Controller at Westside Build LLC

Description

About Us

Westside Build is a team driven by innovation and efficiency, redefining how homes are designed and constructed on LA’s westside. In collaboration with Westside Design, our team brings together decades of high-end single-family residential experience, spec building expertise, and cutting-edge fabrication technologies to deliver exceptional homes at an approachable price point. The recent wildfires have left communities in urgent need, and we’re committed to getting people back home – faster, smarter and better. By integrating advanced technology, digitized fabrication and offsite construction, we cut through inefficiencies, reduce costs and accelerate timelines in partnership with our Design team. A modern approach to architectural design and construction, built for today’s world.

About You

Seasoned construction accounting leader who builds rock-solid controls, closes fast, and keeps job-cost data spotless. You thrive in software-driven environments (QuickBooks + Procore), lead AP/AR at scale, and treat accuracy and speed as non-negotiables.

Role Overview

The Controller owns day-to-day financial control for Westside Build’s residential projects. You’ll run job costing, WIP, and cash with discipline; lead AP/AR from pre-qual to lien release; and ensure our COA, cost codes, and documentation track project reality across budgets, change orders, and pay apps. You partner with executives, PMs, and field teams to keep payment schedules predictable and cost integrity uncompromised in a highly automated stack.

Key Responsibilities Construction Financial Control

• Own accounting system setup and hygiene in QuickBooks (COA, classes, cost codes/cost types) aligned to a standardized WBS/CSI structure and project templates in Procore.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation: POs, subcontracts, SOVs, COR logs, approvals, pay apps, lien waivers, and 1099 files.
• Enforce three-way match (PO/receipt/invoice) and commitment controls for all vendors and subs.

Job Costing & Change Management

• Stand up budget baselines by phase/trade; track commitments, actuals, retainage, and projected cost at completion (EAC).
• Coordinate approved change orders with Project Ops; ensure instant flow-through to budgets, SOVs, and customer contracts.
• Lead monthly variance analysis by job/cost code; surface root causes and recovery plans.

Pay Applications, Cash & Working Capital

• Run weekly AP cycles: pre-qual subs, verify insurance/compliance, process invoices, release payments against signed waivers.
• Own cash-flow forecasting by job; stage funding needs, deposit schedules, and draw packages; escalate risks early.

Compliance, Controls & Close

• Design and enforce internal controls: segregation of duties, approval matrices, JE controls, vendor master governance.
• Lead bank/credit card reconciliations, accruals, WIP/over-under schedules, and revenue recognition/cost capitalization.
• Maintain tax and regulatory readiness (use tax, 1099s, contractor compliance).

Reporting & Cadence

• Publish timely, accurate dashboards and financials: Job Cost, WIP/over-under, Cash vs. Forecast, AP aging by project, AR and retainage status, COR pipeline, and margin walk.
• Run a predictable close calendar (monthly/quarterly) with SLAs for AP runs, AR billing, WIP, and leadership reports.

Systems & Data

• Administer QuickBooks + Procore financial integrations (budgets, commitments, direct costs, pay apps); champion data standards and automation.
• Document and continuously improve accounting SOPs, approval workflows, and month-end checklists.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Manage an accounting team (Accountant, Accounting Assistant): assign workload, set SLAs, coach performance, and cross-train.
• Partner with PMs/PEs/Superintendents to keep cost data current and billing timely; coordinate with owners/GCs for approvals and collections.
• Liaise with CPA and banks; prepare support schedules and respond promptly to requests.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Accounting/Finance.
• 10+ years progressive accounting experience with construction job-costing; prior team leadership required.
• Expert in QuickBooks; strong working knowledge of Procore Financials (budgets, commitments, direct costs, pay apps, change events/CORs).
• Advanced Excel (pivot tables, Power Query/Lookups); superb reconciliations, AP/AR operations, internal controls, and cash management.
• Clear, concise communicator with a disciplined approach to standards and data hygiene.
• Comfortable operating in a digital-first, field-to-finance workflow.

Success Metrics (first 6–12 months)

• ≤5-day monthly close; zero unreconciled bank items.
• 100% three-way match and lien waiver compliance before payment.
• WIP produced by business day 5; forecast accuracy within ±5%.
• AR current with <5% >30-day past due; retainage tracked to release milestones.
• No material audit findings; SOPs documented and in use across all projects.

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance