Controller - Clean Energy & Renewable Energy

AlphaHire; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AlphaHire is seeking a Controller to lead accounting and financial operations for a project-based contractor in the clean-energy and infrastructure space. You will own the finance function, including job costing, WIP, payroll compliance, financial reporting, process development, and ERP strategy.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in construction accounting and a proven track record of building or redesigning finance processes, with hands-on leadership in a lean organization.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience in a leadership role
• Experience with construction or contractor accounting, including job costing and WIP
• Hands-on payroll compliance experience, including union or multi-local requirements
• Proven ability to lead ERP migrations or major accounting-system changes
• Track record of building or redesigning finance processes from the ground up
• Strong analytical skills to identify anomalies, trends, risks and opportunities

Responsibilities

• Own the full accounting function: GL, AP, AR, billing, reconciliations, month-end close and reporting
• Lead construction job costing and WIP, including percentage-of-completion revenue recognition
• Oversee payroll compliance, including certified payroll and multi-local wage requirements
• Review monthly financial statements to identify anomalies, risks and opportunities for management
• Manage intercompany accounting and eliminations across related entities
• Lead ERP migrations and accounting-system changes from requirements to implementation
• Build scalable accounting processes, controls and reporting structures
• Develop budgets, forecasts, cash flow projections and financial analyses
• Partner with operations to connect job-level performance with financial decisions
• Operate as a hands-on finance leader in a lean organization

Skills

Accounting & Finance

Leadership

ERP systems

Job costing

Job description

We are looking for a Controller to lead accounting and financial operations for a project-based contractor supporting commercial clean-energy and infrastructure projects. This is a hands‑on leadership role with full ownership of the finance function, including job costing, WIP accounting, payroll compliance, financial reporting, process development, and ERP strategy. The ideal candidate comes from a small-to-mid-sized construction or contractor environment and has built or redesigned finance processes rather than simply operating an established department. Solar, EV, or microgrid experience is a plus but is not required.

Responsibilities

• Own the full accounting function, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, reconciliations, month‑end close, and financial reporting.
• Lead construction job costing and WIP accounting, including percentage‑of‑completion revenue recognition, project profitability analysis, cost‑to‑complete reviews, and variance identification.
• Oversee union and prevailing wage payroll compliance, including certified payroll, fringe benefit reporting, and multi‑local wage and rate requirements.
• Review, validate, and analyze monthly financial statements to identify anomalies, trends, risks, and opportunities requiring management attention.
• Manage intercompany accounting, reconciliations, transactions, and eliminations while maintaining accurate financial records across related entities.
• Lead ERP migrations, system changes, or accounting‑system consolidations, including requirements definition, process redesign, data migration, testing, implementation, and user adoption.
• Build and redesign accounting and finance processes, controls, reporting structures, and workflows to create a scalable function from the ground up.
• Develop budgets, forecasts, cash flow projections, and financial analyses that provide leadership with clear visibility into company and project performance.
• Partner directly with operations and project teams to connect job‑level financial performance with operational decisions, cost control, billing, and project execution.
• Operate as a hands‑on finance leader in a lean organization, taking ownership of critical accounting and financial responsibilities without relying on a large support team.

• 5+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including Controller, Assistant Controller, or comparable senior‑level responsibility.
• Direct construction or contractor accounting experience required, including job costing, WIP schedules, and percentage‑of‑completion revenue recognition.
• Hands‑on experience with union and prevailing wage payroll compliance, including certified payroll, fringe benefit reporting, and multi‑local rate management.
• Proven experience leading an ERP migration, accounting‑system implementation, or system consolidation rather than simply using an ERP in day‑to‑day operations.
• Demonstrated track record of building, establishing, or substantially redesigning a finance function or accounting process from the ground up.
• Experience with intercompany transactions, reconciliations, and financial reporting across related entities.
• Strong ability to review, validate, and analyze financial statements and independently identify anomalies, trends, discrepancies, and business risks.
• Small‑to‑mid‑sized company experience required, with the ability to operate independently and remain hands‑on without a large finance or accounting team; solar, EV, microgrid, or clean‑energy experience is a plus but not required.

• Compensation: Competitive salary based on experience.
• Benefits may include health insurance, retirement plan options, paid time off, and other company‑sponsored programs.