Telecom Assistant Controller

About the role

The Telecom Assistant Controller supports the Controller in overseeing accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, regulatory compliance, and financial analysis for a telecommunications organization. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate accounting for telecom-specific transactions, including network assets, IRUs, dark fiber arrangements, leased facilities, revenue recognition, capital projects, and federal or state grant programs. The position assists in maintaining compliance with U.S. GAAP, SOX requirements, tax regulations, and telecommunications reporting obligations. We are unable to support remote international applicants or routinely sponsor work visas.

Responsibilities

• Financial Reporting & Close Process: Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close activities; review journal entries, account reconciliations, and support schedules; assist in preparation of GAAP financial statements and management reporting packages; support external audit and regulatory audit requirements; coordinate consolidation activities and intercompany accounting.
• Telecommunications Accounting: Oversee accounting for fiber networks and telecommunications infrastructure; indefeasible Rights of Use (IRUs); dark fiber agreements and capacity swaps; network construction and capital projects; asset acquisitions and dispositions; site leases and tower agreements; ensure proper capitalization and depreciation of network assets; support accounting analyses under ASC 606, ASC 842, ASC 805, ASC 360, and other applicable standards.
• Internal Controls & SOX Compliance: Assist with design, implementation, and monitoring of SOX controls; maintain accounting policies and procedures; coordinate management testing and remediation activities; support risk assessments and control documentation; ensure compliance with company accounting policies.
• Revenue & Regulatory Support: Review accounting for telecom services including enterprise services, wholesale services, broadband and transport services, carrier contracts; partner with operations and revenue assurance teams to ensure revenue accuracy; support regulatory reporting requirements as applicable.
• Budgeting & Financial Analysis: Assist in annual budgeting and forecasting processes; analyze financial results and identify variances; provide financial support for strategic projects and capital investments; develop management reporting and KPI dashboards.
• Team Leadership: Supervise accounting staff and senior accountants; review workpapers and reconciliations; provide coaching and professional development; foster continuous process improvement initiatives.

Requirements

• Analytical Skills - Ability to use thinking and reasoning in gathering raw data and processing that data into a meaningful form.
• Business and Process Leadership - Strong expertise in telco service provider / carrier process and procedures; keen understanding of key telco processes (retail/sales/service, ordering/service delivery, network management, customer support) and ability to map processes and understand inter-linkages to each other and to the systems that support the processes; strong ability to coordinate with sales, service, engineering, field operations, finance and other departments.
• Communication Skills - Excellent oral and written communication skills; frequent preparation and delivery of detailed plans and proposals; strong communication/interpersonal skills with emphasis on decision-making, conflict management, and team building and teamwork; ability to develop work plans, work effectively as a member of a team, report on status of projects, and represent the team in meetings and/or with the client; ability to coordinate issues identification and resolution between clients and the development team.
• Financial Management - Ability to work with complex ERP, billing, provisioning systems and switching records; consistent budgetary adherence managing both capital and operating expense budget models.
• Management Skills - Ability to organize and direct oneself and effectively train and supervise others.
• Detail Oriented - Ability to pay attention to the minute details of a project