Controller in Emeryville, California at Alarcon Bohm

We are seeking a hands-on, highly accountable Financial Controller to own and build the accounting function within a growing construction firm. This role is both strategic and deeply operational; responsible for establishing financial infrastructure, improving visibility into cash flow and job performance, and ensuring accuracy and compliance across all financial processes.

The ideal candidate is not just a maintainer of financials, but a builder of systems, a problem solver, and a partner to operations. This individual must be comfortable working independently, stepping into day-to-day tasks as needed, and operating in a fast-moving, lean environment.

Financial Management & Reporting

• Own all accounting functions including general ledger, job costing, WIP reporting, AP/AR, reconciliations, and month-end close.

• Prepare accurate financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

• Build and maintain cash flow forecasting and financial planning processes.

• Establish clear financial reporting to support leadership decision-making.

Construction-Specific Oversight

• Develop and maintain accurate WIP schedules and cost-to-complete projections.

• Ensure job cost tracking aligns with project budgets and contracts.

• Partner with field and project leadership to identify cost overruns and margin risks.

• Oversee billing processes including progress billing, retention, and lien compliance.

Process Improvement & System Overhaul

• Evaluate current QuickBooks-based processes and identify gaps.

• Lead overhaul and optimization of accounting workflows and reporting structures.

• Implement automation to reduce manual processes and improve accuracy.

• Support selection and implementation of construction-specific tools where appropriate.
  
  

Strategic Partnership

• Act as financial advisor to ownership and leadership.

• Provide actionable insights into profitability, cash flow, and operational performance.

• Support business decisions with data-driven financial analysis.

Compliance & Audit Readiness

• Ensure compliance with tax, financial, and regulatory requirements.

• Prepare the business for audits and manage external relationships.

• Establish internal controls and documentation standards.

• A builder of systems, not just a maintainer

• A proactive problem solver who identifies inefficiencies and drives solutions

• Comfortable operating independently in a small team environment

• Willing to step into both strategic and day-to-day work

• Adaptable and responsive to changing priorities and unexpected needs

• Strong bridge between finance and operations

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field or,

• 10–15 years of progressive accounting experience, with construction experience preferred

• Strong expertise in WIP, job costing, and revenue recognition

• Experience with QuickBooks and ADP required

• Experience improving systems and processes in small to mid-sized businesses

• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills