Controller - Clean Energy & Renewable Energy at AlphaHire · Santa Cruz

We are seeking an experienced Controller to lead the accounting and financial operations of a project-based contractor supporting commercial clean-energy and infrastructure projects.

This is a hands-on leadership position with ownership of the company’s finance function, including construction accounting, job costing, WIP, payroll compliance, financial reporting, process development, and ERP strategy.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in construction or contractor accounting and a proven track record of building, improving, or restructuring financial processes within a small-to-mid-sized organization. Experience in solar, EV, microgrid, renewable energy, or related clean-energy projects is a plus but is not required.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the full accounting function, including general ledger, AP, AR, billing, reconciliations, month-end close, and financial reporting.

• Oversee construction job costing and WIP accounting, including percentage-of-completion revenue recognition, project profitability, cost-to-complete analysis, and variance reporting.

• Manage union and prevailing wage payroll compliance, including certified payroll, fringe benefit reporting, and multi-local wage requirements.

• Review, validate, and analyze financial statements to identify discrepancies, trends, risks, and opportunities.

• Manage intercompany transactions, reconciliations, and eliminations across related entities.

• Lead ERP implementations, migrations, system changes, and accounting-system consolidations, including planning, data migration, testing, implementation, and process redesign.

• Build and improve accounting processes, internal controls, reporting structures, and financial workflows.

• Develop budgets, forecasts, cash-flow projections, and financial analyses to support business decisions.

• Partner with project management and operations teams to monitor project costs, profitability, billing, and overall financial performance.

• Provide financial reporting and insight to company leadership to support strategic and operational decisions.

• Take ownership of critical finance functions in a lean organization without relying on a large accounting or finance team.

• 5+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including Controller, Assistant Controller, or comparable senior-level responsibility.

• Construction or contractor accounting experience is required.

• Strong hands-on experience with job costing, WIP schedules, and percentage-of-completion accounting.

• Proven experience with union and prevailing wage payroll compliance, including certified payroll, fringe benefit reporting, and multi-local rate management.

• Demonstrated experience leading an ERP migration, implementation, system change, or accounting-system consolidation.

• Proven track record of building or substantially redesigning accounting and finance processes from the ground up.

• Experience managing intercompany accounting, reconciliations, and eliminations.

• Strong financial statement analysis skills, with the ability to identify anomalies, trends, discrepancies, and potential business risks.

• Experience working in a small-to-mid-sized company where independence, ownership, and a hands-on approach are essential.

• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Solar, EV, microgrid, renewable energy, or clean-energy experience is a plus, but not required.

• Competitive salary based on experience

• Health insurance and retirement plan options

• Paid time off and company-sponsored benefits

• Opportunity to take ownership of a growing finance function

• Direct exposure to company leadership and strategic financial decision-making

• Opportunity for professional growth within a growing clean-energy and infrastructure business