Job Summary Required Qualifications and Skills
A growing employee-owned design and professional services organization is seeking an experienced Controller for a direct hire opportunity in Santa Barbara, CA. This highly visible leadership role is ideal for an accomplished accounting and finance professional who enjoys leading teams, strengthening financial operations, and partnering with senior leadership to support strategic growth.
The Controller will oversee accounting operations across project accounting, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, collections, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and internal process improvement. Reporting to executive leadership, this role offers the opportunity to influence business strategy, improve systems, and provide meaningful financial insight across the organization.
This is a strong opportunity for a collaborative financial leader who values a people-first culture, supportive leadership, professional development, and the ability to make a measurable impact. The work environment emphasizes teamwork, innovation, flexibility, respect, and shared success.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting team across project accounting, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and collections.
- Oversee timely and accurate month-end and year-end close processes, financial statements, reporting, and accounting controls.
- Manage annual budgeting, business planning, cash flow analysis, forecasting, and financial planning activities.
- Partner with principals, market sector leaders, management, and senior leadership to support strategic business goals.
- Identify and implement improvements to accounting systems, processes, tools, internal controls, and operational efficiency.
- Provide financial insight, analysis, and guidance to support informed leadership decision-making.
Compensation and Benefits
- Direct hire opportunity.
- Salary range: $120,000 to $150,000 per year, depending on qualifications, skills, and experience.
- Flexible work environment.
- Support for professional development and continued growth.
- Employee-owned, people-first culture with the opportunity to contribute to and share in organizational success.
- Lead accounting operations and manage financial reporting, close processes, budgeting, and forecasting.
- Develop and mentor a high-performing accounting team across multiple functional areas.
- Partner with senior leadership and business leaders to support strategic planning and financial performance.
- Improve accounting systems, processes, controls, and operational efficiency.
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- At least 10 years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
- Approximately 5 to 6 years of Controller-level experience.
- Experience with project accounting.
- Strong financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and reporting skills.
- Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop accounting teams.
- Excellent organizational, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to work effectively with executive leadership and provide clear financial guidance.
Preferred Qualifications
- CPA certification.
- Experience in an ESOP or employee-owned organization.
- Knowledge of AEC industry accounting, FAR requirements, or prevailing wage environments.
- Experience with Unanet.
- Previous experience within architecture, engineering, surveying, landscape architecture, planning, or related professional services environments.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans
The Know Your Rights poster is available here:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf
The pay transparency policy is available here:
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf
For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AppleOne is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.
AppleOne participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf
We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.