Assistant Controller Jobs in Smithfield, RI (NOW HIRING)

Peak Utility Infrastructure is an integrated engineering and construction company that serves the Electric, Natural Gas, and Telecommunications industries. We provide a full suite of engineering, construction, operations, and maintenance services, including repair, replacement, maintenance, and installation of natural gas, telecommunications, and electric infrastructure through our operating subsidiaries: SiteWise, Kelly Cable, Riley Brothers, 5 Star Electric, Superior Hydrovac and Superior Pipeline Services.

Position Title: Controller

Our Core Values: Guided by Safety. Focused on Communities. Powered by Care.

Classification: Exempt

Essential Functions:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The Controller is responsible for leading the accounting and financial operations of an assigned operating company within Peak Utility Services Group. This role serves as the primary finance partner to the OpCo President and leadership team, ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, disciplined job costing, and timely insight into business performance.

The Controller will oversee day-to-day accounting activities, month-end close, revenue recognition, work-in-progress reporting, cost analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and financial compliance. This position requires a hands-on finance leader who can operate in a fast-paced construction environment, partner closely with operations, and help drive accountability around profitability, cash flow, and working capital.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Financial Leadership and Business Partnership:

• Serve as the primary finance leader for the assigned OpCo.
• Partner with the OpCo President, operations leaders, and corporate finance team to support business decisions.
• Provide clear financial insight into revenue, margin, job performance, overhead, cash flow, and working capital.
• Help translate financial results into actionable operating priorities.
• Support the OpCo leadership team with financial analysis, reporting, and performance improvement initiatives.

Accounting and Month-End Close

• Lead the monthly close process for the assigned OpCo.
• Ensure accurate and timely preparation of financial results in accordance with company policies and accounting standards.
• Review journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, reserves, and supporting schedules.
• Analyze monthly financial results and explain variances to budget, forecast, and prior periods.
• Partner with corporate accounting to ensure consistency, accuracy, and completeness of financial reporting.

Job Costing, WIP, and Operational Finance

• Oversee job cost reporting, margin analysis, and project-level financial performance.
• Partner with operations to review job profitability, cost trends, production performance, and billing status.
• Monitor work-in-progress, earned revenue, over and under billings, change orders, and project closeout activity.
• Identify risks related to job margins, revenue recognition, cost overruns, and billing delays.
• Support operational leaders in understanding financial drivers and improving project performance.

Budgeting, Forecasting, and Reporting

• Lead the OpCo budgeting and forecasting process in partnership with the OpCo President and corporate finance.
• Prepare financial reports, dashboards, and analysis for OpCo and corporate leadership.
• Track performance against budget, forecast, and key operating metrics.
• Provide forward-looking financial insight to support decision-making and resource planning.
• Assist with monthly, quarterly, and annual business reviews.

Cash Flow, Billing, and Working Capital

• Monitor accounts receivable, billing progress, collections, and cash flow performance.
• Partner with operations and billing teams to ensure timely and accurate customer invoicing.
• Support collection efforts and identify issues impacting cash conversion.
• Review customer billing, retainage, unbilled revenue, and aging reports.
• Help drive discipline around working capital management.

Internal Controls and Compliance

• Maintain strong financial controls across accounting, reporting, billing, purchasing, and job costing processes.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, approval limits, and documentation standards
• Support internal and external audit requests, as needed.
• Identify process gaps and recommend improvements to strengthen controls and financial discipline.
• Ensure financial records are complete, accurate, and properly supported.

Systems, Process Improvement, and Integration

• Use ERP and reporting systems to improve visibility into financial and operational performance.
• Support process improvements related to accounting, reporting, job costing, billing, and forecasting.
• Partner with corporate finance and IT on system enhancements, integrations, and data accuracy.
• Help standardize financial processes across the OpCo while supporting broader Peak initiatives.

Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and support assigned accounting and finance team members.
• Establish clear expectations, deadlines, and accountability within the OpCo finance function.
• Foster a culture of accuracy, responsiveness, operational partnership, and continuous improvement.
• Provide coaching and development to strengthen team capability and succession readiness..

Success Factors:

• Operational finance partnership
• Accounting accuracy and discipline
• Job costing and margin analysis
• Business judgment
• Process improvement mindset
• Strong communication skills
• Leadership and team development
• Sense of urgency
• Integrity and confidentiality
• Ability to influence across functions

Experience and Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.
• CPA or MBA preferred, but not required.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience.
• Prior controller, assistant controller, accounting manager, or operational finance leadership experience preferred.
• Construction, utility, infrastructure, field services, or project-based business experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of job costing, WIP reporting, revenue recognition, accrual accounting, and month-end close.
• Experience with ERP systems required; Viewpoint Vista experience preferred.
• Strong Excel and financial reporting skills.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with operations and explain financial information to non-finance leaders.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to operate hands-on while also thinking strategically.
• High attention to detail, sound judgment, and strong sense of accountability.

Additional Requirements/Licenses/Certifications:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid State of Residence Driver’s License is required within two weeks of employment.
• Candidates must pass criminal and Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) background checks and pass a pre-employment drug screen.

Compensation:
Compensation will be commensurate with experience and aligned to the scope, complexity, and size of the assigned operating company.

Equal Opportunity Statement:
Peak Utility Services Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.