Controller

Description

This recruitment search is being conducted as a retained search with Harmer Associates. For more information and to be considered, please apply via our career portal and candidates selected for consideration will be outreached by Harmer Associates team for further screening and recommendation to LG Group.

Everything we do is powered by our people. Our culture is founded on collaborative teamwork, empowerment of our people, and an employee experience focused on growth and development making LG a best-in-industry place to work. With a deep recognition that we will only go as far as our people will take us, we are committed to investing in our talent through consistent mentorship and continuous feedback with a focus on career growth through goal setting. At LG, we know a career is more than just a job, it’s the pursuit of passion.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Controller serves as the operational financial leader responsible for all accounting operations, financial reporting, and internal controls across all LG Group business platforms. This role ensures accurate and timely financial information to support strategic decision-making while maintaining compliance with industry standards and regulations. The Controller partners with project management and executive leadership to provide financial insights that drive profitability and sustainable growth, while managing the day-to-day execution of the company's financial operations.

REPORTING STRUCTURE

· Reports To: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

· Direct Reports: Assistant Controller

· Indirect Reports: Accounting Specialists; Accounting Assistants

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Operations & Accounting

• Oversee accounting functions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, and job costing 
• Maintain separate, accurate general ledgers for all LG Group businesses for reliable multi-entity financial reporting
• Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes
• Oversee reconciliations of all cash, credit card, and escrow accounts to maintain accurate cash positions 
• Manage the monthly draw process for general contracting projects with support from the Assistant Controller and Project Accountants
• Serve as the company treasury, initiating ACH and wire transactions with zero errors to ensure timely vendor payments and efficient cash deployment
• Oversee cash management, banking relationships, and working capital optimization in coordination with the CFO to maintain adequate liquidity
• Review General Ledger (GL) entries of monthly payroll and related payroll benefits for accuracy and reasonableness and reconcile payroll on a semi-monthly basis.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and construction industry accounting standards
• Implement and maintain internal controls to safeguard company assets and reduce risk of loss or misstatement

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare and analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, providing leadership with comprehensive financial performance visibility
• Produce monthly financial statements with variance analysis and commentary
• Generate project-level profitability reports and job cost analyses for all active projects identifying direct project revenue variances to budgets and providing justifications to leadership. 
• Create rolling cash flow forecasts and update bi-weekly to prevent cash shortfalls and optimize working capital deployment
• Generate reports on key financial metrics to inform decision-making and track progress toward strategic goals
• Create and oversee financial reports supporting resource allocations (i.e. payroll, overhead allocations, insurance allocations, employee deductions, etc.) ensuring accurate cost distribution and entity-level profitability visibility
• Analyze trends in staffing costs and project margins to identify opportunities and risks
• Prepare financial presentations and materials for the CFO and executive leadership that translate complex data into actionable insights

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Lead the annual budgeting process in collaboration with the CFO and operations leadership, establishing financial targets that align resources with strategic priorities
• Monitor actual performance against budget and provide explanations for significant variances, enabling rapid response to financial deviations and improved accountability
• Support estimating team and project managers in developing accurate general conditions budgets through staffing cost analysis and tracking of staffing costs to completion
• Track project revenues, identifying variances from budgets and providing justifications to management, ensuring transparency and informed decision-making
• Coordinate with respective project leadership creating monthly revenue forecasts and any additional monthly reporting for distribution to the construction project teams, improving project-level financial visibility and planning

Systems & Process Improvement

• Maintain and optimize construction accounting software and integration with project management systems to improve data accuracy and reporting capabilities
• Implement automated processes to improve efficiency and reduce manual errors, to best leverage team capacity
• Establish and document accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure consistency
• Lead selection and implementation of new financial systems or upgrades as needed in partnership with the CFO, driving scalability and improved decision-making capabilities
• Create standardized templates and processes for financial reporting across projects and entities
• Continuously evaluate and enhance financial processes, systems, and controls to optimize efficiency and accuracy

Team Leadership & Development

• Build, lead, and develop the accounting team, providing guidance, training, and support to ensure high-quality work and professional development, resulting in improved accuracy, efficiency, and employee retention
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations for accounting staff to drive accountability
• Provide coaching, training, and professional development opportunities
• Foster a culture of accuracy, timeliness, and continuous improvement that drives operational excellence
• Delegate effectively while maintaining appropriate oversight and quality control, enabling scalability within the team

Strategic Partnership

• Serve as a trusted financial partner to the CFO and executive leadership team, providing insights that inform strategic direction and resource allocation decisions
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including operations, design, development and construction teams, to provide financial insights and support decision-making processes, resulting in better-informed operational choices
• Identify and communicate financial risks and opportunities proactively, enabling leadership to address issues before they become material and capitalize on emerging opportunities

Project Management Support

• Report the monthly revenue results (budget versus actual) to leadership, providing transparency into project and company performance
• Oversee preparation of Project Reconciliations to confirm project profitability and provide reporting and/or validation to project management team, ensuring accurate project closeout and lessons learned
• Analyze project performance data to identify trends and improvement opportunities, driving continuous margin improvement across the portfolio

Compliance & Legal

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to company financial operations
• Oversee the preparation and filing of required reports and documentation for accounting operations and financial audits, maintaining good standing with regulatory authorities
• Manage internal audits and investigations related to accounting and financial operations policies and practices
• Coordinate with external auditors to ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance with audit requirements (i.e. GAAP audit, GL insurance audit, workers compensation audit), achieving clean audit opinions and maintaining stakeholder confidence
• Coordinate with the CFO and legal counsel on matters pertaining to accounting and finance legalities
• Oversee lien waiver processes and subcontractor compliance documentation, protecting the company from mechanic's liens and payment disputes

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES

Financial Accuracy & Integrity

· All financial statements are accurate, complete, and in compliance with GAAP across all entities

· Internal controls effectively prevent and detect errors or fraud

· All financial records are audit-ready and properly documented

· Multi-entity accounting is maintained with proper intercompany eliminations and consolidation

Timely Reporting

· Monthly financial close completed within 15 business days with full variance analysis

· Cash flow forecasts updated and distributed bi-weekly to leadership team

· Real-time visibility into accounts payable aging and cash requirements

Financial Performance & Insights

· Identify cost overruns, billing opportunities, and collection issues before they become material

· Support data-driven decision making across the organization

· Deliver accurate resource allocation reporting across six entities

Cash & Working Capital Management

· Optimize cash flow through timely billing and collections

· Maintain Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) at or below industry benchmarks

· Ensure sufficient liquidity for operations and bonding requirements

· Execute treasury functions efficiently and accurately

Compliance & Controls

· Zero findings in external audits related to financial reporting or controls

· Maintain relationships with tax authorities, bonding companies, and regulatory agencies

· All statutory reporting requirements met on time

· Internal controls regularly reviewed and updated

Team Performance

• Accounting team meets all deadlines and quality standards
• Team members demonstrate growth in capabilities and responsibilities
• High employee satisfaction and retention within the finance function
• Clear succession planning for key accounting roles

Our Benefits & Perks:

• Competitive Compensation
• Unlimited PTO
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
• Paid Maternity & Paternity Leave
• 401k Match

LG Group is a full-service real estate development, construction, and design firm. LG Development is an integrated development company anchored by ingenuity, teamwork, and expertise. By assembling finance, design, marketing, leasing, and management teams under one roof, each phase of the development process blends seamlessly to provide a holistic approach, resulting in a higher-level of collaboration, innovative thinking, and risk management. LG Construction is a full-service construction company powered by collaboration, creativity, and resourcefulness. Our portfolio is diverse but focuses on hospitality, retail, core and shell, residential and multi-family. LG Design uses a project’s history, surroundings, and audience to create a sophisticated aesthetic that combines the latest design trends, best-in-class technology, and a thoughtful use of materials to elevate any space.

LG GROUP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

LG provides equal opportunity in all its employment practices to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity, and sexual orientation), color, religion, gender, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected by law. This policy applies to all aspects of the employment relationship, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, job assignments, training, compensation, benefits, promotion, transfer, disciplinary action, or separation of employment.

The salary band for the Controller role is $150,000-200,000 base salary. 

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

· Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field with active CPA licensure

· 8+ years of progressive accounting experience with a minimum 2 years in a controller role

· Significant experience in the general contracting, real estate development, or related field

· Expert knowledge of construction accounting including job costing, WIP, and percentage-of-completion

· Experience with multi-entity accounting and consolidations

· Proficiency with Sage 300 CRE, QuickBooks, and Microsoft Office products, with significant experience in Excel

· Experience with project management software (Procore, Northspyre, or similar) desirable but not required

· Strong understanding of GAAP and internal controls

· Experience with treasury functions and cash management

KEY COMPETENCIES

· Analytical Thinking | Ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights

· Business Partnership | Collaborative approach with operations teams; not just reporting the numbers

· Attention to Detail | High standards for accuracy without losing sight of strategic priorities

· Communication | Ability to explain financial concepts to non-financial audiences

· Leadership | Proven ability to build and develop effective teams

· Process Orientation | Drive for efficiency, standardization, and continuous improvement

· Integrity | Uncompromising ethics and commitment to accuracy

· Adaptability | Comfortable in a dynamic, fast-paced real estate and construction environment

· Tech-Savvy | Embraces technology and automation to improve performance

· Execution Excellence | Strong operator who can manage complexity while maintaining strategic focus