Controller/Finance Director

About the Role

A growing, venture-backed company in Western Alabama is seeking a Director of Finance and Administration to lead the finance, accounting, and administrative functions for its Alabama region. The role reports to the General Manager/President and collaborates closely (dotted line) with the Corporate CFO. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, enthusiastic, and community-driven, serving as a key financial and operational leader.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the finance, accounting, and administrative functions of the regional office.
• Establish and maintain appropriate financial controls, policies, and procedures.
• Perform regional month-end close, accounting, and bookkeeping tasks as required.
• Manage project cash flow, including issuing payments, invoicing, and overseeing drawdowns of shareholder cash to fund construction costs.
• Review and optimize short-, medium-, and long-term capital needs and related financing arrangements.
• Prepare financial reports, including income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, and reports for shareholders and lenders.
• Prepare and present budgets and reports to the Board; analyze discrepancies between actual and projected figures and recommend improvements.
• Coordinate financing agreement compliance and annual credit rating reviews with the CFO.
• Manage yearly financial audit activities.
• Update and maintain the financial model.
• Advise the GM, CFO, and Board on financial issues or potential risks affecting the project.
• Manage relationships with financial advisors, tax advisors, auditors, and other consultants.
• Oversee risk management activities, including insurance programs and renewals, in accordance with project documentation.
• Advise on achieving business plan targets per the financial model and annual budgets.
• Stay current with US GAAP accounting standards and their impact on the project.
• Monitor new or proposed legislation and assess its financial impact on the project.
• Establish a record repository and ensure compliance with record retention standards outlined in project documents.

Requirements

• BS/BA in Accounting, Finance, or Business (desired).
• 7–10 years’ experience in project finance or construction accounting (preferred but not required).
• Experience in telecommunications, fiber optics, infrastructure, or broadband (preferred but not required).
• Strong understanding of operational accounting.
• Active CPA certification (preferred).
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with complex financial models and analysis.

Skills

• Proven ability to plan, organize, and prioritize effectively.
• Positive attitude and readiness to be a team player.
• Demonstrated ability to perform in a management capacity with excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Thorough knowledge of financial management.
• Ability to interact effectively in a small, self-managed team structure.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment within a small team.