At Colas Construction (COLAS), we believe every employee plays a vital role in our mission: to build legacies and strengthen communities. We value collaboration, adaptability, and a team-first mindset. We are seeking an …
Skills: Construction Accounting, GAAP, Financial Reporting, ASC 606, ASC 842
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Full-time
bachelor degree
Health Insurance, Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, 401(k) Plan With Employer Match, Paid Sick Leave
Posted 28d ago
Apply by Oct 1
~40 hrs/week
Responsibilities
Lead the monthly financial close process and ensure the accuracy of GAAP-compliant financial statements and reporting packages. Oversee construction revenue recognition, WIP integrity, and the governance of accounts payable and fixed assets.
Requirements
Requires a bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance and at least 5 years of progressive construction accounting experience. Must be proficient in construction ERPs and have deep knowledge of ASC 606 and ASC 842 standards.
Full job description
At Colas Construction (COLAS), we believe every employee plays a vital role in our mission: to build legacies and strengthen communities. We value collaboration, adaptability, and a team-first mindset.
We are seeking an Assistant Controller to partner closely with the Controller and operational leaders to ensure the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of COLAS’s accounting operations, including general ledger and financial close, construction revenue and project accounting, accounts payable, and fixed assets and specialized accounting. This position plays a critical role in producing financial statements and reporting packages that lenders, sureties, and internal leaders can rely on, and in ensuring that the job cost and transactional data driving operational decisions is accurate, properly coded, and compliant with accounting standards.
In addition to overseeing execution across these accounting functions, the Assistant Controller serves as the primary technical accounting resource for the specialists operating within them, providing guidance on accounting treatment, policy interpretation, internal controls, and system logic to support accurate and efficient operations within a strong control environment. The role requires strong construction accounting expertise and deep familiarity with the downstream financial and operational impact of transactional accuracy.
The ideal candidate brings a strong technical accounting foundation, construction industry experience, sound professional judgment, and the leadership capability to support a high-performing accounting function in a growing, operationally complex environment.
Primary Responsibilities
Close Execution & Financial Reporting: lead monthly financial close from kickoff through finalized, GAAP-compliant financial statements across all COLAS entities; prepare additional financial reports and clearly communicate financial information synthesized for comprehension by financial and non-financial stakeholders.
WIP Integrity & Construction Revenue Recognition: maintain the WIP schedule as a current operational document, actively monitoring job cost entry and commitment tracking, validating percent-complete estimates with project teams, and incorporating defensible cost-to-complete assumptions.
General Ledger & Balance Sheet Governance: maintain reconciled balance sheets across all entities in accordance with GAAP and accounting best practices ; govern journal entry preparation and intercompany eliminations with clear supporting calculations.
Procure-to-Pay & Vendor Governance: govern the full AP cycle, vendor management, and corporate card spending, maintaining audit trail standards across all payment methods and treating the vendor master as a fraud control point.
Fixed Assets, Leases & Specialized Accounting: maintain audit-ready fixed asset subledger-to-GL reconciliation, administer ASC 842 lease accounting across all equipment and facility leases, ensure adequate burden allocation and internal equipment rate structures, and oversee equity-method accounting positions where applicable.
Technical Authority & Staff Development: serve as the primary technical resource for direct-report staff and identify and address the root cause of recurring escalation patterns that signal training needs, process gaps, or system interventions.
Internal Controls & Audit Coordination: maintain audit readiness as a continuous state, proactively coordinating and preparing prepared-by-client documentation and identifying and promptly escalating control deficiencies to the Controller with proposed remediation.
Team Leadership & Bench Development: evaluate and develop direct-report staff across transactional and technical accounting functions with visible growth pathways, setting role-level expectations and building bench depth against single-point-of-failure risk.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or closely related field required.
Minimum of 5 years of progressive accounting experience in the construction industry environment, preferably general contracting with design-build and CM/GC contract types.
AP cycle management, including commitment matching and vendor master governance.
Applied ASC 606 revenue recognition in a construction WIP accounting context.
Multi-entity monthly close management, including intercompany eliminations and consolidation financial statement preparation, and preferably with equity-method JV/consortium accounting.
Advanced knowledge of GAAP, financial controls, fraud prevention practices, tax regulations, and construction industry accounting standards.
Experience managing and developing accounting staff, with demonstrated capacity to provide transactional and technical accounting guidance beyond review of outputs.
Foundation, Viewpoint, Sage, Acumatica Construction, or comparable construction ERP proficiency.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Construction Cost Intelligence
Technical Authority & Judgment
Decision Quality Under Ambiguity
Analytical Rigor & Investigative Discipline
Close Design & Scalable Process Thinking
Execution Reliability & Operational Discipline
Control Environment Ownership
Proactive Risk Communication
Cross-Functional Partnership
Organizational Influence
Continuous Improvement Orientation
Team Development & Succession Readiness
Environment & Physical Activities
The physical and work environment requirements described below are representative of those necessary to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities on a case-by-case basis.
This position is primarily office-based and typically works Monday through Friday, averaging 8-10 hours per day at the Colas Construction Headquarters.
While performing the duties of this role, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, communicate, and use standard computer and office equipment. Occasional repetitive hand and wrist movement may be required. The employee may occasionally lift or carry items up to 20 pounds.
This role may also require occasional visits to active construction project sites. Employees visiting job sites must be able to navigate uneven terrain and comply with all required safety procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.
ABOUT US
COLAS is a second-generation, family-owned general contractor with a long-term perspective on every project it builds. Guided by a strong sense of stewardship for people, partners, and place, COLAS is committed to delivering high-quality construction, advancing sustainable practices, expanding equitable access to opportunity, and creating lasting community impact.
Our mission: to build legacies and strengthen communities
Our core values are our S.E.E.D.S:
Spirited: We lead with energy, optimism, and passion.
Enlightened: We stay curious, thoughtful, and open to growth.
Effective: We focus on results and deliver with excellence.
Dedicated: We follow through with care, commitment, and integrity.
Synergetic: We succeed by working together.
BENEFITS At Colas Construction, we believe in investing in our employees' well-being and professional growth. We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you both personally and professionally. Our benefits include and are not limited to:
Health Insurance: 100% employer-paid employee coverage for robust medical, dental, and vision insurance with multiple plan options
Retirement: 401(k) plan with employer match
Paid Time Off: generously paid sick, vacation, personal, and holiday days off
Professional Development: annual allowance for continued education and training
Additional Perks: Benefit from various additional perks, such as company vehicles for certain roles, travel allowances, and flexible working hours to help balance life and work commitments.
Our goal is to create a supportive and enriching work environment where you can thrive. Become part of Colas Construction and contribute to our success while enjoying the benefits of a company that truly cares about its employees. Colas Construction, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer. We value equitable hiring practices and adhere to a policy of making employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, or disability. We assure you that employment with COLAS depends solely on your qualifications.
Thank you for your interest in COLAS, where we are Building Tomorrow, Today!
At Colas Construction (COLAS), we are raising the standard for quality construction with a focus on sustainability, equity, and access to opportunity—we build to inspire community. We prioritize people over profits and take pride in being a leader in commercial real estate and construction.
Our story began in 1997 in Portland, Oregon, a city we proudly call home. Today, our work extends throughout the Portland Metro and SW Washington, building community through projects that make a lasting impact.
Founded by Hermann Colas, Jr., a scholar, U.S. Veteran, and proud Haitian American, COLAS remains true to its values: we build with excellence, integrity, and purpose, dedicating resources to lift others as we climb.
COLAS is honored to be recognized as the #1 Most Admired Company in Commercial Real Estate & Development (2024) and to have been named among Oregon’s Most Admired Companies each consecutive year since 2018 by the Portland Business Journal. We are also proud that our Centennial Place Apartments project was named Top Project of the Year (2024) by DJC Oregon. As the only construction firm to earn both the Outstanding Rose Award and the Grand Rose Award by AGC Oregon for safety in construction (2020 and 2021), COLAS is proud to be nationally known for safety, sustainability, and excellence, reflecting our unwavering commitment to our mission: to build legacies and strengthen communities.
At COLAS, we’re Building Tomorrow, Today!
Offices: 1419 NW 14th Ave, Portland, Oregon 97209, US
Construction ManagementDesign BuildSustainable ConstructionNew ConstructionRenovationTenant ImprovementRemodelAffordable HousingIndustrialPrivate Development
At Colas Construction (COLAS), we are raising the standard for quality construction with a focus on sustainability, equity, and access to opportunity—we build to inspire community. We prioritize people over profits and take pride in being a leader in commercial real estate and construction.
Our story began in 1997 in Portland, Oregon, a city we proudly call home. Today, our work extends throughout the Portland Metro and SW Washington, building community through projects that make a lasting impact.
Founded by Hermann Colas, Jr., a scholar, U.S. Veteran, and proud Haitian American, COLAS remains true to its values: we build with excellence, integrity, and purpose, dedicating resources to lift others as we climb.
COLAS is honored to be recognized as the #1 Most Admired Company in Commercial Real Estate & Development (2024) and to have been named among Oregon’s Most Admired Companies each consecutive year since 2018 by the Portland Business Journal. We are also proud that our Centennial Place Apartments project was named Top Project of the Year (2024) by DJC Oregon. As the only construction firm to earn both the Outstanding Rose Award and the Grand Rose Award by AGC Oregon for safety in construction (2020 and 2021), COLAS is proud to be nationally known for safety, sustainability, and excellence, reflecting our unwavering commitment to our mission: to build legacies and strengthen communities.
At COLAS, we’re Building Tomorrow, Today!
Offices: 1419 NW 14th Ave, Portland, Oregon 97209, US
Construction ManagementDesign BuildSustainable ConstructionNew ConstructionRenovationTenant ImprovementRemodelAffordable HousingIndustrialPrivate Development
