Director of Accounting – Construction & Financial Reporting

Our client, a well-established organization in the Clifton, NJ area, is seeking an experienced Director of Accounting with a strong background in GAAP financial reporting and construction accounting.

This is a senior-level, hands-on accounting position for someone who understands the unique financial complexities of construction businesses, including job costing, Work-in-Progress (WIP) schedules, percentage-of-completion accounting, revenue recognition, and project profitability.

The Director will take ownership of the financial reporting process and work closely with company leadership, project/operational teams, and outside accounting professionals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and review of monthly, quarterly, and annual GAAP-compliant financial statements
• Manage and review the month-end and year-end close processes
• Prepare and analyze Work-in-Progress (WIP) schedules
• Oversee construction job costing and project-level financial reporting
• Ensure appropriate revenue recognition and percentage-of-completion accounting under ASC 606
• Review project budgets, committed costs, change orders, estimated costs to complete, and projected margins
• Analyze over/under billings, retainage, backlog, and project profitability
• Work with project managers and operations personnel to ensure accurate project financial information
• Identify project cost variances and potential margin or profitability issues
• Maintain and reconcile general ledger accounts and supporting schedules
• Review balance sheet reconciliations, accruals, and journal entries
• Ensure accounting practices and financial reporting comply with U.S. GAAP
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and cash-flow analysis
• Strengthen accounting procedures, internal controls, and reporting processes
• Coordinate with external CPA, tax, audit, banking, bonding, and other financial partners as needed
• Provide management with meaningful financial analysis and recommendations
• Mentor and provide guidance to accounting team members as appropriate

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience
• Strong construction industry accounting experience required
• Significant experience preparing and reviewing GAAP financial statements
• Strong knowledge of:
• Construction job costing
• WIP reporting
• Percentage-of-completion accounting
• ASC 606 revenue recognition
• Cost-to-complete analysis
• Over/under billings
• Retainage
• Project profitability and margin analysis
• Strong month-end close and general ledger experience
• Advanced Excel and financial analysis skills
• Experience with construction accounting/ERP systems
• CPA or CMA is preferred but not required
• Prior public accounting experience serving construction clients is also highly desirable

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate may currently be a Director of Accounting, Controller, Assistant Controller, Senior Accounting Manager, or Construction Accounting Manager.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have either:

1. Worked directly within a construction, general contracting, specialty contracting, engineering, or project-based organization; or
2. Worked for a CPA firm with significant responsibility for construction clients and GAAP financial statement preparation.

This individual should be comfortable operating at both a strategic and hands-on level and have the technical accounting expertise to take ownership of complex construction financial reporting.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a stable organization in a highly visible accounting leadership position. The successful candidate will have significant interaction with senior management and the ability to directly impact financial reporting, processes, controls, and overall financial performance.