Sector/Divisional Controller - Utilities & Rail

LJA offers an exciting opportunity that allows you to reach your full career potential. As an employee-owner, you’ll collaborate with dedicated, skilled, and supportive leaders while gaining hands-on experience across a broad range of clients and services.

What Makes LJA Different

• Employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Client-focused culture with a shared vision of success
• Consistently ranked as a Top Workplace
• Internal recruitment team, in-house training, and industry-specific marketing
• Flexibility for teams and offices to lead with proven approaches
• Culture of continuous learning, personal growth, and open communication

About the Role

As the Sector/Divisional Controller – Utilities & Rail, you will oversee all project accounting across a portfolio of construction-focused subsidiaries within an ~$800 million organization. This role acts as a key business partner to sector operational leadership, project managers, and corporate finance, overseeing approximately $125M-$150M in annual revenue.

Reporting to the Corporate Controller, you will ensure the integrity of sector financial reporting, month-end close activities, project accounting oversight, billing and collections coordination, balance sheet reconciliations, internal controls, and compliance with company policies and U.S. GAAP. You will drive consistency, visibility, and financial discipline across a multi-state AEC operating environment while developing a high-performing accounting team.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day project accounting operations for the Utilities and Rail sectors, including month-end close, account reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Partner with sector leaders and project managers to monitor project performance, including backlog, work in process, unbilled receivables, write-offs, change orders, and cost overruns.
• Ensure proper accounting and reporting associated with retainage, mobilization, and contract billing structures.
• Prepare timely and accurate sector-level financial statements, management reports, variance analyses, and other decision-support reporting for the Corporate Controller and business leadership.
• Support bonding capacity requirements through accurate financial reporting.
• Assist with implementation of ERP systems and software, including access, design, and setup as needed.
• Lead or support integration of newly acquired subsidiaries, including alignment of accounting practices and procedures.
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls, accounting policies, and standard operating procedures to support compliance, consistency, and scalability across multiple states and operating units.
• Support internal and external audits by preparing schedules, responding to requests, and ensuring documentation is complete and accurate.
• Collaborate with tax, payroll, AP, AR, and corporate accounting teams on cross-functional issues, including intercompany activity, allocations, and process improvements.
• Coach, develop, and review the work of 10-15 project accountants and accounting staff supporting the Utilities and Rail sectors.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting, data quality, automation, and workflow efficiency within the accounting function.
• Perform other accounting leadership duties and special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field (required)
• CPA strongly preferred
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including leadership responsibility in a controller, assistant controller, accounting manager, or similar role
• Experience in the architecture, engineering, consulting, construction, or broader professional services environment, with strong understanding of project-based accounting
• Demonstrated experience overseeing multi-entity or multi-state accounting operations and applying sound internal control practices
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial reporting, account reconciliations, audit support, and compliance requirements
• Deep understanding of project lifecycle accounting, including revenue recognition, billing, collections, backlog, work in process, and project profitability analysis
• Ability to translate financial data into actionable insights for operational leaders and executive stakeholders
• Proven leadership, coaching, and team development capabilities, with strong communication and cross-functional partnership skills
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and experience with ERP and project accounting systems used in the AEC or professional services industry

Preferred systems experience includes BST, UNANET, Deltek, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Trimble Spectrum/Viewpoint, or similar ERP and project accounting platforms.

Benefits

• Generous time off, including PTO, paid holidays, and a full office closure between Christmas and New Year’s
• Comprehensive benefits with multiple plan options for health, dental, and pets, along with mental health support
• Paid maternity and parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement and in-house courses provided by the Learning and Development team
• Referral bonuses for helping grow the team
• Company-sponsored volunteer days and philanthropic initiatives
• Professional development through memberships to industry organizations
• Internal mobility opportunities for career growth
• Employee-owned culture with social events, sports teams, and family-friendly activities (e.g., bring your kid to work day)