Project Controller

Location: Forest Park, GA


Reports To: CFO (with dotted line to VP of Operations)


Department: Finance / Operations


Classification: Exempt

Position Summary

The Project Controller is the financial quarterback of Operations. This role ensures that every project’s financial performance is forecasted accurately, monitored proactively, and corrected early.

This position is responsible for job cost integrity, WIP accuracy, margin protection, cash flow forecasting, and financial visibility across all active projects. The Project Controller bridges Operations and Accounting to ensure financial discipline without slowing production.

Core Objectives (First 12 Months)

• Improve forecast accuracy from reactive reporting to 90%+ predictability within ±3% variance.


• Reduce job cost overruns by identifying issues before 50% project completion.


• Implement standardized WIP review process across all PMs.


• Improve billing cycle speed and reduce aged receivables tied to project documentation.


• Build forward-looking gross margin forecasting model for backlog.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Financial Oversight

• Review all project budgets at award.


• Validate labor, material, equipment, subcontract, and contingency allocations.


• Ensure budgets align with estimate and approved handoff documents.


• Establish cost codes and financial tracking structure in ERP.

2. Forecasting & WIP Management

• Lead monthly WIP process with PMs.


• Require updated cost-to-complete projections on every active job.


• Analyze percent complete vs. actual costs.


• Identify margin fade early and escalate when necessary.


• Produce executive-ready WIP summaries.

3. Job Cost Integrity

• Audit time entries, material allocations, subcontract billing, and change orders.


• Reconcile committed costs vs. actuals.


• Ensure all approved change orders are properly entered and billed.


• Monitor unapproved change order exposure.

4. Margin Protection & Variance Analysis

• Analyze labor productivity variances weekly.


• Identify jobs trending below target GP.


• Conduct root-cause analysis on margin erosion (rework, labor inefficiency, estimating misses).


• Partner with PMs to build recovery plans.

5. Cash Flow & Billing Controls

• Track billing schedules and pay app timelines.


• Ensure billing aligns with percent complete.


• Support documentation required for timely billing.


• Monitor retainage exposure and cash flow timing.


• Forecast project cash flow 60–90 days forward.

6. Backlog & Revenue Forecasting

• Assist CFO and VP Ops with:
  
  
  
  • Backlog gross margin projections
  
  
  • Revenue pacing analysis
  
  
  • Labor utilization forecasting
  
  
  
  


• Build rolling 6-month revenue forecast model.

7. Process Improvement

• Standardize financial review cadence.


• Create project financial dashboard for PMs.


• Improve reporting automation.


• Partner with estimating to create historical cost feedback loop.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Forecast accuracy within ±3%


• Gross margin variance reduction


• Reduction in write-offs / true-ups


• WIP completion within 5 business days of month-end


• AR days on projects under 45 days


• Percent of unbilled change orders under 5% of project value


• Reduction in margin fade year over year

Required Experience

• 7–12+ years construction accounting or project controls experience


• Experience in commercial construction ($50M+ companies preferred)


• Strong WIP and percent-complete accounting knowledge


• Advanced Excel modeling skills


• ERP experience (Procore, Sage, Viewpoint, etc.)


• Ability to challenge PMs while maintaining credibility

Ideal Profile

• Highly analytical


• Comfortable confronting financial reality


• Process-driven


• Detail obsessive


• Operationally savvy (not just accounting mindset)


• Can sit in a room with PMs and hold ground

Work Environment:

This position operates primarily in a professional office environment and regularly uses standard office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, and smartphones. When in the warehouse, the employee may be exposed to dust and occasionally works near construction areas or around moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the warehouse environment can be loud at times.

Benefits:

• Incentive opportunities


• Competitive compensation package
  


• Comprehensive training and development opportunities


• Health insurance and other benefits are available after the probationary period


• Opportunities for career advancement within the company


• Company 401(k) match


• Unused PTO payout


• Community outreach


• Annual family day events


• Profit-Sharing Program