Controller - Clean Energy & Renewable Energy

AlphaHire • Santa Cruz, CA

1d

About The Position

We are a growing project-based contractor seeking an experienced Controller to lead accounting and financial operations. The role requires a strong construction accounting background, hands-on experience with union and prevailing-wage payroll compliance, and a proven ability to lead ERP implementations and establish scalable financial processes. The Controller manages a broad range of accounting functions, strengthens financial controls, and partners with project managers and executive leadership to support profitability and business growth. Clean-energy or renewable-energy experience is preferred but not required.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of progressive accounting or finance experience in a Controller, Assistant Controller, or comparable senior accounting role.
• Direct accounting experience with a construction company or contractor.
• Strong knowledge of construction job costing, WIP reporting, and percentage-of-completion accounting.
• Hands-on experience with union and prevailing-wage payroll compliance, including certified payroll, fringe benefit reporting, and multi-local wage requirements.
• Proven experience leading an ERP implementation, accounting system migration, conversion, or consolidation.
• Experience developing or improving accounting processes, financial controls, and reporting systems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage intercompany transactions, reconciliations, and elimination entries.
• Strong financial statement analysis skills, including the ability to identify discrepancies, investigate variances, and explain financial performance.
• Experience working in a small-to-midsized business and ability to work independently across a broad range of finance responsibilities.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with project managers, operations teams, and executive leadership.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in clean energy, solar, EV infrastructure, microgrids, renewable energy, or related infrastructure sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead core accounting operations, including the general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, project billing, account reconciliations, month-end close, and financial reporting.
• Oversee construction accounting, including job costing, work-in-progress schedules, percentage-of-completion accounting, cost-to-complete analysis, and project margin tracking.
• Manage union and prevailing-wage payroll compliance, including certified payroll submissions, fringe benefit reporting, and multi-union wage requirements.
• Analyze financial statements, investigate variances, identify financial risks, and communicate findings to leadership.
• Manage intercompany accounting across affiliated entities, including transaction tracking, reconciliations, and elimination entries.
• Lead ERP implementations and accounting system transitions, including migration planning, data conversion, testing, system integration, and post-launch improvements.
• Develop and strengthen financial processes by establishing accounting policies, internal controls, reporting standards, and efficient workflows.
• Prepare budgets and forecasts, including cash-flow projections and financial models, to support business planning and decision-making.
• Partner with project managers and operations leaders to monitor project costs, billing, cash flow, margins, and overall profitability.
• Provide financial analysis and recommendations to support operational and strategic decisions.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting accuracy, internal controls, and accounting efficiency.
• Build scalable accounting systems and processes to support continued growth while maintaining ownership of core financial functions.

Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Health insurance and retirement plan options.
• Paid time off and company-sponsored benefits.
• Opportunity to build, improve, and lead the growing finance function.
• Direct involvement in strategic financial planning and operational decision-making.
• Exposure to complex construction, infrastructure, and clean-energy projects.
• Professional development and long-term career advancement opportunities.
• Collaborative environment within a growing clean-energy and infrastructure business.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed