Controller - Boston

About the role

Cobalt Service Partners (CSP) is building the nation's leading commercial access and security integration platform. Backed by Alpine Investors, a leading 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 successfully acquired 22 partner companies and established itself as one of the leading platforms 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 * Boston, MA Metro

As Controller, you'll own accounting for an acquired operating company(s), covering GAAP-compliant financial close, reporting, controls, payroll oversight, the annual audit, and the financial analysis and EBITDA reporting that drives operating decisions. Our businesses are project-based, so revenue recognition, job costing, and cash management are 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. You will be building a finance function and leading the team through the changes that come with joining the Cobalt platform.

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.
• Integration and consolidation. Lead the finance integration of acquired businesses. Align charts of accounts, accounting policies, and processes, and consolidate reporting across entities.
• 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.
• Change management. Guide the team through new systems, policies, and reporting requirements. Explain what's changing and why, train staff, and make sure new processes stick.

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 integrating acquired businesses, including consolidating systems, processes, or reporting across entities
• 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 construction or project-based company
• M&A accounting experience (ASC 805), such as opening balance sheets, purchase price allocation, or working capital true-ups
• PE-backed or multi-entity experience
• Experience managing or supervising others

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.