Controller

Job Description

Controller

Location: Columbus, OH — On-site

Reports to: President

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Controller to lead the accounting function for our $20M commercial and industrial painting contracting business. As the senior finance leader in the organization, you will own financial reporting, job costing, and internal controls, while serving as a key advisor to ownership on financial strategy and business performance.

This is a hands-on role suited to someone fluent in construction accounting — comfortable managing WIP schedules and job cost detail as well as advising leadership on the bigger financial picture. As an ESOP company, we're looking for someone who takes ownership (literally and figuratively) of the company's financial health and communicates results clearly to employee-owners.

Key Responsibilities

Construction & Job Cost Accounting

Prepare and maintain the monthly Work-in-Progress (WIP) schedule; manage percentage-of-completion revenue recognition across active jobs

Oversee job costing by project, tracking labor, materials, subcontractor, and overhead costs against estimates

Review and process change orders, ensuring accurate contract value updates and cost tracking

Manage progress billing/AIA-style billing, retainage tracking, and lien waiver processes

Partner with project managers and estimators to reconcile job cost reports and flag margin variances early

Monitor backlog reporting and underbilling/overbilling positions

Core Accounting & Reporting

Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring accurate and timely financial statements

Manage AP, AR, payroll (including certified payroll/prevailing wage if applicable), general ledger, and bank reconciliations

Develop and maintain internal controls and accounting policies

Prepare budgets, forecasts, and cash flow projections; monitor performance against plan

Serve as primary point of contact for external auditors, sureties, bonding agents, and banking relationships

Ensure compliance with tax filings, multi-state payroll/sales tax, and regulatory requirements

ESOP & Leadership

Support the annual ESOP valuation process, working with the trustee and third-party appraiser

Help communicate company financial performance to employee-owners in an accessible way

Manage and mentor accounting staff; oversee outsourced bookkeeping or payroll functions as applicable

Evaluate and improve accounting systems, job costing tools, and processes

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; CPA strongly preferred

7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including prior Controller or senior accounting leadership experience

Construction industry accounting experience required — strong working knowledge of WIP schedules, percentage-of-completion accounting, job costing, change orders, and retainage

Experience with Deltek ComputerEase or similar construction-specific accounting software (e.g., Sage 300 CRE, Foundation, Viewpoint) strongly preferred

Familiarity with surety bonding and banking relationships in a contractor setting

ESOP company experience a plus, though not required

Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting standards

Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain financial results to project managers, field leadership, and employee-owners alike

High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential financial information

What We Offer

Base salary: $110,000 – $150,000, commensurate with experience, plus potential bonus

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) — build long-term wealth as a company owner

Health/dental/vision benefits.

401(k)

15 days PTO plus paid holidays.

Opportunity to be the senior financial leader of a growing, employee-owned contracting business

Martin Painting & Coating Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Full-time