Controller - Clean Energy & Renewable Energy

AlphaHire • Santa Cruz, CA

21h

About The Position

The company is seeking a hands-on Controller to oversee accounting and financial operations for a growing project-based contractor serving the clean energy, renewable energy, and infrastructure industries. The role is suited to a finance leader with extensive construction accounting experience who can strengthen financial controls, improve reporting, build scalable processes, and partner with operations, project management, and executive leadership.

The Controller will own essential finance and accounting functions in a lean environment, working independently and building processes without relying on a large accounting department. Experience in solar, EV, microgrid, renewable energy, or related infrastructure is a plus but is not required.

Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including experience as a Controller, Assistant Controller, or in a comparable senior-level role.
• Direct accounting experience with a construction company or contractor.
• Strong practical knowledge of construction job costing, WIP schedules, and percentage-of-completion accounting.
• Proven experience managing union and prevailing-wage payroll compliance, including certified payroll, fringe benefit reporting, and multi-local wage requirements.
• Demonstrated experience leading an ERP implementation, accounting system migration, system conversion, or consolidation.
• Track record of developing, rebuilding, or significantly improving accounting processes, internal controls, and financial operations.
• Experience managing intercompany accounting, reconciliations, and eliminations.
• Strong financial statement review and analysis skills, including the ability to identify inconsistencies, unusual activity, trends, and financial exposure.
• Experience in a small-to-midsized organization and ability to operate independently and take ownership of critical finance responsibilities.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with operations teams, project managers, and executive leadership.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Direct daily accounting operations, including general ledger management, accounts payable and receivable, billing, account reconciliations, month-end close, and financial reporting.
• Oversee construction job costing and WIP reporting, including percentage-of-completion revenue recognition, cost-to-complete estimates, project margins, and cost variance analysis.
• Manage union and prevailing-wage payroll requirements, including certified payroll submissions, fringe benefit reporting, and wage and rate requirements across multiple union locals.
• Prepare, review, and interpret financial statements, investigating unusual transactions, discrepancies, financial trends, and potential risks.
• Manage intercompany transactions, account reconciliations, and elimination entries across affiliated entities.
• Lead ERP implementations, system migrations, conversions, consolidations, and other major accounting technology transitions.
• Oversee data migration, system testing, implementation planning, workflow configuration, and post-implementation process improvements.
• Establish and refine accounting procedures, internal controls, reporting frameworks, and financial workflows to support business growth.
• Develop budgets, financial forecasts, cash-flow projections, and models to guide business planning and strategic decisions.
• Partner with project managers and operations leaders to track job costs, billing, margins, cash flow, and overall project profitability.
• Deliver accurate, timely financial reporting and provide leadership with meaningful analysis and actionable recommendations.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting accuracy, strengthen controls, streamline workflows, and increase operational efficiency.
• Take ownership of essential finance and accounting functions in a lean environment, working independently and building processes without relying on a large accounting department.

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 a 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