A controller helps the owner see the real numbers before problems grow.
In this article
Why a controller
Bookkeepers record. Controllers analyze and report.
Responsibilities
Job costing, WIP and cash flow.
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Construction experience
Retainage, pay apps and over/under billing.
Surety relationships
Reports bonding companies trust.
Reporting
Monthly financial package.
Systems
Process and software improvements.
Team
Supervise accounting staff.
Where to start
Define the monthly reports you need, then hire someone who has produced them for a contractor before.
An example
A growing GC hired a controller with construction experience. Monthly WIP reports helped secure larger bonding lines.
What to track
Track monthly close time, accuracy of WIP and cash forecasts, and surety feedback.
Questions to ask
Can we trust our monthly numbers? Do we know which jobs are underbilled? Who prepares reports for the surety?
Common mistakes
Hiring a controller without construction experience, expecting them to fix bad data overnight and keeping them out of project meetings where financial decisions are made.
Run tighter jobs and win the right ones.
We help construction companies build the systems, online presence and client relationships that bring better projects.
Frequently asked questions
When should a contractor hire a controller?
Often when revenue and project count grow beyond what a bookkeeper can handle, especially when bonding, WIP reporting and cash flow forecasting become critical.