Controller

American Terawatt; New York, San Francisco (NY, CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare: medical, dental, vision

Gym reimbursement up to $300/mo

Meals provided daily

Unlimited PTO

NYC office location near Madison Sq. P

Job summary

American Terawatt is hiring a Controller to build and lead the accounting function from the ground up. You will establish financial systems, implement ERP, and drive audits while aligning with founders and the strategic finance head. This role shapes the finance backbone for a fast-growing energy infra company in the US.

You’ll own policies, controls, budgeting, and reporting, partnering with executives to scale capital projects and ensure financeable balance sheets.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in accounting or finance, including a Controller or senior accounting leadership role at a multi-entity company.
• CPA certification.
• Experience in energy, infrastructure, construction, or another capital-intensive industry.
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP, financial reporting, internal controls, and accounting operations, including construction and contract, JV, lease, and derivative accounting.
• Familiarity with project accounting, capital expenditures, and long-term vendor commitments.
• Experience with ERP selection and implementation, such as NetSuite or Sage.
• Demonstrated experience leading financial audits.
• Experience building budgeting processes, financial reporting, and month-end close.
• Creative and proactive in using AI tools to streamline accounting processes, automate workflows, and improve financial operations.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Comfort working in an early-stage environment and building processes from scratch.
• High agency: resourceful, adaptable, and able to act with limited direction.

Responsibilities

• Shape the accounting strategy for first-of-a-kind infrastructure projects.
• Build the accounting function and establish core operations.
• Lead ERP selection and implementation, audits, and compliance.
• Budgeting and financial operations, cash flow forecasting, and reporting.
• Collaborate with leadership to manage costs, projects, and financial performance.

Skills

Leadership & governance

US GAAP

Audits

ERP implementation

Capital projects

Budgeting

Internal controls

Team building

AI in accounting

Project accounting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA certification

Tools

NetSuite

Sage

Job description

About American Terawatt

American Terawatt is building a new industrial electric grid for the United States.

We design and deploy advanced power transmission systems, serving large industrial loads, gigawatts at a time. Our systems deliver power to everything from frontier AI datacenters to highly automated manufacturing, refineries, mines, and more.

The backbone of American Terawatt’s network is HVDC transmission, anchored by our unique terminal design. American Terawatt’s terminals are standardized, modular, and natively integrate energy storage. Each one is designed to expand to operate as a full node on our future HVDC transmission network.

We are early-stage and venture-backed, with a small, experienced team (~20 people today) and active projects across the US. Our investors include Altimeter, Founders Fund, Bessemer Venture Partners, Zero Infinity Partners, and other leading firms.

About the role

We are hiring a Controller to build and lead American Terawatt's accounting function, establishing the financial systems and processes needed to support our growth, and ensure our balance sheet is accurate and financeable.

As our first Finance Operations hire, you will work directly with our founders and Head of Strategic Finance to build the accounting function from the ground up, select and implement our ERP system, oversee the implementation of our corporate structure, and lead our first financial audits.

This is a hands‑on, high‑ownership role for someone who thrives on building from scratch, exercises strong financial judgment, and wants to shape the financial foundation of a rapidly growing energy infrastructure company.

In the beginning you will report directly to Rob Parker, American Terawatt’s COO & Co‑founder.

What you will own

Shape the accounting strategy for first‑of‑a‑kind infrastructure projects

• Develop accounting policies and positions for first‑of‑a‑kind (FOAK) infrastructure projects, including capitalization, construction costs, and other complex accounting considerations.

• Help shape the company's corporate structure to support the development and financing of large‑scale energy projects.

• Navigate complex accounting challenges with sound judgment and practical solutions.

• Partner with leadership to evaluate the financial implications of new business models and infrastructure investments.

Build the accounting function

• Establish and manage core accounting operations, including month‑end close, financial statements, reporting and vendor payments and accounts payable.

• Develop accounting policies, internal controls, and processes for novel infrastructure projects that scale with the business.

• Design and maintain the chart of accounts, project codes, and cost centers to support accurate financial tracking and reporting.

• Manage external accounting, tax, and financial service providers.

Financial systems, audits, and compliance

• Lead ERP selection and implementation.

• Prepare for and lead the company's first financial audits.

• Ensure compliance with US GAAP and applicable tax and reporting requirements.

• Review and certify credit ratios and lender compliance requirements

• Substantiate accounting and tax positions (with external advisors)

Budgeting and financial operations

• Build and manage the company's budgeting and financial reporting processes.

• Partner with Finance on cash flow forecasting

• Partner with leadership to track spending, budgets, and financial performance.

• Establish processes for tracking capital expenditures, equipment purchases, and infrastructure project costs.

What success looks like

You will help shape the exact roadmap, but we expect success in this role to include the following early milestones:

In your first month

• Assess existing accounting processes, financial systems, and reporting needs.

• Establish a roadmap for building the accounting function, including immediate priorities and controls.

• Take ownership of day‑to‑day accounting operations and the monthly close process.

• Issue RFP to solicit ERP proposals

• Brief potential accounting partners and develop RFP

• Propose payment controls

By month six

• Core accounting operations are running smoothly, with reliable financial reporting and internal controls. Monthly closes in <20 days.

• Cost centers, GL codes, affiliate agreements, time keeping practice all developed and operationalized

• An ERP system has been selected and implemented, or implementation is well underway.

• The Company’s first financial audit is underway, with key documentation and processes in place.

• A structured budgeting and reporting process provides leadership with visibility into spending, financial performance, and project costs.

What we are looking for

Required experience

• 7+ years of experience in accounting or finance, including experience in a Controller or senior accounting leadership role at a multi‑entity company.

• CPA certification.

• Experience in energy, infrastructure, construction, or another capital‑intensive industry.

• Strong knowledge of US GAAP, financial reporting, internal controls, and accounting operations, including construction and contract, JV, lease, and derivative accounting

• Familiarity with project accounting, capital expenditures, and long‑term vendor commitments.

• Experience with ERP selection and implementation, such as NetSuite or Sage.

• Demonstrated experience leading financial audits.

• Experience building and managing budgeting processes, financial reporting, and month‑end close.

• Creative and proactive in using AI tools to streamline accounting processes, automate workflows, and improve financial operations.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.

• Comfort working in an early‑stage environment and building processes from scratch.

• High agency: resourceful, adaptable, and able to act with limited direction.

Preferred experience

You do not need to check every box. We value relevant skills, sound judgment, and the ability to learn quickly.

• Treasury management experience

• Experience with tax equity, regulatory/FERC accounting, and complex consolidations (JV, VIEs, etc)

• Experience scaling accounting functions in a high‑growth company.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation: Competitive compensation package, including salary and equity, commensurate with experience.

• Healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, including 75% coverage for dependents and spouses.

• Wellness: Up to $300/month reimbursement for gym and wellness expenses, or Bay Club membership for SF-based employees.

• Meals: Lunch provided daily when working from an office.

• Time off: Unlimited PTO with manager approval, plus company‑wide office closures for July 4 week and one week in December.

• Additional perks: Laptop of choice provided, convenient NYC office location near Madison Square Park and near public transit (pre‑tax transit benefit), and employee contribution 401(k) program.