Controller

R W Anderson Homes•Seattle, WA

10d•$140,000 - $180,000

About The Position

RW Anderson Homes is seeking an experienced, hands-on Controller to take ownership of accounting and financial reporting across three privately owned companies in residential construction, restoration, and property maintenance. The Controller is personally involved in daily accounting, including account reconciliations, discrepancy investigations, job-cost reviews, and staff training, while establishing accounting standards and holding the department accountable. The role works closely with ownership and company leadership as their primary source of reliable financial information. The Controller leads accounting operations and financial reporting for multiple legal entities; construction and project accounting; budgeting, forecasting, and profitability analysis; cash flow, banking, and financing; accounts receivable and collections; insurance, risk, and compliance; payroll and personnel cost management; vendor management and accounts payable; and process improvement and systems. The position directly supervises accounting and finance staff, assigns work, sets deadlines, reviews work quality, and develops team members. The Controller exercises independent judgment in financial operations, accounting standards, risk identification, and recommendations for corrective action. Ownership retains final authority over major financing commitments, distributions, organizational restructuring, and significant expenditures. The position requires substantial experience operating the accounting function of a smaller, privately owned business, particularly in construction accounting, and a record of improving accounting operations and financial reporting. A CPA license and a relevant bachelor's degree are preferred; equivalent experience may be considered for the degree. Compensation is a base salary of $140,000–$180,000, based on experience and demonstrated results, with health insurance and other company benefits per current plans. RW Anderson Homes states that it is committed to respect, fairness, and equal opportunity, and considers qualified applicants based on merit, experience, and ability without regard to protected personal characteristics. The hiring process includes a background check of conviction and arrest records and will comply with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17; applicants will have an opportunity to explain and correct background information. Applicants may email the company to request disability-related assistance or a reasonable accommodation during application or recruitment.

Requirements

10–15+ years of accounting experience, including responsibility inside smaller, privately owned businesses.
Construction accounting expertise, including job costing, WIP, cost-plus billing, retainage, and project profitability.
Experience with intercompany transactions and producing accurate financial statements for individual companies and a group.
A proven record of cleaning up messy accounting, establishing a reliable monthly close, and preventing missed bills or billings.
Willingness to personally reconcile accounts, investigate discrepancies, and train staff.
Strong command of financial statements, general ledger accounting, reconciliations, and internal controls.
Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.
Experience working with banks, lenders, insurance brokers, CPAs, and attorneys.
Strong communication and negotiation skills, particularly in resolving payment disputes.
Proficiency with accounting software and Microsoft Excel.
Sound judgment and discretion with confidential financial and personnel information.

Nice To Haves

CPA license; the credential is valuable, but demonstrated results running a comparable department matter more.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration; equivalent experience is considered.
Familiarity with QuickBooks, Buildertrend, and construction management systems.
Experience supporting a multi-company group in residential construction, restoration, or property services.

Responsibilities

Own daily accounting operations for multiple legal entities, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and bank reconciliations.
Establish and maintain a reliable, timely monthly close; prepare and review financial statements and supporting schedules for each company and the group.
Identify and correct discrepancies, unreconciled transactions, misclassified expenses, and reporting inconsistencies; review and approve journal entries, corrections, and reclassifications.
Oversee intercompany transactions, transfers, reimbursements, and reconciliations, and coordinate with external CPAs on tax preparation, adjustments, year-end close, and compliance.
Manage job costing, work in progress (WIP), progress billing, cost-plus billing, and retainage; review project budgets, actual and estimated costs, and gross margins.
Identify cost overruns, billing gaps, and missed bills or billings; evaluate change orders, customer credits, and project closeout financials.
Work with project managers and superintendents to improve billing accuracy and documentation, and support standardized project financial reporting and variance tracking.
Lead annual budgeting for all operating companies; review monthly budget-to-actual results, investigate significant variances, prepare forecasts, and flag revenue, cost, and cash flow risks.
Analyze divisional margins and overhead, recommend corrective action, and establish financial benchmarks and KPIs for each division.
Manage cash flow and working capital across entities; prioritize payments based on cash availability and maintain relationships with banks and commercial lenders.
Support lines of credit, renewals, loan documentation, construction draws, and lender reporting; advise ownership on distributions, major expenditures, and financing options.
Oversee receivables and collections, monitor aging, escalate overdue balances, communicate with customers and insurance representatives, resolve billing disputes, and coordinate with legal counsel when needed.
Coordinate insurance programs, renewals, premium reviews, and audits; monitor licensing, bonding, and financial compliance requirements; coordinate financial aspects of employee health insurance and benefits.
Oversee payroll-related financial processes and coordinate with payroll providers; monitor payroll, benefit, and labor costs; review compensation changes, bonuses, and incentive structures.
Oversee vendor and subcontractor payment processes and approvals; ensure proper expense allocation; review significant vendor expenses and monitor recurring expenses, equipment costs, vehicle financing, and service agreements.
Develop and enforce financial policies, procedures, and internal controls; evaluate and improve accounting, project management, and payroll systems, including systems such as QuickBooks and Buildertrend.
Improve workflows and communication between accounting, administrative, and field personnel, and provide practical recommendations that balance operational needs with financial discipline.
Directly supervise accounting and finance staff by assigning tasks, setting deadlines, reviewing work quality, and training and developing team members.
Set accounting standards, hold the department and operational managers accountable, challenge unsupported expenditures, and partner with department managers to align decisions with budgets.