Project controller Jobs in Chicago, IL

Financial Controller

Nova Clean Energy is a renewable energy company focused on developing and constructing utility-scale projects across the United States. We are investing in the large-scale projects needed to advance the energy transition.

The Financial Controller will support the accounting function of a global investment company and oversee aspects of tax, accounting, and audit for its operating entities. Reporting to VP of Finance, this role will be hands-on in all operational aspects of the business. This is a hybrid role working out of our Chicago office.

Key Responsibilities: Accounting

• Preparation and completion of monthly and quarterly close process, ensuring on-time delivery of financial reporting for Nova
• Consolidating Nova's results, including the delivery of monthly and quarterly management accounts to senior management
• Lease Accounting under ASC 842, managing and overseeing all workflows
• Completion and management of Nova's debt schedules, financing costs, and interest calculations
• Manage a combination of outsourced providers and internal accounting stakeholders
• Completion of capital accounts and review of cost allocations for various entities.
• Accurate reporting of development and capital expenditure
• Treasury and management of Bank accounts, checks, and other sources of funds
• Management and coordination of monthly accounts payable payment cycle
• Coordinate with FP&A on cash requirements for Nova and other global business entities, as required
• Process improvements in the streamlining and design of finance processes and further enhancing financial reporting capabilities

Controls & Third-Party Oversight

• Design, document, and maintain the internal control framework over outsourced accounting activity segregation of duties, delegated approval limits, and a documented journal review and sign-off hierarchy
• Operate a risk-based journal review protocol, with full review of manual and non-routine entries (balancing entries, reclasses, accruals, intercompany) and retained evidence of review
• Maintain a clear RACI across outsourced providers and internal teams for every close activity, keeping it current as responsibilities change
• Own service-provider SLAs covering the close timetable, deliverable due dates and query turnaround, and manage escalation and remediation where they are missed
• Define and report a monthly provider KPI scorecard on-time close, first-time-right / rework rate, reconciling items cleared and aged open items and run periodic service reviews against it

Reconciliation & Financial Statement Integrity

• Own the month-end balance sheet reconciliation process across all entities and currencies, ensuring every material account is reconciled to source, reviewed, and signed off to a defined timetable
• Govern ASC 842 lease reconciliations so each schedule ties to the general ledger every month, resolving differences and reducing reliance on ad-hoc balancing entries
• Own intercompany reconciliation, elimination and multi-currency translation tie-outs across the US and international entities
• Track reconciliation KPIs (accounts reconciled on time, aged and unreconciled items, recurring differences) and drive resolution of root causes, not just clearing

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Continuously challenge and redesign close and lease processes to reduce manual effort, cycle time and key-person dependency
• Identify and implement automation and system improvements, reducing reliance on spreadsheets and standardizing templates and reconciliations
• Apply data and AI tools to monitor accounting activity, detect anomalies and enhance management reporting
• Set measurable efficiency targets each period and track realized improvements

Audit

• Act as a liaison with external auditors
• Prepare required audit deliverables, ensuring all audit requests are delivered in a timely manner

Tax

• Monitor tax compliance at state and local levels, including property tax assessments
• Assist with any other tax documentation
• Work with the development and legal teams to ensure compliance with all tax laws and regulations

You have a genuine interest and proven track record in accounting, process design, and tax. You have broad experience supporting multiple finance functions of a Renewables Developer, Utility, or family office/ private equity firm with Real Estate or Infrastructure assets.

• CPA required with a minimum of 5 years' experience
• Strong working knowledge of US GAAP with experience in consolidation accounting
• Experience in compilation of multi-entity tax returns and tax documentation, K-1's, 1099 and knowledge of flow-through entities preferred.
• Strong understanding of capital accounts and cost allocations
• Experience in renewable energy preferred
• Excellent technical/analytical and interpersonal skills with high attention to detail
• Commercially minded, demonstrating an ability to interpret financial information
• Ability to work on own initiative, taking work to completion with minimal support.
• Proven experience managing, reviewing and holding to account outsourced or offshore accounting teams, including SLA and KPI governance
• Strong internal controls mindset, with experience designing and operating month-end reconciliation and review frameworks
• Track record of process improvement and automation, using data and AI tools to drive efficiency
• Excellent organizational skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite with advanced Excel and AI knowledge

A diverse and inclusive team is critical to innovation. Please get in touch even if you don't match these qualifications 100%.

The salary range for this role is $150,000 -$170,000 plus a competitive bonus. This range is an estimate, and the offered salary will be based on several factors, including but not limited to location, work experience, certifications, and education.

Benefits

• Generous PTO Policy
• Comprehensive medical, vision, dental insurance policies including HSA & FSA accounts
• Paid parental leave for all new parents
• Eligibility to enroll in 401k plan with discretionary company match
• Generous professional development and/or degree program reimbursement policies

Nova Clean Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.