Controller

Legence • Austin, TX

20d • Onsite

About The Position

The Controller leads the core accounting operations of one of Legence’s operating companies based in Austin, Texas, ensuring accurate, complete, and timely financial reporting. Reporting to the Legence Group Controller, the role supports development and implementation of financial practices and resource-management strategies, and partners with the President, executive leadership, and Corporate Finance on planning, budgeting, cash-flow visibility, and policy execution.

The Controller builds strong cross-functional relationships, including with Payroll and Human Resources, and applies a disciplined, controls-driven, risk-aware approach to daily, monthly, and quarterly responsibilities. This leader oversees construction-focused accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, and project-based cost accounting in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, while guiding the accounting team and pursuing process improvements.

The position oversees accounting functions including month-end close, project accounting and forecasting, cash management, audits, transaction processing, performance analysis, financial planning and analysis, and ERP and systems improvement. The role is based in Austin, Texas; the posting indicates onsite work.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) required.
• Seven or more years of accounting experience preferred.
• Strong construction or engineering accounting background.
• Strong financial analysis, critical-thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent time-management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong follow-through, customer-service orientation, and responsiveness.
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills across teams and departments.
• Demonstrated success developing teams, with strong leadership and talent-development skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
• Positive attitude, sound judgment, and a strong sense of responsibility and ownership.
• High ethical standards; objective, candid, and committed to transparency.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and strengthening financial processes.
• Current U.S. work authorization; visa sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Spectrum is ideal.
• OneStream experience is a plus.
• Construction ERP experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain efficient policies, procedures, and internal controls; review journal entries, account reconciliations, and bank reconciliations.
• Manage the month-end close calendar and ensure accounting practices comply with GAAP and internal policies.
• Coordinate the company’s month-end close and report financial results in accordance with GAAP and Corporate Accounting policies.
• Oversee construction percentage-of-completion accounting and project accounting from start to finish, including adequate project cost accumulation and resource deployment.
• Prepare and analyze month-end construction reporting, including WIP, over/under billings, gross margin, revenue recognition and projections, work shifts, plan variances, forecast adjustments, earnings fade/gain, and preconstruction costs.
• Partner with project managers and operations leadership to ensure accurate job-cost data, improve project forecasts, provide performance insights, and escalate margin or cost risks.
• Oversee cash inflows and outflows and manage collections to support a strong cash position.
• Coordinate with external auditors for annual audits and ad hoc insurance, tax, project, fringe-benefit, and sales-tax audits; provide timely communication and accurate documentation, including Prepared by Client deliverables.
• Manage or supervise accounts receivable, accounts payable, job costing, general ledger, and contracts management.
• Partner with Payroll and Human Resources on financial accuracy, compliance, and coordinated operational workflows.
• Oversee construction billing, WIP, and cost accounting; partner with Operations on contract administration within the finance function; monitor job costing, general ledger, and fixed assets.
• Maintain KPI dashboards and lead monthly analysis of operational and financial performance, including labor efficiency, productivity, margin scalability, and cash conversion.
• Review expense projections and recommend cost reductions and opportunities to redeploy resources across projects and departments.
• Identify and communicate financial trends, risks, and opportunities to leadership, including those related to revenue growth, margin expansion, and cash conversion.
• Support the annual planning cycle by preparing and consolidating business budget requests, analytics, and management reviews; provide financial schedules and analysis for leadership.
• Lead operational and financial analyses and prepare requested ad hoc reports.
• Assist with implementation of new ERP and other software tools; use and optimize QuickBooks and Spectrum to improve accuracy, reporting, and process efficiency.
• Improve system controls, standardization, and data integrity.
• Develop the accounting team and support continuous improvement of financial processes.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with dollar-for-dollar company match up to 4% of eligible pay and immediate vesting.
• Employer-provided medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, Employee Assistance Program, and accident and illness coverage.
• Employer-provided basic life insurance and AD&D coverage valued at $50,000, with an option to buy additional voluntary coverage.
• Flexible non-accrual vacation and company holidays per policy.
• Business travel and related expenses reimbursed according to company policy.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior