David Dodge, CPC

Controller – Construction Industry

Construction Company Controller

Scenario

Recently, a CPA client of Headwaters Search had a client of their own that needed a new Controller. Headwaters met with their client to work out the position’s requirements and determine the best course of action.

 

Challenge

This construction company was in its tenth year of operation. It was a successor company to one that had previously gone through exponential growth but ceased operations when the housing crisis hit in 2009. The owner was determined not to duplicate some of the aggressive growth mistakes that had contributed to the prior company’s downfall. He had decided to add a key employee to his leadership team who could help manage accounts and accurately report on the organization’s financial condition.

The Controller would be responsible for the company’s accounting and financial reporting and oversee the budgeting process and ongoing cash flow management. This individual will manage a team, partner with other department managers, and help develop and implement a strategic plan. Responsibilities for this critical role included:

  • Managing a small accounting and finance team
  • Aligning the accounting function to the company’s strategic plan
  • Implementing ISO 9000 requirements for process improvements
  • Provide full reporting to leadership, including weekly KPIs and monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports

Along with an advanced degree in accounting, the right candidate would have ten or more years of experience with a small, growing construction firm with financial oversight, including percentage of completion accounting methods.

 

Strategy

Headwaters’ sourcing team developed a comprehensive list of Twin Cities-based construction firms and accounting and finance talent within those organizations. Next, the team created a “Positive Job Profile” (PJP), a marketing document designed to generate candidate interest in the company and opportunity. Recruiters contacted potential candidates to determine their fit and level of interest and sent a PJP to interested and qualified candidates.  

David Dodge, Headwaters’ Managing Partner, then conducted in-depth interviews with the top qualified candidates.

 

Results

David presented several qualified candidates to the company owner. 

One stood out as a very close fit, with over fifteen years of financial leadership experience, including ten years in the construction and remodeling industry and a master’s in business administration. In addition, his experience developing a budget process that aligned with his previous company’s financial goals and business operations was the type of specific experience our client was looking for.

David helped the company owner put together a competitive offer, which was extended and accepted by the candidate. This successful outcome occurred within a month of our initial meeting, a very rapid turnaround and exceptional result. 

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David Dodge, CPC

With over twenty years of executive search and thirty years of business leadership experience in public and private companies, David Dodge has filled positions with many financial industry leaders and forerunners.

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David Dodge, CPC

David is the Twin Cities-based accounting, finance talent, and C-suite level leadership recruiter focusing on small and mid-size businesses. He and his team find impactful candidates—those experienced CEOs, CFOs, and VPs of Finance & Accounting—who can successfully lead organizations and help his client partners realize each one’s professional mission.

David has spent more than 20 years in executive search and has 30 years of business leadership experience in public and private companies. He understands the fundamental importance of filling key positions in a timely manner and has used his deep knowledge of his industry and his community to develop client relationships with multiple firms that depend on him and his team’s bespoke recruitment services to deliver consistent, positive results.

“I gain great satisfaction from seeing the impact a top candidate can have on a mid-size company. Equally satisfying for me is to see an individual’s life positively affected by making a timely and smart career move.”