Construction Controller

KO CONSTRUCTION•Minnetonka, MN

5h•Onsite

About The Position

The Construction Controller leads KO Construction’s accounting and financial operations and is the internal owner of accurate financial reporting, WIP accounting, cash forecasting, and controls. This role drives a disciplined monthly close (completed by the 9th business day of each month) and delivers clear, timely visibility into project financial performance, working capital, and risk. The Controller manages the accounting team, owns construction accounting compliance and processes, and provides direct financial leadership to operations and executive management.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (required).
8+ years progressive accounting/finance experience, with construction industry experience required (GC preferred).
Proven ownership of a disciplined monthly close and reporting cadence; must consistently achieve monthly close completed by the 9th business day.
Demonstrated expertise in construction accounting including:
WIP reporting and job-cost accounting (percent complete / over- and under-billings as applicable)
Cost-to-complete discipline and gross margin validation
Change order financial tracking (approved vs pending) and forecast impact
Strong cash and working capital management experience, including:
Rolling cash forecast (e.g., 13-week) and cash positioning
AR/collections oversight and AP/payment strategy aligned to cash plan
Experience leading financial statement preparation and management reporting with clear variance narratives (project and company level).
Experience establishing and enforcing internal controls, approval limits, and process discipline; strong audit trail mindset.
Audit-ready ownership: able to lead year-end close and drive external audit/review/tax support with minimal reliance on outside parties (outside firms support; Controller owns readiness and accuracy).
Strong contract review and management experience, including:
Preparing and executing AIA client contracts (and exhibits) in coordination with leadership
Reviewing contract terms for financial/risk impacts (pay terms, retainage, billing requirements, change management, insurance, LDs, dispute terms)
Maintaining contract documentation, version control, and distribution of executed agreements
Proficiency with construction accounting/ERP systems and Microsoft Office (Excel required; ERP/job-cost system experience required—Acumatica preferred if applicable).
Strong leadership and people management capability; able to develop and hold a team accountable to deadlines and accuracy.
Excellent communication skills; able to partner with Operations/PMs and drive financial clarity without drama.
High attention to detail, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and ability to perform under tight deadlines.
Driver’s license required.

Nice To Haves

CPA preferred (or strong equivalent construction accounting experience).

Responsibilities

Own and execute a monthly close completed by the 9th business day; maintain and enforce a standardized close calendar, responsibilities, and quality checks.
Produce accurate monthly financial statements and a management reporting package (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) with clear variance explanations.
Establish and maintain internal controls, approval workflows, and segregation of duties to safeguard company assets and ensure financial integrity.
Continuously improve and streamline accounting processes to increase speed, accuracy, and clarity.
Own construction accounting practices including WIP reporting, percent-complete revenue recognition (as applicable), over/under billings, job cost integrity, and margin validation.
Ensure job cost coding discipline, cost-to-complete accuracy, and timely identification of project financial risk.
Oversee change order/extra work financial tracking (approved vs pending) and ensure forecast impacts are reflected in project reporting.
Partner with Operations/Project Management to improve forecasting, buyout visibility, and proactive financial planning.
Own cash positioning and working capital management, including a rolling cash forecast (e.g., 13-week) updated on a consistent cadence.
Oversee and improve AR/AP processes including collections, payment timing, and vendor/subcontractor payment accuracy.
Oversee owner billing/pay applications, retainage tracking, and required documentation; ensure subcontractor pay applications, lien waivers, and compliance documents are properly managed.
Ensure compliance with GAAP/accounting standards and construction-specific requirements; maintain clean support for all financial balances.
Lead year-end close and coordinate audits/reviews and tax support as needed; Controller remains the internal owner of accuracy and readiness.
Prepare financial reporting for banking/surety/insurance needs, including backlog/WIP support as required.
Prepare, review, and execute client contract documents (including AIA agreements and exhibits) in coordination with the President and Operations.
Own the contract administration workflow: intake, redlines/markup coordination, final execution, and distribution of fully executed agreements.
Review contract terms for financial and risk impacts, including (at minimum) payment terms, retainage, billing/pay application requirements, allowances/contingency language, change order requirements, schedule/LD provisions, insurance requirements, and dispute resolution provisions.
Ensure contract terms are aligned to internal controls (billing setup, WIP recognition approach, cash forecast assumptions, and project setup in the ERP).
Maintain the contract repository and ensure all executed contracts, amendments, and key exhibits are complete, version-controlled, and accessible to project teams.
Partner with PM/Operations to ensure contract compliance throughout the project (pay app timing, notice requirements, change documentation, and closeout requirements).
Lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of accounting professionals; set expectations, coach performance, and build a high-ownership culture.
Provide financial guidance to other departments and support decision-making with accurate, timely data.