Director of Finance

CetraRuddy•New York, NY

28d•$175,000 - $195,000

About The Position

CetraRuddy is seeking a Director of Finance to lead the firm's finance function. This is the firm's senior finance role, reporting to the Managing Director and leading a two-person accounting team that includes an accounting manager. The role is hands-on and owns the monthly close for two entities, monthly financial reporting, billing across approximately 40 active projects, cash and banking, and the firm's key performance measures. Deltek Vantagepoint is central to the role, and the Director of Finance will be the finance owner of the system. The role is suited to someone with project-based accounting experience who can work effectively with Principals and project teams and exercise clear judgment with financial information. The Director of Finance will oversee accounting and close, project accounting and billing, reporting and analysis, cash and banking, payroll and benefits accounting, tax and compliance, and finance systems and team development. CetraRuddy offers a comprehensive benefits package, optional hybrid work on Mondays and Fridays, and professional development within a culture that values curiosity, excellence, and craft.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.
Minimum of 12 years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including at least five years in architecture, engineering, construction, or another project-based professional services firm.
Direct responsibility for WIP, fee-based billing, and project profitability, with the ability to explain them clearly to a designer.
Experience running a monthly close and leading an accounting team as the senior or second finance person in a firm.
Clear, plain written and verbal communication, and comfort advising firm leadership.
Ability to build and document repeatable processes.
Commitment to collaboration, professionalism, and contributing to firm-wide activities.

Nice To Haves

CPA or public accounting background.

Responsibilities

Close both entities monthly on an accrual basis, including reconciliations, accruals, prepaid and depreciation schedules, intercompany balances, and consolidation.
Maintain the chart of accounts, close procedures, and internal controls, including approval limits, payment runs, wire approvals, and vendor verification.
Prepare the year-end package for the outside CPA firm's annual review engagement, and oversee sales tax, 1099s, and statutory filings.
Own the monthly billing cycle across fixed-fee, percent-complete, hourly, and reimbursable arrangements, including AIA-format invoices, client portals, and subconsultant pass-through billing.
Lead monthly billing reviews with project leadership, covering WIP and unbilled work, fee earned against budget, additional services, and final invoices.
Own project setup from signed agreements and additional service requests, including project numbers, phases, fee budgets, billing terms, and consultant budgets.
Run accounts receivable and collections, including aging, client follow-up, escalation, and the annual bad-debt review.
Oversee timesheet compliance as the basis for accurate billing.
Produce monthly financial reporting for firm leadership, including P&L against budget, balance sheet, WIP and AR, project performance, utilization, fee projections, and backlog.
Define and report key performance measures, including utilization, effective multiplier, overhead rate, net revenue per employee, days sales outstanding, backlog, and project margin.
Build the annual budget and quarterly re-forecast.
Prepare annual billing rate tables and multipliers, and provide historical cost data for fee proposals.
Issue the weekly cash and AR report and maintain a rolling 13-week cash forecast and a six-month outlook.
Own the firm's banking relationships and credit facility, including lender reporting and account administration.
Manage owner distributions, support annual insurance renewals, and administer the corporate card program.
Be accountable for payroll accuracy and payroll tax compliance for staff in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, including S corporation shareholder treatment.
Reconcile benefits billing; fund and reconcile 401(k) deferrals and the employer match; and support annual plan compliance testing. Work alongside HR, which owns benefits administration.
Maintain the firm's annual tax and compliance calendar for both entities, and serve as the day-to-day contact for the outside CPA firm on returns, estimated payments, year-end planning, and the review engagement.
Serve as finance lead and system owner for Deltek Vantagepoint, including the close, project and billing setup, project reporting, and user training.
Lead, develop, and review the accounting team.