Controller

CMES, Inc.•Norcross, GA

34d•$140,000 - $160,000

About The Position

Construction Management Engineering Services (CMES) is a respected civil infrastructure contractor known for delivering high-impact projects across the state of Georgia with integrity, safety, and innovation. Our work supports the essential systems that rely on transportation and underground infrastructure, executed by teams who take pride in doing the job right. At CMES, we combine the strength and stability of an established contractor with the agility of a performance-driven organization. We believe great projects are built by great people, and we invest accordingly. Our culture is rooted in collaboration, operational excellence, and respect for the craft. Field and office teams work closely together, empowered to solve problems, make informed decisions, and continuously improve how we operate. Safety, quality, and accountability are non-negotiable, and we hold ourselves to the highest professional standards on every project. CMES is a place for individuals who want more than a job. It's a place to build a career where your work leaves a lasting impact on the communities we serve. Opportunity The Controller is responsible for leading the accounting and financial operations of the Company while ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial reporting. This role provides leadership over accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, cash management, internal controls, forecasting, tax coordination, audit support, job cost accounting, payroll accounting, financial compliance, and team development. The Controller serves as the operational leader of the Finance & Accounting department, balancing strategic financial leadership with hands-on execution in a dynamic civil construction environment. This individual partners closely with Operations, Risk Management, Fleet, HR, and IT to transform financial information into meaningful business intelligence that enables informed operational and strategic decision making across the organization. The ideal candidate not only combines exceptional technical accounting expertise with strong business acumen, but is also a highly organized, process-oriented leader with exceptional analytical ability, and a passion for developing people while continuously improving financial processes and controls.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance (CPA preferred).
8+ years of progressive accounting experience.
Minimum 3 years in a leadership role.
Strong construction accounting experience.
Extensive knowledge of US GAAP.
Experience with Work-in-Progress accounting and percentage-of-completion revenue recognition.
Strong understanding of job costing and project accounting.
Experience managing annual audits.
Advanced Excel and financial reporting skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Exceptional organizational and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

CPA designation.
Experience with construction ERP systems (Viewpoint Vista, Foundation, Sage, CMiC, or similar).
Experience with Procore and HCSS.
Experience supporting multi-entity organizations.
Experience with acquisitions or business integration.
Experience developing dashboards and business intelligence reporting.

Responsibilities

Lead all day-to-day accounting operations, including General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll Accounting, Fixed Assets, and Job Cost Accounting
Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closes including preparation of monthly financial statements and supporting leadership reporting packages
Maintain the integrity of the Company's general ledger and chart of accounts
Ensure compliance with US GAAP, industry specific standards for construction accounting, and company accounting policies
Manage all account reconciliations monthly and balance sheet integrity
Oversee revenue recognition and work-in-progress (WIP) reporting for construction contracts
Ensure accurate job cost reporting and project profitability analysis
Lead the annual budgeting process and monthly forecasting
Analyze financial performance and identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities
Develop meaningful KPIs and dashboards
Partner with Operations to improve project financial performance
Monitor daily cash position and liquidity
Manage 13 week cash flow forecasting, performed monthly
Optimize working capital management through receivables, payables and vendor payment schedules
Oversee banking activities, fund disbursements, and cash controls
Support financing requirements and lender reporting
Develop, implement, and maintain strong internal accounting controls
Ensure compliance with company policies and financial governance
Coordinate and lead annual financial statement audits, and tax filing with external CPA
Support insurance audits, sales tax reporting, payroll tax compliance, and regulatory reporting
Ensure documentation supports internal and external audit requirements
Oversee Work-in-Progress (WIP) schedules
Partner with Operations on project financial reviews
Review contract status, billings, retainage, and EACs (Estimate at Completion – i.e. executed change orders and margin analysis) leading to accurate earned revenue recognition
Support claims documentation and contract accounting
Ensure accurate equipment, labor, and overhead allocations
Lead, mentor, and develop the Accounting team
Establish departmental goals and performance expectations
Develop succession plans and employee development plans
Foster accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Optimize ERP utilization and financial reporting capabilities
Partner with IT on accounting system enhancements
Standardize financial processes and documentation
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability
Partner with Operations to improve project financial performance
Support Leadership with financial analysis and strategic recommendations
Collaborate with Fleet, HR, Risk Management, IT, and Contracts/ Procurement
Provide financial guidance for capital investments and strategic initiatives
Support acquisition due diligence and integration activities, as required