Accounting Manager

Accounting Manager

San Luis Obispo, California | On-Site | Direct Hire

The Opportunity

United Staffing Associates has been retained by a highly respected, locally owned construction firm in San Luis Obispo to identify an experienced Accounting Manager to lead its accounting operations and serve as a trusted financial partner to ownership.

Our client has built its reputation on an uncompromising commitment to quality. With a team of more than 50 employees, the firm specializes in exceptional custom luxury residences while also completing select commercial, interior and landscape projects. They are not focused on being the lowest bidder. They are focused on doing things right, delivering exceptional work and maintaining the standards their discerning clientele expect.

This is a highly visible leadership position for an accomplished accounting professional who combines strong technical expertise with business and financial acumen. Reporting directly to the Owner, the Accounting Manager will oversee the accounting department and administrative support personnel while providing the financial insight, controls, and leadership necessary to support the organization.

The successful candidate will be comfortable taking ownership, identifying opportunities for improvement and maintaining a high degree of discretion and confidentiality.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee full-cycle accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and bank reconciliations.
• Lead monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Prepare and analyze financial statements and provide meaningful financial insight to ownership.
• Manage budgeting, forecasting and cash-flow planning.
• Oversee job-cost accounting across multiple active construction projects, ensuring accurate allocation of costs by project, phase and cost code.
• Monitor project costs, budgets and profitability and help identify financial trends, discrepancies and areas requiring attention.
• Oversee progress billing and the accounting implications of project change orders.
• Review and approve journal entries, account reconciliations, and variance analyses.
• Maintain accurate fixed-asset accounting and related financial records.
• Coordinate annual audits, tax preparation and other financial reporting requirements with external auditors and tax advisors.
• Support prevailing wage and certified payroll requirements as applicable.
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls to protect company assets and ensure the integrity of financial information.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting procedures, financial systems, and overall business processes.
• Ensure data integrity across QuickBooks, proprietary systems and supporting financial applications.
• Oversee, mentor, and develop accounting and administrative support personnel, establishing clear expectations and accountability.
• Review team members' work for accuracy and completeness while using errors as opportunities for coaching, development, and process improvement.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and high performance.
• Serve as a trusted and confidential financial resource to the Owner.
• Partner across the organization to improve financial accuracy, operational efficiency, and informed decision-making.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of progressive accounting experience, with a strong command of full-cycle accounting.
• Minimum 5 years of accounting leadership or supervisory experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance preferred.
• CPA designation is a plus but not required.
• Construction accounting experience is highly desirable; candidates with strong experience in comparable project-based accounting environments may also be considered.
• Knowledge of job costing, progress billing and change-order accounting strongly preferred.
• Experience with workers' compensation, prevailing wage and certified payroll is highly desirable
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel required.
• Strong working knowledge of QuickBooks; ability to learn and effectively utilize proprietary financial software.
• Strong understanding of sound accounting practices.
• Demonstrated financial and business acumen with the ability to analyze information beyond the numbers and communicate its business implications.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor and hold team members accountable while giving and receiving feedback professionally and constructively.
• Self-directed professional who takes ownership, exercises sound judgment, and demonstrates initiative.
• High level of integrity, professionalism and discretion when handling confidential financial and client information.

Compensation & Benefits

• $120,000–$180,000/year DOE
• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) plan; paid time off; and paid holidays.

Confidential Search

United Staffing Associates is conducting this search on behalf of our client. The identity of the hiring company will remain confidential during the initial stages of the recruitment process.