and cost-to-complete modeling expertise.
• Deep understanding of construction job costing systems.
• Experience validating change order pricing and margin exposure.
• Cash flow modeling and liquidity planning experience.
• Claims cost substantiation and impact modeling experience.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling proficiency.
• Experience with construction management software (Procore or similar).
• Experience with construction accounting software (Vista (Trimble) or similar)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Majority of work is performed in office environment.
• Regular computer and financial systems usage.
• Interaction with executive leadership and operational teams.
• Occasional travel to project sites or regional offices as needed.

USE OF THE AI IN THE HIRING PROCESS

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support certain stages of our hiring process, such as application review or initial screening. These tools are intended to improve consistency and efficiency, but they do not replace human judgment.

All hiring decisions are ultimately made by people. In some cases, qualified candidates may be invited to speak directly with leadership early in the process.

EEO STATEMENT:

HLE is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.