Controller, Finance & Banking, Accounting Manager

Location:

Arlington, VA (Hybrid; 4 days/week in-office) OR East Coast Remote-Based (with some travel)

Team:
Accounting & Finance

Reports to:

VP of Accounting & Finance

Type:
Full-time (exempt)

Job details

Dandelion is seeking an experienced Controller to build and lead an accounting function that can scale with the business. Reporting to the VP of Accounting & Finance, you will own all accounting operations, financial reporting, compliance, and controls while driving meaningful process improvements that will serve as the foundation for the next stage of Dandelion's growth.

This is a player-coach role that requires a strong leader who is comfortable operating at an executive level while remaining deeply connected to the tactical integrity of our day-to-day accounting. You will directly manage the month-end close, refine our revenue recognition and work-in-progress accounting policies, and optimize our internal processes, while simultaneously leading and developing a high-performing team.

The ideal candidate brings deep technical accounting expertise from construction, energy, or similar service-based industries, thrives in a high-growth startup environment, and is genuinely energized by building scalable processes and systems while proactively identifying financial and operational risks.

️ Responsibilities

Immediate Priorities

* Lead completion of our current audit cycle and establish an efficient, audit-ready cadence

* Implement a durable revenue recognition policy and WIP accounting framework aligned with ASC 606 and operational realities

* Conduct a thorough review of the month-end close process and reconciliations to identify gaps and establish a scalable close discipline

* Identify key financial control and project margin risk areas and implement preventative controls

Core Accounting & Reporting

* Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring the delivery of accurate and timely GAAP financial statements (including detailed gross margin, COGS, and project profitability analysis)

* Oversee all core accounting operations including AP, AR, payroll accounting, and general ledger activities

* Maintain GAAP compliance and robust internal controls to ensure the integrity of financial reporting and ongoing audit readiness

* Draft and maintain accounting memos to support technical positions, particularly regarding revenue recognition (ASC 606)

* Manage the end-to-end execution of our annual Big Four audit and serve as the relationship owner for external audit and tax firms

* Own gross margin integrity across projects, including job cost accounting, labor and overhead allocation, WIP valuation, and root-cause analysis of margin variance

* Oversee stock-based compensation accounting (ASC 718) and equity-related compliance

* Oversee billing accuracy, collections cadence, retainage tracking, and cash conversion across enterprise customer contracts

Systems & Process Improvement

* Drive automation of accounting processes, monthly reconciliations, and workflows to build a scalable, efficient function and strengthen controls

* Optimize the quote-to-cash process between Net Suite (ERP) and Salesforce (CRM)

* Partner with FP&A and data team to ensure proper integration between systems and improve data accuracy, reporting capabilities, and cross-functional visibility

* Build and document accounting policies, procedures, and controls that will support the company through rapid growth

Team Leadership & Strategic Partnership

* Build, manage, and mentor a team of accounting professionals, creating a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement

* Establish a scalable accounting organization structure (AP/AR, GL, revenue, inventory) with clear operating cadence and performance expectations

* Collaborate with the VP of Finance on forecasting, budgeting, cash management, and strategic initiatives

* Act as a strategic finance partner to Operations, Sales, and executive leadership, translating accounting and margin insights into actionable business decisions

* Support due diligence efforts for fundraising, M&A, or other strategic transactions

We're looking for:

* Player-coach mentality:
You are comfortable rolling up your sleeves to own day-to-day accounting work while also thinking strategically about building for scale

* Business-minded and risk-oriented:
You align margin, billing, and financial risks to business and operational reality, and work with stakeholders to implement solutions

* Detail-oriented:
You have an exceptional eye for detail and take pride in accuracy and precision

* Low ego, high impact:
You are a collaborative team player who checks your ego at the door and prioritizes the team's and company's success

* Growth mindset:
You are energized by the challenge of building scalable processes in a fast-paced, evolving environment

* Mission-driven:
You are excited about contributing to climate solutions and want your work to have meaningful impact

Must-haves

* Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA…