If you run a construction company, chances are “accounting” feels like one big bucket. Bills get paid. Payroll runs. Jobs get invoiced. Reports show up. So everything must be fine, right?
For many growing construction businesses, that is where things quietly start to go sideways. As revenue grows and more jobs are running at the same time, the difference between having numbers and trusting numbers becomes painfully clear. That is exactly where an outsourced controller comes in.
Construction Accounting is Not Simple
As companies push past $2M in revenue, accounting becomes more complex. Between job costing, WIP, retainage, and cash flow, a lot is happening behind the scenes. In many companies, all of that responsibility lands on one person. Usually, an operations manager, office admin, or in-house bookkeeper is expected to handle everything.
That’s when you start seeing things like:
- Jobs that looked profitable but were not
- Cash flow surprises, even though the reports say you are making money
- Financials that do not support what is happening in the field
These issues do not go away on their own. They usually get more expensive. It’s at this stage that outside assistance becomes important.
Bookkeeper vs. Controller vs. CFO: What’s the Difference?
A lot of confusion comes from not knowing where one role ends and another begins.
A bookkeeper handles the day-to-day work, including entering bills, running payroll, invoicing jobs, and keeping the system moving. This role is essential, but it is largely transactional and reactive.
A controller is responsible for making sure the numbers are right and that they actually mean something. In construction, that includes job costing, month-end close, and overall financial accuracy. They may also provide guidance to the bookkeeper on how transactions should be entered to support accurate reporting.
A CFO looks further ahead, focusing on long-term planning, financing, bonding relationships, and growth strategy.
For most construction companies in the $2M–$10M range, a controller is the missing piece. A CFO might be overkill, but relying on bookkeeping alone often leaves owners guessing.
Why “Outsourced” Makes Sense for Construction Companies
Most construction companies do not need a full-time controller sitting in the office every day. But they do need consistent expertise and oversight.
That’s where outsourced support makes sense:
- You get senior-level construction accounting experience
- You avoid the cost of a full-time salary and benefits
- Support can scale up or down with your workload
For a project-driven, sometimes seasonal industry, that flexibility matters.
What an Outsourced Controller Does in a Construction Business
An outsourced controller brings experienced oversight without the cost of a full-time hire. They are doing more than just “checking the books.”
In practice, an outsourced controller:
- Makes sure the monthly close actually happens and that it happens correctly
- Reviews job costing so margins do not quietly erode
- Catches issues early, while there is still time to fix them
Think of this role as financial quality control. Someone who makes sure the numbers reflect what is really happening on your jobs.
The Real Impact of a Strong Controller
When the controller role is working the way it should, the difference is noticeable. It can allow you to see clear job profitability by project, not just overall. There will be fewer surprises at the month and year-end, and you will have better visibility into your cash flow.
Here’s a real-life example of how our controller services helped one of our construction clients:
It was late December. Our client is a growing construction company. They wanted to know what bills should be paid and if they could safely run payroll and bonuses before year-end. Missing payroll wasn’t an option, and they did not want to disappoint the team by delaying bonuses either. But they also wanted to make sure they had sufficient cash. Rather than offer a single best guess, our team created two detailed scenarios.
Scenario 1: If additional customer payments were received before year-end
Scenario 2: If no additional customer payments were received before year-end
We built out the cash flow and projected year-end taxable net profit for each scenario. This provided our client with a clear plan for both scenarios. They knew for each scenario which vendor bills to hold or pay, and had a payroll strategy that worked regardless of when payments arrived. Our client said having these two options in place allowed them to enjoy their year-end break without stress.
The difference between a business owner losing sleep over cash flow and one confidently executing their year-end plan often comes down to one thing: having the right numbers in front of them at the right time.
Should You Make the Change?
As construction companies grow, basic accounting often stops keeping up. That is usually the point where additional oversight makes the difference. For many companies, an outsourced controller provides the structure and experience needed to turn financials into something you can trust and use to run the business.
If you are unsure whether you are there yet, our earlier post, Five Signs Your Business Has Outgrown Basic Bookkeeping, walks through the most common indicators we see in growing construction companies. It is a helpful place to start if you are evaluating whether your current accounting setup is still supporting your business.