Assistant Controller

Founded more than 140 years ago and supporting operations in Middle River, Maryland, we are a nationally established, full-service electrical contractor specializing in electrical construction, design, engineering, integration, service, and maintenance. We support projects ranging from individual service calls to complex, multiphase design-build engagements and remain committed to integrity, innovation, quality, safety, and continuous process improvement. The organization was established in 1884 and is recognized as the oldest electrical contractor in the United States.

Competitive Compensation, depending on experience, PLUS Benefits
Established Organization: Join a company with more than 140 years of electrical construction history
Project-Based Environment: Gain exposure to project costing, retention, change orders, earned revenue, bonding, and job closeouts
In-Office Position: Full-time opportunity

Key Responsibilities and Duties
Payroll and Union Administration
Coordinate with the Administrative Assistant and corporate payroll team to ensure weekly payroll is processed accurately and on time
Serve as backup support for jurisdictional requirements and pay-scale questions involving multiple IBEW locals
Help address benefits questions and resolve benefit-related issues for union employees
Assist the Branch Controller with confidential weekly payroll processing through Traqspera and Spectrum
Support project accountants and administrative staff with certified payroll reporting

Accounts Receivable, Billing and Collections
Follow up on receivables that are more than 30 days overdue and maintain current collection notes
Assist with monthly accounts receivable cleanup and reconciliation
Review collection issues with branch leadership and develop appropriate follow-up plans
Review retention reports and prepare related customer invoices
Run weekly accounts receivable and retention reports and identify items requiring action
Support monthly corporate AR and retention reporting
Project monthly billing amounts for three or more entities
Assist with the approval and execution of change orders in Spectrum

Accounts Payable
Review and approve subcontractor payments
Assist with manual check requests
Review and approve credit-card expenses on a biweekly or monthly basis
Partner with corporate accounts payable to address and resolve payment or processing issues

Project Accounting and Quality Controls
Review and clean up open purchase orders for active and completed projects
Review and close open subcontracts associated with completed projects
Verify contract types and earned-revenue calculations during new-job setup
Assist with OCIP and CCIP questions and documentation
Support bond verification for new, active, and completed projects
Review job overview reports for cost opportunities, budget concerns, and potential overages
Close completed projects in Spectrum each month
Monitor job costs, contract status, billing, revenue recognition, and project closeout activity

Project Cost Reporting and Forecasting
Conduct quarterly Project Cost Summary reviews with the Branch Manager, project managers, and Branch Controller
Prepare quarterly Project Cost Summary reporting packages
Update project projections monthly and quarterly
Review project performance, anticipated costs, revenue, and potential cost overruns
Support billing projections and financial reporting for multiple entities

Budgeting, Audit and Operational Support
Assist the Branch Manager and Branch Controller with annual budget development
Help establish annual billing rates for service and time-and-material work
Respond to year-end audit inquiries and confirmation requests
Support new-hire training and departmental cross-training
Assist with bonding-related requirements for new, active, and completed projects
Document and update accounting and operational SOPs
Evaluate existing processes and recommend efficiency and control improvements
Perform additional accounting and operational duties based on business needs

Qualifications Needed
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
Minimum 5 years of progressive accounting experience; candidates with up to 10 years of relevant experience are preferred
Strong background in construction accounting, project accounting, accounts receivable, billing, retention, and job costing
Experience supporting payroll, preferably including union payroll, certified payroll, multiple pay scales, or multiple jurisdictions
Experience reviewing project costs, project projections, change orders, purchase orders, subcontracts, and completed-job closeout
Working knowledge of accounts payable and subcontractor payment processes
Experience producing project cost, AR, retention, billing, budget, or audit-related reports
Experience with Spectrum ERP is strongly preferred; comparable construction accounting software may be considered
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office
Proven ability to manage deadlines and maintain accurate records with limited direct supervision
Ability to work collaboratively with project managers, branch leadership, corporate accounting, payroll, and administrative teams
Familiarity with OCIP, CCIP, bonding, earned-revenue calculations, or IBEW requirements is helpful
Pennsylvania Allegheny County Notary designation is listed as a plus, although it appears less directly connected to the Middle River, Maryland location