Lead Accountant, AI Transformation

Quanta Services•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Lead Accountant – AI Transformation is a key contributor to executing the accounting department's strategy for automating processes using artificial intelligence (AI). This role bridges the departments expertise with emerging AI capabilities to identify, design, and deliver solutions that reduce manual effort, improve data quality, and accelerate close and reporting cycles to allow for more efficient and effective compliance and decision making. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable with accounting, systems, and internal controls on publicly traded companies. This role will focus on process improvement in an environment where new technology is embraced as a competitive advantage. The position requires interaction with various groups within the corporate offices (i.e. Long-Lived Assets, External Reporting, Divisional Accounting, Mergers & Acquisitions, Treasury, Tax, Financial Planning & Analysis, Legal, etc.), as well as operating units’ accounting personnel.

Requirements

Must be able to understand accounting impact and implications of transactions and perform complex reconciliations of large volumes of data.
Ability to quickly learn new systems technology.
Strong interpersonal skills; must be able to build relationships and effectively interact with other accounting and non-accounting departments to achieve shared goals.
Challenge accuracy of information received and effectiveness/efficiency of processes performed.
Strong organizational skills required to manage multiple, concurrent tasks.
Manages tasks to completion within established timelines.
Communicate timely when deadlines are determined to be unrealistic or when obstacles are encountered.
Works independently and recognizes when to seek assistance and/or guidance.
Identifies issues and recommends potential solutions to the issues identified.
Identifies opportunities to assist team members and colleagues in other groups.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
CPA license required.
7+ years of progressive accounting experience, preferably within a large public company or Fortune 500 environment.
Proven ability to manage projects and deliver results in a cross-functional environment.
Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP, internal controls, and financial close processes.
Exposure to SOX compliance and working with external auditors on automated process documentation.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with AI/Language Learning Model platforms (e.g., Claude, Microsoft Copilot, OpenAI, or similar enterprise AI tools).
Public accounting background (Big 4 or national firm) with industry transition experience.
Evaluating processes for continuous improvement and efficiencies and suggesting changes where needed.
Develop and maintain close business relationships with various areas throughout the organization.
Masters degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
Infrastructure build company experience or other construction company experience
Strong working knowledge of US GAAP
Advanced Excel skills
JDE experience
OneStream experience
Excellent written and oral communication skills

Responsibilities

Help identify, prioritize, and develop AI-powered automation opportunities across the accounting organization, including but not limited to, close processes, long-lived assets, lease accounting, intercompany, and financial statement variance analysis.
Help design and maintain an AI project roadmap aligned to the accounting department's strategic objectives, maintaining a pipeline of initiatives from ideation through deployment.
Conduct deep-dive process reviews of existing accounting workflows to identify inefficiencies, redundancies, and high-value automation candidates.
Document current-state and future-state process flows, clearly quantifying expected time savings, error-reduction, and control improvements.
Partner with accounting departments (Long-lived assets, Corporate, Consolidations, External Reporting, Divisional Accounting, etc.) to understand inefficient work flows and pain points and translate them into actionable AI use cases.
Execute assigned AI initiatives across the full project lifecycle — requirements gathering, solution design, user acceptance testing, deployment, and post-go-live monitoring.
Develop training materials to ensure sustainable adoption of new AI tools across the accounting team.
Serve as an internal champion and change agent, helping team members build comfort and proficiency with AI-assisted workflows.
Partner with Quanta’s Accounting Process and Controls team to ensure all AI solutions are designed with appropriate internal controls, audit trails, and documentation to satisfy SOX, internal audit, and external auditor requirements.
Maintain governance standards for AI tool usage within the accounting organization.
Act as a liaison between the accounting organization, IT, data teams on AI-related initiatives.
Prepare and present project updates, business cases, and ROI analyses to accounting leadership and executive stakeholders.
Stay current on AI trends, tools, and regulatory developments relevant to accounting and financial reporting.