Controller

About 1st Avenue Power:

At 1st Avenue Power, we are on a mission to deliver simple, fast-to-deploy, customer-centric and intelligent power systems leveraging the abundance of solar to provide inexpensive and reliable clean energy to global customers from data centers to energy starved communities around the world. We envision a future where every community, business, and nation thrives on the limitless potential of clean energy, united in a shared commitment to a sustainable and equitable world.

You will be working with Dr. Tom Buttgenbach, one of the most successful clean energy technology innovators and entrepreneur who has been a driving force in making solar-based energy solutions the cheapest and most reliable energy option. Tom founded and led Avantus (formerly known as “8minute Solar Energy“), to become one of the largest and most profitable solar and energy storage companies in the United States and the largest in California, including delivering over 17% of Los Angeles’ power.  When Tom sold his interest in Avantus’ development business  to KKR in mid-2024, it had delivered over $1 billion in profit and secured over $10 Billion in power purchase agreements and project financings with a pipeline of over 30 GW of solar and 90 GWh of energy storage, capable of powering the homes of more than 20 million Americans day and night. Tom’s family office investment firm, 1st Avenue Capital, is building teams for the next generation of advanced solar power system architecture and AI to aggressively drive down the cost of and equitable access to clean and reliable energy.[1] 1st Avenue’s advanced large scale power systems are addressing the increasing inadequacy of the grid to meet the massively growing power demands of the digital economy, while its intelligent distributed solar utilities are leapfrogging the grid to provide equitable access to inexpensive, clean and reliable power to underserved communities around the world.

About the Role:

Join a groundbreaking team of proven leaders at the forefront of the clean energy transition. We are building a future where sustainable energy is accessible to all. The Controller will be the foundational leader of our accounting and financial operations. Reporting directly to the CEO/CFO, this critical role will be responsible for building our entire accounting infrastructure from the ground up, with an immediate focus on establishing GAAP-compliant financial statements and scalable financial systems.

The ideal candidate is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a background in public accounting (ideally Big 4) and proven success managing the financial complexities of a high-growth startup environment. This is a hands-on role perfect for a leader who is ready to execute daily accounting functions while simultaneously driving strategic change, managing key external relationships, and building a high-performing, geographically distributed team.

What Makes This Job Unique:

• Leadership Impact: As Controller you will have significant influence on key strategic decisions and play a vital role in shaping the future of 1st Avenue Power' energy strategy.
• Growth Potential: 1st Avenue Power and the project pipeline is in high growth mode, offering excellent opportunities for career growth and professional development.
• Co-Founder Mindset: This is an opportunity for a passionate and driven individual to join a groundbreaking team and contribute significantly to our mission. We encourage candidates who bring a co-founder mindset, with a focus on ownership, innovation, and a deep commitment to building a sustainable and equitable energy future.

Job Responsibilities:

Foundational Accounting & Reporting

• Establishment of GAAP Reporting: The primary responsibility will be to develop the framework and processes necessary to produce 1AP's first official set of U.S. GAAP financial statements, including all required footnotes and disclosures.
• Monthly Close Management: Lead and execute the end-to-end monthly and year-end close process, ensuring timely, accurate, and efficient delivery of financial results.
• General Ledger & Compliance: Oversee all general ledger activity, reconciliations, and journal entries. Ensure all financial reporting adheres to U.S. GAAP and that tax compliance is maintained.
• Audit Readiness: Prepare all necessary schedules and serve as the main point of contact for external auditors, ensuring a clean and efficient annual audit process.
• Payments & Expense Management: Streamline and manage all corporate expenses, accounts payable, and payment processes. This includes implementing efficient systems for vendor payments, managing corporate cards, and overseeing employee expense reporting to ensure timely and accurate disbursements and control spending.

Strategic Systems & Operations

• Financial Systems Implementation: Design, select, and implement robust and scalable financial and accounting systems (e.g., ERP, GL, and integrated tools) to support the company’s anticipated growth.
• Internal Controls: Establish and document a comprehensive set of internal controls, accounting policies, and standard operating procedures to safeguard company assets and ensure data integrity.
• Process Optimization: Drive continuous improvement and automation within the accounting function to accelerate the close cycle and enhance efficiency as the company scales.

Leadership & Relationship Management

• Team Building: Build, train, and manage a high-caliber off-site/remote accounting team, setting performance metrics and fostering a culture of accountability and precision.
• Bank Relations: Manage relationships with banks and other financial institutions, overseeing cash flow management, treasury functions, and debt covenant compliance.
• Affiliate Collaboration: Serve as the main finance point of contact for the parent entity family office and its affiliates, ensuring seamless collaboration, transparent reporting, and alignment of accounting policies and procedures across entities.
• Other duties as assigned 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education & Certification: Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license is required. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Experience:

• • 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
  • 3+ years of direct experience as a Controller or Assistant Controller (or equivalent management role) within the renewable energy sector. 

• Technical Expertise:

• • Deep and demonstrated expertise in U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the ability to apply them to complex business issues.
  • Proven experience designing and implementing financial and accounting systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Public Accounting Foundation: Prior experience with a Big 4 or large national public accounting firm (Audit practice preferred).
• Renewable energy industry experience and knowledge preferred.
• Startup/High-Growth Environment: Proven experience navigating the financial challenges, rapid change, and operational constraints inherent in a startup or early-stage company.
• Experience leading and managing distributed or virtual accounting teams.

Compensation & Benefits:

•  Competitive Compensation Package
• Health Insurance: We offer 100% coverage of employee premiums under a Gold-level PPO plan. Dental & Vision Insurance: 50% of employee premiums are covered.
• Retirement Plan: A 401(k) plan with a 6% employer match.

 

1AI Energy, the employing entity for 1st Avenue Power, and 1st Avenue Power are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee based on race (inclusive of traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding), age, veteran or military status, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, reproductive decision-making, or any other legally recognized protected class under federal, state, or local law.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), and local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on 1AI Energy or 1st Avenue Power. Please inform the company's personnel representative if you need assistance completing an application or to otherwise participate in the application process. 

 

 

Join our team and make a real difference in the world.

[1: Additionally, 1st Avenue is in the business of acquiring projects where there has been a final notice-to-proceed or financial close.]