The Assistant Controller supports the accounting and financial operations of our company. As member of a small finance team within a small/mid-size company, this role is the primary backup position to the company Controller and acts as a bridge between daily transactional accounting and higher-level financial decision making. The position requires an understanding of the unique demands of the construction industry—job costing, project billing, compliance, and other industry-specific financial realities. In addition, the role interacts with Zahner’s corporate parent’s financial groups to fulfill the planning and reporting requirements of a publicly traded company. The Assistant Controller ensures accurate financial reporting, maintains strong internal controls, and supports leadership with timely insights that keep projects and the business on track.

Essential Duties:

Assist with monthly, quarterly, and year end close processes, including journal entries, reconciliations, job-cost reconciliations, WIP schedules, and variance analysis.
Maintain all aspects of the general ledger.
Prepare accurate financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
Maintain job cost accounting, including cost tracking, budget to actual analysis, and variance reporting.
Assist with cash flow forecasting and daily cash management.
Understand, oversee and help process Accounts Payable, including processing checks and ACH’s.
Assist with all capital projects; including preparing approval forms and tracking capital spend.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
Fully understand the company’s payroll (including Certified Payroll) process to function as hands-on backup support when needed.
Support payment and reconciliation of all union benefit payments

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in accounting from an accredited college or university.
5 years of broad general accounting and finance experience, preferably with some or all of it in a project-based construction company.
Strong understanding of GAAP and job cost accounting.
Advanced proficiency and experience with Microsoft Excel.
High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in financial reporting.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication skills and interpersonal/relationship qualities.
Team first mentality demonstrated by a willingness to contribute hands-on transactional support when needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
6+ years of general accounting and finance experience
3 years of direct experience with project-based construction accounting.
Familiarity with the reporting requirements of large enterprise organizations and/or publicly traded companies.
Direct hands-on experience with Acumatica ERP.
Familiarity with multi-state payroll and Certified Payroll obtained via support of a Union environment.
Experience working with subcontractors, vendors, and project teams.

Work Environment, Physical Demands, Travel Requirements

The physical demands represent requirements to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions may be available.
Work is performed in an office environment with common office tools. Required to receive and make telephone calls, send and receive email, text, and instant messages, maintain documents/records, communicate with coworkers and business partners.
Majority of time is spent performing essential functions around a desk/table arrangement while occasionally moving to other locations for meetings, discussions, or observation.
Must enter and interpret computer data, read, and file documents with small letters/numbers/symbols on documents and electronic devices.
Moves devices/tools, pushes, and pulls, weighing less than 25 pounds.
Lifting or raising small objects from the ground to a tabletop, occasionally lifting overhead.
Travel by airplane and/or personal vehicle to and from other office locations is less than 10%.