Assistant Controller

Company Summary

Bowen Engineering Corporation is a self-performing general contractor headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with regional offices in Evansville and Valparaiso, Indiana; Columbus, Ohio; Franklin, Tennessee; Glen Burnie, Maryland; and Pittsboro, North Carolina. Bowen serves clients throughout the Southern, Midwestern, and Eastern United States, with a primary focus on the construction of water and wastewater treatment facilities and power generation and industrial plants. Projects range from short-duration work to multi-year programs, and Bowen self-performs with union craft labor.

Bowen Engineering Corporation is a wholly owned operating subsidiary of BEC Holding Company, which also owns several related subsidiaries that support Bowen’s construction activities and an additional operating subsidiary serving the combustion and emissions equipment market. The Company pursues growth through its traditional water and energy markets, emerging markets, and selective mergers and acquisitions.

Position Summary

The Assistant Controller supports the Chief Financial Officer in managing the accounting functions of the Company, with primary responsibility for construction-specific accounting — including work-in-progress (WIP) production and analysis, job cost accounting, joint venture accounting, and the month-end close. The Assistant Controller leads the construction accounting and financial statement close function in producing accurate, timely, and compliant financial information that enables management, shareholders, and other stakeholders to make informed economic decisions about the Company’s operations and future direction. The Payroll and Accounts Payable / Accounts Receivable functions report directly to the Chief Financial Officer and are not within the scope of this position; the Assistant Controller partners closely with those functions to ensure a coordinated month-end close and consistent application of accounting policies across the department.

Position Responsibilities

Strategic and Financial Planning

• Support the Chief Financial Officer in planning the objectives, methods, and resources for the short- and long-range financial operations of the Company.
• Support the Company’s budgeting process.
• Support forecasting in partnership with Project Managers.
• Support financial due diligence on mergers and acquisitions, with primary responsibility for the analysis of target work-in-progress, job cost detail, percentage-of-completion accounting, and other construction-specific financial considerations.

Department Leadership

• Lead, develop, and mentor the accounting team — including the Accounting Manager and accounting staff responsible for general ledger, project accounting, and financial reporting — through a Servant Leadership approach that prioritizes the growth, success, and well-being of team members. Servant Leadership is foundational to how Bowen leads, and is essential to success in this role.
• Support hiring, performance, and development decisions within the accounting team, in coordination with the Chief Financial Officer.
• Partner with the Payroll Manager and AP/AR Manager (who report to the Chief Financial Officer) to ensure coordinated month-end close, accurate cost recognition, and consistent application of accounting policies across the department.
• Help establish, monitor, and enforce accounting policies and procedures within the accounting team to guide financial decisions and protect Company assets.

Financial Reporting and Compliance

• Lead the month-end close process, including financial statement preparation, account reconciliations, investment reporting, billing accruals, and preparation and review of the Work-In-Progress (WIP) schedule.
• Prepare consolidated reporting across BEC Holding Company and its subsidiaries.
• Manage accounting and financial reporting for the Company’s joint venture interests, including coordination with joint venture partners and preparation of related entries and disclosures.
• Deliver monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting to external entities, including compliance reporting.
• Oversee tax compliance, including gross receipts, sales/use, and property tax filings, and federal and state income tax filings prepared in coordination with the Company’s external tax preparer.
• Manage state business filings, including annual reports and licensing renewals, across the Company’s operating jurisdictions.
• Manage multiemployer pension plan contribution administration and related reporting, including Forms 5500 coordination.
• Ensure annual review of shop assets.

Operational Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary lead for the annual independent audit of Bowen Engineering Corporation and the annual independent review of BEC Holding Company, including coordination with external auditors and remediation of findings.
• Manage benefit payment processes.
• Analyze job costs to identify problem areas and develop recommended solutions, in partnership with Project Managers and Operations.
• Serve as the secondary contact for banking relationships; the Chief Financial Officer maintains primary relationship management. Manage related operational processes, including credit card administration, wire transfer approval, and check management and review.
• Evaluate and implement automation tools, including emerging AI applications, to improve efficiency and accuracy in accounting and financial reporting processes.

Technical Competencies

• Accounting skills — Broad understanding of accounting technical issues, with particular depth in construction accounting (percentage of completion, WIP, job cost, joint ventures, multi-entity consolidation), and the ability to stay current with new accounting rules and regulations.
• IT and automation skills — Ability to stay current with new concepts, techniques, tools, and technologies, including emerging automation and AI applications relevant to accounting and finance.

Competencies

• Servant Leadership — Leading, developing, and delegating to team members in a way that prioritizes their growth, success, and well-being. Foundational to leadership at Bowen.
• Strong interpersonal skills — Team-building, conflict management, and influencing and negotiating effectively across the organization.
• Strategic agility — Flexibility and the ability to adapt and respond effectively to changing circumstances.
• Communication skills — Strong written, oral, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate financial information effectively to non-finance audiences.
• Problem-solving skills — A critical and methodical approach to identifying and resolving issues.
• Change management skills — The ability to assess and facilitate change within the organization.
• Risk management skills — Understanding the sources of risk and evaluating methods for control and mitigation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related business field.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
• Three or more years of management or supervisory experience.
• Seven or more years of practical work experience.
• Progressive and well-rounded experience in the heavy construction industry or a related project-oriented field.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and lift up to 25 pounds (e.g., files, boxes of documents).

Preferred

• Demonstrated experience with percentage-of-completion accounting, WIP schedules, and job cost analysis.
• Experience with multi-entity consolidated reporting.
• Experience with joint venture accounting under the equity method.
• Viewpoint software experience.

Bowen Benefits:

• Competitive Base Salary
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• PTO from Day 1
• 7 Paid Holidays (plus 6 additional half-days), 1 Community Day, 1 Floating Holiday
• Paid Parental Leave
• Annual Discretionary Bonuses
• Employer-paid Life Insurance with supplemental options
• 401k with Company Match
• HSA and FSA options
• Employee Referral Program
• Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Short and Long-Term Disability
• Family Planning and Adoption Assistance
• Education Reimbursement