Contract Project Controller Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

About the Company

Cobra Concrete Cutting Services Co. is a growing specialty construction contractor operating through three legal entities and seven physical locations throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Our branches operate as individual business units with local accountability while leveraging centralized financial and operational support.

We operate throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and other Midwest markets, serving commercial, industrial, infrastructure, utility, and government clients. In addition to our Midwest operations, the company includes an entity serving the Southeast region, with operations centered in the Atlanta, Georgia market. The Controller will provide financial oversight and support for all entities and locations.

This is a 100% in-person position based in Wheeling, Illinois. Occasional travel to branch locations in other states may be required.

Cobra Concrete Cutting Services Co. is a union specialty contractor providing:

• Concrete sawing and drilling
• Ground penetrating radar (GPR)
• Utility locating
• Robotic demolition
• Concrete removal and specialty services

Position Summary

We are seeking a dynamic, growth-minded Corporate Controller to lead the financial and accounting operations. This role requires a professional who thrives in high-volume, multi-unit environment. The Controller will oversee all accounting, financial reporting, treasury management, budgeting, internal controls, tax coordination, and business-unit financial analysis across the company's three entities and seven locations. This individual will work directly with ownership, external CPA firms, banking partners, and branch leadership while leading the accounting team consisting of billing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and staff accounting personnel.

This position offers significant executive growth opportunities, with the successful candidate being developed as a potential future Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as the organization continues to expand throughout the Midwest and Southeast United States. To ensure success, our retiring Controller will remain on staff to provide a comprehensive, hands-on transition.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Reporting

• Lead all accounting operations across multiple entities and locations.
• Prepare accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Produce business unit reporting for each branch and division.
• Develop and maintain KPIs, dashboards, and profitability reporting.
• Analyze financial performance and provide recommendations to ownership.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the company's external CPA firms, tax advisors, auditors, bankers, insurance brokers, and other financial partners.
• Coordinate annual tax preparation, tax planning, financial statement reviews and regulatory filings across all entities.
• Work closely with ownership and external advisors to evaluate tax strategies, entity structures, acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives.
• Ensure timely and accurate delivery of all financial information requested by outside accounting firms and lending institutions.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-range strategic planning with ownership and outside advisors.

Construction Accounting

• Oversee job costing, work-in-progress (WIP) reporting and equipment utilization.
• Monitor contract profitability and project profit margin analysis.
• Review labor burden allocations and equipment cost recovery.
• Ensure proper revenue recognition and accounting treatment.
• Maintain strong financial controls across all entities.

Union & Labor Compliance

• Manage accounting and reporting related to union labor agreements.
• Monitor fringe benefit liabilities and remittances.
• Ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements.
• Review certified payroll requirements where applicable.
• Coordinate reporting related to union benefits, pension funds, health and welfare contributions, and related obligations.

Treasury Management

• Manage cash flow forecasting and working capital.
• Oversee banking relationships and credit facilities.
• Monitor borrowing base reporting and lender compliance.
• Optimize cash management strategies across multiple entities.
• Evaluate financing opportunities for equipment and growth initiatives.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and mentor the accounting team, including:

• Accounts Receivable
• Accounts Payable
• Billing Specialists
• Staff Accountant(s)
• Establish processes and controls that improve efficiency and scalability.
• Partner with operational leadership to improve overall financial understanding.
• Develop future accounting talent and build a high-performing finance team.

Strategic Growth

• Support acquisitions, branch expansions, and new business initiatives.
• Participate in strategic planning with ownership.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning.
• Help build the financial infrastructure necessary for continued growth.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 7+ years of accounting and financial management experience.
• 3+ years in a Controller, Assistant Controller, or senior accounting leadership role.
• Construction industry accounting experience.
• Strong understanding of:
• Job costing
• WIP reporting
• Revenue recognition
• Multi-entity accounting
• Multi-location operations
• Experience working with union labor and fringe benefit reporting.
• Experience managing accounting teams.
• Strong Excel and financial reporting skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both field and office leadership.

Preferred

• CPA designation.
• Specialty contractor experience.
• Experience with equipment-intensive construction businesses.
• Experience supporting multiple states and legal entities.
• Experience with ERP and construction accounting software.
• Treasury and banking relationship management experience.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first year, the successful candidate will:

• Establish timely and accurate monthly financial reporting.
• Strengthen business unit reporting across all branches.
• Improve visibility into profitability by branch, service line, and project.
• Enhance cash flow forecasting and treasury management.
• Build strong relationships with branch managers and ownership.
• Develop scalable financial processes that support future growth.

Why Join Cobra?

• Direct access to ownership and executive decision-making.
• Opportunity to influence the direction of a growing construction company.
• Clear path to a future CFO position.
• Multi-entity, multi-state business providing challenging and rewarding work.
• Stable, established company with significant growth opportunities.
• Leadership role where your work directly impacts company performance.

Location: Wheeling, IL Position Type: Full-Time, In-Person Travel: Occasional travel to branch locations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and other operating regions.

If you are an experienced construction accounting professional who wants to move beyond traditional accounting and become a strategic business leader, we would like to speak with you.