Freelance Remote Financial Controller Jobs in Tennessee

Vessel Advisors Job Description - Controller (Construction Industry)

Location: USA - Fully Remote 

• Note: We are not currently taking applications in the following states: CA, NY, IL, NJ, WA, OR, MA, CT, MN, or CO. Please do not apply if you reside in one of these states.

Type: Full-Time, W-2 Employee (40-45 Hours per week) 

Compensation: DOE - Starting at $95,000 per year 

Our Company & Culture:

At Vessel Advisors, we deliver financial clarity and operational certainty to growth-stage CEOs and their companies. We are a team of trusted advisors who believe that the quality of our work and the quality of our relationships are both non-negotiable. We are looking for a Controller who embodies our core values:

• Fanatical Attention to Consistency & Detail: You believe the close is never approximate and reconciliation is never "close enough".
• Extreme Ownership: You take 100% responsibility for all outcomes and believe there is no pointing at circumstances.
• Responsiveness: You view speed of communication as a form of respect and reply within 24-48 hours, even if just to say "I'm on it".
• Learn, Adapt, or Die: You are someone for whom curiosity is not optional and who loves to embrace new software and master new industries.
• Be a Good Human: You are kind, loyal, and genuinely good to be around-because life is too short to work with jerks!
• Go the Extra Mile: You don't just check boxes; you move the needle to match the energy and commitment of the business owners we serve.

Position Summary:

The Controller position at Vessel Advisors will support and report to the VP of Operations of Vessel Advisors and report to clients on a weekly and/or monthly basis as needed. The position will be responsible for providing financial expertise and guidance to clients, helping them to improve their financial performance and achieve their business goals. This includes but is not limited to financial discovery assessments, process improvements, accounting clean-up, budgeting and forecasting, etc. Additionally, the position involves providing financial services to multiple clients concurrently in a fractional capacity. The Controller will take ownership of the client's existing financial processes and recommend and implement best practices. The Controller will oversee internal and external staff, as well as client staff, as needed. We are seeking an individual who takes extreme ownership over their responsibilities, seeks to provide fast responses in writing and by phone, and will do what it takes to serve and over-deliver Vessel Advisors' clients.

What We're Looking For:

• Industry Expertise: You have experience as a Controller for growing companies specifically in the Construction and Real Estate Development industries. Do not apply without relevant Construction industry experience.
• Financing Mastery: Deep expertise in construction financing and the management of bank draws on construction loans is vital for this role; you must ensure timely and accurate spend reporting to support these draws.
• Project Proficiency: You are experienced in managing complex project-level financials, including Work in Progress (WIP) schedules, budget-to-actual job cost performance, and labor allocation.
• Tech Forward: You are a cloud-based software expert. Ideally, you have experience in system migrations (e.g., Foundation to Deltek ComputerEase) and are proficient in Sage Intacct, Procore, and Bill.com. In addition, you are familiar with Google Workspace, Zoom, Slack, and other project management tools.
• Complex Oversight: You are capable of managing finance and accounting operations across a multi-entity fund structure, including oversight for outsourced payroll functions across multiple states.
• Remote Ready: You have at least three years of experience in a remote role and maintain an organized, professional workspace for virtual video meetings.

Your Impact & Responsibilities:

• Ownership of Results: Take complete ownership of month-end close schedules for multiple entities, transitioning manual workbooks to automated, system-driven reporting.
• Strategic Advisory: Lead Financial Discovery Assessments to identify accounting cleanup needs and process improvements for high-revenue (e.g., $170M+) organizations.
• Operational Integration: Manage the interface between client leadership, construction teams, and outsourced tax or accounting firms to ensure accuracy in expense coding.
• Institutional Reporting: Develop and maintain property-level performance metrics and sophisticated financial modeling suitable for institutional equity partners.
• Control & Compliance: Strengthen internal controls over cash management, including the oversight of lien release/waiver tracking to prevent revenue leakage.

Requirements

Controller Skills and Qualifications:

• Experience: 8+ years as a Chief Accounting Officer or Controller in Private Business.
• Software: 8+ years of financial software experience (Sage Intacct and Quickbooks required; Deltek ComputerEase, Procore, and BuilderTrend are a plus).
• Specialized Knowledge: Expertise in construction-specific accounting methods (Percentage of Completion Method/PCM).
• Financial Strategy: Experience in banking partner evaluation and positioning a company for credit facility or Line of Credit (LOC) eligibility.
• Communication: 95% of our communication is Slack, or email-based; you must be an excellent written and verbal communicator. 

Location:

• USA - Fully Remote Working Arrangement, Hours (approx. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in your time zone), or as needed to meet client and Vessel corporate team needs. 
• Client needs vary and can require occasional after-hours meetings and/or work to meet deadlines.
• Maintain an organized remote working station, a controlled audio environment, and business casual dress for virtual video client meetings
• Daily access to a strong internet connection (minimum 100+ Mbps upload, 30+ Mbps download)

Note: we are not taking applications in the following states: CA, NY, IL, NJ, WA, OR, MA, CT, MN, or CO. Please do not apply if you reside in one of these states.

Benefits

Benefits:

• PTO, starting at 80hr per year
• Health stipend
• 10 Company Paid Holidays
• Sick Time