Staten Solar
Head of Finance - Construction Business (Sonoma)
Staten Solar, Sonoma, California, United States, 95476
We are seeking a hands-on Head of Finance to lead and scale the finance and accounting function as the company grows toward $50M+ in annual revenue. This is a Director-level operating role, not a pure accounting position.
The Head of Finance will own cash flow, financial operations, budgeting, controls, and financial decision support, while partnering closely with the CEO and operations leadership. This role will lead the accounting team, oversee external advisors, and ensure the companys financial infrastructure scales with growth.
This position is ideal for a finance leader with a controller foundation and strong business acumen, who has built finance functions in growing construction or project-based companies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITES
Finance Leadership & Business Partnership Serve as the companys senior finance leader and trusted business partner to the CEO Translate financial data into actionable insights for operations, project management, and leadership Support pricing, margin analysis, project profitability, and contract risk decisions Underwrite customer credit and advise on contract financial terms
Financial Planning, Cash & Forecasting Develop and maintain rolling 12-month financial forecasts (income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow) Own 13-week and long-range cash forecasting Lead annual budgeting and periodic re-forecasting Monitor liquidity, working capital, and cash conversion cycles
Accounting Oversight & Controls Oversee monthly close processes and ensure timely, accurate financial reporting Review and maintain WIP schedules and project cost reporting Ensure GAAP-aligned accounting practices and internal controls Partner with external CPA firms on tax filings, audits, and compliance Implement and enforce company financial policies and procedures
Team Leadership Lead and develop a finance/accounting team (currently ~3 staff) Clearly define responsibilities across accounting, AP/AR, payroll, and project accounting Manage or coordinate with part-time or contract controller resources as applicable Build scalable processes that reduce key-person risk
Payroll, Compliance & Industry-Specific Requirements Oversee payroll operations, including California prevailing wage compliance Ensure compliance with California sales tax and construction-industry regulations Maintain strong controls around reimbursements, purchasing, and expense management
Systems & Process Improvement Own finance systems strategy (QuickBooks / Spectrum / Sage or future ERP) Improve reporting, dashboards, and financial visibility across the organization Drive process improvements that support growth and operational discipline
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Required 1018 years of progressive experience in accounting and finance Prior experience as a Controller, Finance Director, or equivalent in a project-based or construction environment Strong working knowledge of: Construction accounting & WIP California prevailing wage requirements California sales tax regulations Experience leading or managing accounting teams Hands-on experience with QuickBooks and/or construction accounting systems (Spectrum, Sage, etc.) Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration
Preferred Experience scaling finance functions in a $50M$100M revenue company Exposure to lender reporting, bonding, or project-based financing CPA or equivalent credential (nice to have, not required)
WHAT THIS ROLE IS AND ISNT
This role IS: An operating finance leader A builder of systems, controls, and discipline A business partner to leadership
This role is NOT: A transactional bookkeeping role A purely technical controller position A CFO role focused on M&A or capital markets
The Head of Finance will own cash flow, financial operations, budgeting, controls, and financial decision support, while partnering closely with the CEO and operations leadership. This role will lead the accounting team, oversee external advisors, and ensure the companys financial infrastructure scales with growth.
This position is ideal for a finance leader with a controller foundation and strong business acumen, who has built finance functions in growing construction or project-based companies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITES
Finance Leadership & Business Partnership Serve as the companys senior finance leader and trusted business partner to the CEO Translate financial data into actionable insights for operations, project management, and leadership Support pricing, margin analysis, project profitability, and contract risk decisions Underwrite customer credit and advise on contract financial terms
Financial Planning, Cash & Forecasting Develop and maintain rolling 12-month financial forecasts (income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow) Own 13-week and long-range cash forecasting Lead annual budgeting and periodic re-forecasting Monitor liquidity, working capital, and cash conversion cycles
Accounting Oversight & Controls Oversee monthly close processes and ensure timely, accurate financial reporting Review and maintain WIP schedules and project cost reporting Ensure GAAP-aligned accounting practices and internal controls Partner with external CPA firms on tax filings, audits, and compliance Implement and enforce company financial policies and procedures
Team Leadership Lead and develop a finance/accounting team (currently ~3 staff) Clearly define responsibilities across accounting, AP/AR, payroll, and project accounting Manage or coordinate with part-time or contract controller resources as applicable Build scalable processes that reduce key-person risk
Payroll, Compliance & Industry-Specific Requirements Oversee payroll operations, including California prevailing wage compliance Ensure compliance with California sales tax and construction-industry regulations Maintain strong controls around reimbursements, purchasing, and expense management
Systems & Process Improvement Own finance systems strategy (QuickBooks / Spectrum / Sage or future ERP) Improve reporting, dashboards, and financial visibility across the organization Drive process improvements that support growth and operational discipline
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Required 1018 years of progressive experience in accounting and finance Prior experience as a Controller, Finance Director, or equivalent in a project-based or construction environment Strong working knowledge of: Construction accounting & WIP California prevailing wage requirements California sales tax regulations Experience leading or managing accounting teams Hands-on experience with QuickBooks and/or construction accounting systems (Spectrum, Sage, etc.) Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration
Preferred Experience scaling finance functions in a $50M$100M revenue company Exposure to lender reporting, bonding, or project-based financing CPA or equivalent credential (nice to have, not required)
WHAT THIS ROLE IS AND ISNT
This role IS: An operating finance leader A builder of systems, controls, and discipline A business partner to leadership
This role is NOT: A transactional bookkeeping role A purely technical controller position A CFO role focused on M&A or capital markets