Building Talent | AEC Talent Agency · 3 months ago
Controller / Director of Finance
Oakland, CA, United States
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$160K/yr - $200K/yr
7+ years expBuilding Talent is a mid-sized architecture and design practice in Oakland, CA seeking an experienced Controller or Director of Finance to lead firmwide financial operations and guide long-term planning. The role involves overseeing all aspects of the firm’s accounting and financial management, partnering with leadership to manage reporting, forecasting, cash flow, and compliance, while providing financial insights to project teams.
EmploymentHuman ResourcesRecruiting
Responsibilities
Manage general ledger, AP/AR, reconciliations, and month-end/year-end close processes
Prepare clear, accurate financial statements, dashboards, and variance reports
Maintain GAAP compliance and effective internal controls
Oversee project-based accounting including billing, time tracking, and revenue recognition
Partner with project managers and leadership to forecast budgets and monitor profitability
Evaluate WIP, utilization, backlog, and other key financial metrics
Lead annual budgeting, long-range planning, and cash-flow forecasting
Conduct scenario modeling to inform business strategy and resource allocation
Identify trends, risks, and opportunities that impact firm growth
Coordinate with outside CPAs on audits, tax planning, and annual filings
Manage insurance, banking, and licensing relationships
Ensure adherence to all state, federal, and S-Corp regulations
Supervise and mentor accounting and billing staff (1–2 team members)
Improve workflows and explore ERP or automation enhancements
Collaborate with leadership on payroll integration and HR-related processes
Qualification
Required
7–10+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership role
Strong understanding of project-based accounting within a professional services environment (AEC preferred)
Proficiency in Deltek Vantagepoint, QuickBooks, or comparable ERP systems
Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities with non-financial teams
Preferred
CPA, CMA, or MBA preferred
Experience with S-Corp accounting and California compliance a plus
Company
Building Talent | AEC Talent Agency
We’re a boutique recruiting team focused exclusively on the AEC industry.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase