Controller - California

Cobalt Service Partners · Los Angeles, San Francisco

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Cobalt Service Partners (CSP) is building the nation's leading commercial access and security integration platform. Backed by Alpine Investors, a middle-market private equity firm, we grow by acquiring businesses that install, maintain, and repair commercial gates, doors, loading docks, and integrated security systems.

Since launching in late 2023, Cobalt has acquired 22 partner companies and established itself in a highly attractive and fragmented industry. We have done this by partnering with founder-led companies that have spent decades earning trust in their local markets. Our mission is to honor those legacies, enhance operations through disciplined execution, and drive growth through high-frequency M&A. 

The Role

In-Person 

Our Controllers own accounting for a group of operating companies: GAAP-compliant financial close, payroll, internal and external reporting, the annual audit, and the financial analysis and EBITDA reporting that drives operating decisions. Our companies are project-based, so revenue recognition, job costing, and cash discipline sit at the center of the work. Many of our companies are newly acquired, so you'll also be tightening controls, upgrading processes, and in some cases converting from cash to accrual.

What You'll Own

• Close & reporting. Run a monthly close that delivers GAAP financial statements and the Cobalt reporting package within 7 business days. Maintain the GL and chart of accounts, reconcile all balance sheet accounts, and explain material variances to budget, forecast, and prior periods. Document judgment areas like accruals, revenue recognition, and inventory.
• Project revenue & WIP. Manage revenue recognition under ASC 606, including percentage-of-completion. Prepare the monthly WIP schedule and lead WIP reviews with project managers and estimators on change orders, cost-to-complete, over/under billings, and projected margin.
• Job costing. Own margin visibility by job. Flag erosion, overruns, and projected losses early, and compare completed jobs against estimates to sharpen pricing.
• Billing, collections & cash. Make sure all billable work (AIA/progress, service, inspection, T&M) goes out promptly and correctly. Manage retainage, unbilled revenue, and AR aging. Maintain a rolling 13-week cash forecast and raise shortfalls or covenant risks early.
• Planning & analysis. Lead the annual budget and monthly forecast of revenue, gross margin, and EBITDA by department (new construction, service, inspection). Prepare monthly EBITDA reporting, including adjusted EBITDA and bridges to budget and prior year, and track lender covenants. Build business cases for major investments like fleet, equipment, and facilities.
• Inventory. Maintain controls over inventory transfers, job returns, and obsolete material. Run cycle counts and physical inventories.
• Controls & compliance. Enforce three-way match on POs, receiving, and invoices; segregation of duties; and verification of vendor payment changes. Keep payroll, certified payroll/prevailing wage, tax, licensing, insurance, and bonding requirements current.
• Audit & tax. Own year-end close and audit support, and partner with the Cobalt finance team and tax advisors on the consolidated return.
• Team. Oversee payroll, AP, and AR processing, and supervise and develop accounting staff where a team exists. Recommend people, process, and system improvements.

What We're Looking For

• 7+ years of technical accounting experience in public accounting, audit/assurance, or complex operational accounting, including inventory and job costing.
• Strong command of GAAP, including project revenue recognition (ASC 606), percentage-of-completion, and work-in-process accounting.
• Experience building budgets and forecasts and reporting EBITDA to ownership, lenders, or a parent company.
• Experience with construction or mid-market ERPs and payroll platforms, plus the ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Advanced Excel skills, including lookups, pivots, and building models from messy data.
• A track record of bringing structure to ambiguity and communicating clearly with non-finance operators.

Preferred

• CPA
• Experience at a mid-sized construction or project-based company
• PE-backed or multi-entity experience
• People management experience

Why Cobalt

• A high-growth, PE-backed platform where finance is close to the business and your work drives real operating decisions.
• The chance to build and strengthen finance processes as we scale across a growing set of companies.
• Competitive base salary and performance-based bonus, benchmarked to your market and the scope of the seat.
• Full health benefits, 401(k) with match, paid time off, paid holidays, life and disability coverage, and professional development support.

Cobalt Service Partners and its operating companies are equal opportunity employers. Employment is at-will.  

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