Operations and Finance Leadership Development Program

Casella Waste Systems•Halfmoon, NY

13h

About The Position

Casella Waste Systems' 18–24 month rotational program is designed to develop future operations and finance leaders through structured learning and direct experience across the company's operating, accounting, safety, systems, and business processes. The selected candidate will complete 2–3 month rotations at divisions and functional areas within the Western Region, gaining exposure to waste collection, transfer, disposal, recycling, fleet maintenance, and corporate and divisional finance. The candidate will work with regional financial and operations leadership and local operating teams to understand how safety, service, people, productivity, and asset decisions affect financial performance. Assignments combine financial analysis and reporting with frontline operating experience, supervised leadership responsibilities, and cross-functional improvement projects. Upon successful completion, the individual will be considered for an operations or finance leadership opportunity at Casella based on performance, experience, career interests, and business needs. Potential roles include Assistant Division Controller, Division Controller, Assistant Operations Supervisor, Operations Manager, or another business unit leadership position. Travel and relocation are required during the program and may be required upon completion.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
2–5 years of relevant experience in business, public accounting, operations, transportation, logistics, or solid waste.
Legally eligible to work in the United States.
Ability to work as part of a collaborative team.
Excellent listening, communication, problem-solving, analytical, and relationship management skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, spreadsheets, database management, data extraction, and analysis.
Ability and willingness to travel regularly among business units and relocate during the program and for an appropriate leadership opportunity after completion.
Analytical, safety-minded, responsible, confident, and team-oriented, with attention to detail, strong organization, trustworthiness, adaptability, commitment to developing others, and a results focus.
Ability to understand the larger business picture while examining detailed operating and financial information.

Nice To Haves

Experience with ERP accounting software and operational systems.
Familiarity with DOT, OSHA, DEP, and DEC requirements.

Responsibilities

Build collaborative relationships with frontline managers, dispatchers, drivers, maintenance, sales, and safety teams to understand daily operations and local customer service commitments.
Learn and support commercial, industrial, and residential collection operations, including dispatch, route planning, work order execution, and fleet coordination.
Participate in route, labor, and productivity reviews, evaluating service performance, labor hours, asset utilization, fleet availability, and opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
Develop practical knowledge of DOT and OSHA safety requirements, accident prevention programs, environmental and regulatory standards, and company operating, accounting, employment, and ethics policies.
Support business unit plans to improve customer experience, service reliability, sustainable growth, and long-term profitability.
Gain supervised people leadership experience through goal setting, performance discussions, coaching, training, talent development, and employee engagement activities.
Assist financial leaders with analyzing, preparing, and reviewing financial activities and business processes using generally accepted accounting principles and internal controls.
Contribute to financial statements and operating analyses, explain performance, identify risks and opportunities, and recommend corrective measures with operating leaders.
Assist with monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and learn the close process, account analysis, and financial reporting requirements.
Contribute to annual budgets and periodic forecasts that connect volume, pricing, labor, fleet, capital, and other operating assumptions to division and corporate financial results.
Develop knowledge of the financial ERP system and applications for billing, accounts receivable, work order management, routing, maintenance, data extraction, budgeting, and forecasting.
Learn corporate and divisional accounting and finance policies and procedures and identify opportunities to strengthen processes, controls, data quality, and efficiency.
Develop an understanding of how Sarbanes-Oxley requirements apply at Casella and the operating leader's role in maintaining effective internal controls.
Evaluate how safety, service, labor, routing, fleet, pricing, and customer decisions affect business unit income statements and financial positions.
Communicate with employees across operations, finance, marketing, sales, maintenance, safety, human resources, and information technology for assigned analyses and improvement initiatives.
Complete rotational projects addressing defined business needs, use data to evaluate alternatives, and present findings and recommended actions to operating and financial leaders.
Cultivate productive relationships with customers, vendors, auditors, community partners, and company personnel while representing Casella professionally and trustworthily.
Participate in training, field learning, and other development opportunities to expand knowledge of the company, its products and services, and its operating and financial leadership practices.