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Project Cost Controller Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Mynt Systems

Controller

Santa Cruz, CA · On-site

$115K - $140K/yr

The Controller works closely with the COO/CFO and collaborates with project management, HR ... Maintain job cost accounting across all active projects using Jonas Premier (ERP) * Validate earned ...

MYNT SYSTEMS INC

Controller

Santa Cruz, CA · On-site

$115K - $140K/yr

The Controller works closely with the COO/CFO and collaborates with project management, HR ... Maintain job cost accounting across all active projects using Jonas Premier (ERP) * Validate earned ...

Thales

Senior Bid and Project Controller

Irvine, CA · On-site

Senior Bid & Project Controller Irvine, CA (Hybrid) Position Summary Thales is looking for a Senior ... revenue and cost recognition and deferral, and financial statements, Prior experience on risk ...

Level 10 Construction

Project Manager

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$120K - $155K/yr

Project Manager The Project manager is responsible for planning, organizing, and controlling all ... Sets safety, quality, schedule, cost and owner relationship goals. * Provides input and supervises ...

Thales

Senior Bid and Project Controller

Irvine, CA · Hybrid

Senior Bid & Project Controller Irvine, CA (Hybrid) Position Summary Thales is looking for a Senior ... revenue and cost recognition and deferral, and financial statements, Prior experience on risk ...

Level 10 Construction

Project Manager

Sunnyvale, CA

Project Manager The Project manager is responsible for planning, organizing, and controlling all ... Sets safety, quality, schedule, cost and owner relationship goals. * Provides input and supervises ...

H.M. Holloway

Controller

Bakersfield, CA · On-site

$105K - $150K/yr

We are dedicated to helping our stakeholders grow with high-quality and cost-efficient products ... Perform additional accounting, finance, and strategic projects as assigned by the CFO REQUIRED ...

Key Skilled Personnel

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Cost Accountant

City Of Industry, CA · On-site

$70K - $85K/yr

Cost Accountant Location: City of Industry, CA Job Type: Full-Time Reports To: Plant Controller Pay ... Plant Controller with special projects and financial analysis. * Maintain accurate procedures ...

Key Skilled Personnel

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Cost Accountant

City Of Industry, CA · On-site

$70K - $85K/yr

Cost Accountant Location: City of Industry, CA Job Type: Full-Time Reports To: Plant Controller Pay ... Plant Controller with special projects and financial analysis. * Maintain accurate procedures ...

FiberTel, LLC

Assistant Project Controller

San Jose, CA · On-site

$24 - $28/hr

The Assistant Project Controller p rovides administrative and accounting support for fiber optic ... and job cost reporting. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, and interested in ...

Level 10 Construction

Senior Project Manager

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$155K - $200K/yr

... controlling all resources for the successful execution of a project. The Senior Project Manager ... Sets safety, quality, schedule, cost and owner relationship * Provides input and supervises all pre ...

Conexus

Controller

Fullerton, CA · On-site

$165K - $185K/yr

Manage inventory and cost accounting related to vehicle upfitting and equipment installation ... Contribute to departments and Company on special projects. Requirements: * Bachelor's degree in ...

PSG Global Solutions

Cost Accountant

Brea, CA

$30 - $35/hr

Company Description For over 70 years, Yoh has provided the talent needed for the jobs and projects ... The Cost Accountant will support the Controller in executing cost accounting functions and assist ...

Soffa Electric Inc

Assistant Controller

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$95K - $105K/yr

Work with project managers and operations to resolve missing or inaccurate job-cost information ... Financial Reporting * Assist the Controller with preparation of monthly financial statements and ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsProject Cost Controller JobsProject Cost Controller Jobs in California

Project Cost Controller information

See California salary details

$35K

$97K

$146.1K

How much do project cost controller jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for project cost controller in California is $96,990.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,100.00 and $117,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a project cost controller?

To thrive as a Project Cost Controller, you need strong analytical skills, financial acumen, and a background in engineering, finance, or accounting, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with project management software (like Primavera or MS Project), ERP systems, and cost control tools, as well as certifications such as AACE or PMP, is highly valuable. Excellent attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and clear communication are critical soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure accurate cost tracking, effective budget management, and informed decision-making, all of which are essential for project success.

How does a project cost controller typically interact with other departments to ensure accurate budgeting and forecasting?

As a Project Cost Controller, collaboration with various departments such as engineering, procurement, and project management is essential to gather up-to-date cost data and project progress information. Regular meetings and status updates help ensure that estimates reflect actual expenditures and anticipated changes. By maintaining open communication channels, the Cost Controller can promptly identify potential budget overruns or savings and advise stakeholders accordingly. This collaborative approach not only supports accurate forecasting but also fosters a proactive problem-solving environment.

What does a project cost controller do?

A Project Cost Controller is responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting the financial progress of a project. They work closely with project managers and stakeholders to ensure that projects are completed within budget by tracking expenses, forecasting costs, and identifying areas of potential savings or overruns. Their role involves preparing cost estimates, managing budgets, and generating regular financial reports to support decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

What is the difference between Project Cost Controller vs Cost Analyst?

AspectProject Cost ControllerCost Analyst
CredentialsRelevant certifications (e.g., PMP, CAPM), finance or accounting degreesFinance or accounting degrees, certifications like CMA or CPA beneficial
Work EnvironmentConstruction, engineering, or project-based industriesCorporate finance, manufacturing, or consulting firms
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in industries managing large projects with budgetsUsed across industries for budgeting and cost analysis
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding project-specific cost control rolesAnalyzing cost data for financial decision-making

The Project Cost Controller focuses on managing and monitoring costs within specific projects, ensuring budgets are adhered to. In contrast, the Cost Analyst analyzes overall cost data to support financial planning and decision-making across the organization. Both roles require financial expertise but differ in scope and application.

Is a project cost controller a good job?

A project cost controller is a valuable role responsible for managing project budgets, monitoring expenses, and ensuring financial efficiency. It often requires skills in financial analysis, attention to detail, and proficiency with tools like spreadsheets or project management software. The job can offer stable employment and opportunities for advancement in industries such as construction, engineering, and manufacturing.

What are popular job titles related to Project Cost Controller jobs in California?

For Project Cost Controller jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Project Cost Controller jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Project Cost Controller jobs in California are:

Project Cost Controller jobs near you
Infographic showing various Project Cost Controller job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $96,990 per year, or $46.6 per hour.

Controller

Mynt Systems

Santa Cruz, CA • On-site

$115K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 8 days ago

Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Department: Finance & Accounting
Reports To: CFO / COO
Location: 111 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA (Hybrid)
FLSA Status: Exempt
Compensation: $115,000 - $140,000, based on experience
About MYNT
MYNT Systems is a vertically integrated energy company built to lead the global energy transition by uniting engineering, construction, analytics, and long-term asset operations under one roof. Unlike fragmented market players, we originate, engineer, construct, and manage high-complexity, clean-energy infrastructure with an operator's mindset and an investor's discipline. We focus on rigorous performance and full lifecycle control of energy assets to de-risk capital, deliver measurable returns for clients, and scale a new standard for dependable, clean power in the rapidly growing distributed energy market.
Role Summary
The Controller is responsible for the full accounting operations of MYNT Systems and its related entities. This role owns the month-end close, financial reporting, job cost accounting, payroll oversight, and internal controls. Beyond execution, the Controller is expected to evaluate existing systems and processes critically, identifying gaps, recommending improvements, and leading implementation when systems need to be replaced or restructured.
This is a hands-on role in a lean finance team. The Controller works closely with the COO/CFO and collaborates with project management, HR (including payroll function oversight), and operations to ensure financial data is accurate, timely, and decision-useful.
Core Responsibilities
Financial Close & Reporting
  • Own the full month-end close cycle, including journal entries, accruals, and balance sheet reconciliations
  • Produce monthly financial statements and management reports on a defined close calendar
  • Maintain dual reporting methodology: earned revenue basis for internal management reporting; billed basis for lender and bonding reporting
  • Prepare and maintain WIP schedules, over/under billing analysis, and job cost reports by project
  • Support year-end close and coordinate with external CPA firm for tax preparation and audit
  • Develop management reporting that goes beyond accuracy into actionable insight, including margin analysis by project, business unit performance, and trend identification
  • Develop and maintain financial KPIs for project performance, operational efficiency, and business unit profitability
  • Produce monthly Backlog Analysis and Progress Billing Summary reports, flagging variances and anomalies to CFO/COO
  • Maintain over/under billing analysis as a standalone deliverable
  • Own the monthly Earned Revenue Workbook, including pulling Job Summary Reports from Jonas, reconciling milestone vs. earned revenue basis, and ensuring monthly financial statements reflect ASC 606 revenue recognition

Job Cost & Construction Accounting
  • Maintain job cost accounting across all active projects using Jonas Premier (ERP)
  • Validate earned revenue monthly using Job Summary Reports (JSR) in accordance with ASC 606 percent-complete methodology
  • Partner with Project Management and field operations to ensure cost coding accuracy, change order tracking, time card accuracy, and budget vs. actual visibility
  • Identify and escalate job cost variances and margin erosion in a timely manner
  • Manage grant revenue recognition for clean energy incentives (CALeVIP, CEC, ITC) including supporting documentation and AJEs
  • Establish and maintain warranty reserve accounting policies, including determination of reserve amounts, timing of accrual, and release methodology; ensure reserves are properly reflected in job cost, WIP, and earned revenue calculations

Accounts Payable, Receivable & Payroll
  • Oversee AP, AR, and subcontractor payment processes; ensure compliance with conditional and unconditional lien waiver requirements
  • Oversee field payroll processing, prevailing wage compliance, and certified payroll submission in coordination with payroll provider (Bizhaven/Paylocity) and external compliance firm (PWC); review prevailing wage payroll batches before release and certified payroll submissions before DIR filing
  • Oversee payroll provider (Bizhaven) for payroll processing function, including bi-weekly payroll batches, time card approval workflow, prevailing wage payroll, and certified payroll
  • Review and approve payroll batches before release; serve as primary point of accountability for payroll accuracy
  • Oversee fringe benefit accounting and remittance tied to IBEW signatory obligations, including reconciliation against Jonas burden rates
  • Support ITC/PWA documentation package for placed-in-service projects, including running ratio reconciliation and records retention
  • Manage owner draws, intercompany transactions, and related-entity accounting across MYNT Systems, AMPS-EV I LLC, and real estate holding entity

Internal Controls & Compliance
  • Design, document, and enforce accounting policies and internal controls
  • Maintain fixed asset register and depreciation schedules (book depreciation managed in-house)
  • Support banking, bonding, lender, and insurance broker relationships, including preparation of financial packages and WIP certifications
  • Ensure compliance with California sales and use tax, contractor license requirements, and relevant employment tax obligations
  • Own records retention policy enforcement, including ITC/PWA-specific documentation requirements
  • Review vendor and subcontractor contracts for financial terms (payment, indemnity caps, LDs, retention) and coordinate subcontractor financial vetting
  • Develop and maintain written accounting policies and memos for non-routine matters (CIP, warranty accounting, cost capitalization, inter-company transfers)

Financial Systems Architecture & Process Design
  • Own the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of financial processes and reporting infrastructure. This includes maintaining existing systems (labor reclassification, earned revenue reconciliation, cash flow dashboards) and building new processes to support evolving business needs
  • Identify reporting and accounting gaps; translate business questions into financial analyses and systems that provide decision-useful information to leadership
  • Build scalable accounting infrastructure that supports growth without proportional increases in manual effort or complexity
  • Evaluate accounting systems, tools, and workflows on a recurring basis-not just for accuracy, but for fitness as the company scales
  • Identify when processes need to be replaced rather than improved; develop and execute transition plans
  • Partner with COO/CFO on system selection, ERP configuration, and financial process design

Vendor & External Partner Oversight
  • Serve as primary point of accountability for finance-adjacent external vendors, including Biz Ops (Higherring), Prevailing Wage/Compliance firm (PWC), and payroll processing function at HR vendor (Bizhaven)
  • Review vendor deliverables for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with MYNT standards before any external submission or executive distribution
  • Manage recurring vendor scope, performance, and SLA compliance; surface scope or performance issues to CFO/COO
  • Oversee fleet cost management, including registration, insurance certificates, and personal-use imputation (in partnership with Construction Manager for operational day-to-day)
  • Oversee insurance policy management and annual renewal coordination across all non-HR policies
  • Oversee vendor and software license management, including procurement and renewal decisions within approved budget
  • Note: HR-side vendor relationship with Bizhaven (handbook, OSHA, workplace investigations, benefits compliance, AB 1825, onboarding/offboarding) remains with COO/CFO; Controller oversight is scoped to the payroll processing function only

Leadership & Team Development
  • Manage and develop accounting staff (currently 1-2 direct reports)
  • Build team capacity through documentation, cross-training, and clear process ownership
  • Serve as a resource to operations, project management, and HR on finance-related questions
  • Partner with department leaders (PM, Sales, Field Operations) on financial visibility, project profitability, and operational decision-making
  • Operate as accountable owner (A) for accounting deliverables produced by the Finance Manager (R), including review, approval, and quality control before any external distribution or executive reporting
  • Hold recurring weekly meetings with the Finance Manager for accounting review, guidance, and ongoing development

Requirements
Qualifications
Required
  • 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 2 years in a controller or senior accounting leadership role
  • Construction industry accounting experience, including job costing, WIP reporting, and percent-complete revenue recognition (ASC 606)
  • Strong knowledge of GAAP and construction accounting principles
  • Experience with a construction ERP (Jonas Premier, Sage 300 CRE, Foundation, Viewpoint, or equivalent)
  • Demonstrated ability to evaluate and improve-or replace-accounting systems and processes
  • Proficiency in Excel, including reconciliation and reporting model development
  • Familiarity with California prevailing wage and certified payroll requirements
  • Experience managing or overseeing external service providers, including accountability for vendor deliverable quality and scope
  • Experience overseeing payroll processing in a multi-jurisdiction or prevailing wage environment

Preferred
  • Experience with IBEW or other union payroll and benefit fund reporting
  • Experience with multi-entity accounting and intercompany eliminations
  • Familiarity with solar, electrical contracting, or renewable energy EPC contractors
  • Experience supporting bonding and lender financial reporting
What We're Looking For
  • Systems thinker. You see friction as signal.
  • Improvement vs. replacement instinct. You know when to fix a process and when to replace it.
  • Discipline. You close on time, every time, and you make it better each cycle.
  • Range. You can explain a WIP schedule to a project manager and a covenant calculation to a lender.
  • Curiosity. You want to understand the business, not just the books.
  • Ownership. You are direct, accountable, and don't need hand-holding.
Direct Reports
  • Finance Manager
Working Conditions
  • Supplemental Information to Assist Organizations In Their Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • http://www.niqca.org/documents/ADAPhysicalRequirementsChecklist.pdf
Physical Requirements
  • Supplemental Information to Assist Organizations In Their Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • http://www.niqca.org/documents/ADAPhysicalRequirementsChecklist.pdf
General Benefits*
  • Access to medical, dental, vision, life, EAP and 401K.
  • Up to 42 hours of paid Continued Education for learning and supporting your personal and professional growth.
  • $1,000 annual professional development stipend.
  • Cell phone reimbursement.
  • Laptop reimbursement.
  • 1 week vacation at 6 months of continuous employment.
  • Unlimited vacation after 1+ year tenure.

*All subject to probationary period
Working at MYNT
At MYNT, we are more than just a vertically integrated energy company; we are a community of innovative problem-solvers dedicated to leading the global energy transition. Our culture is built on the foundation of Empowering People and Growth, where we prioritize our team members and champion their potential with unwavering integrity.
We thrive in a collaborative, team-based environment that embraces healthy debate. We challenge one another to perform at our best, believing that Bold Curiosity and a "Whatever It Takes" attitude are essential to driving solutions and resolving roadblocks. At MYNT, we encourage you to show up, work hard, and embrace growth-which includes the freedom to make mistakes, learn, and do better, all while creating a community that shows up for each other, respects one another, and has a good time doing it.
MYNT Systems is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

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