Accounting & Finance Manager - US Renewable Energy Operations

We are Lightsource bp – and we’re on a mission to become a global leader in onshore renewables, anchored by our proven track record in solar development.

For over a decade we’ve been actively working to diversify the way our world is powered with sustainable and responsible renewable power. We work to safely deliver affordable, reliable, large-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions to help the world decarbonize.

Our growing business is constantly innovating and investing to help drive the energy transition. Our people and projects are focused on supporting long-term sustainable growth and energy security.

Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024.

Summary

Finance Manager, US Operations will have responsibility for the delivery and oversight of all financial reporting and related controls in respect of a defined portfolio of US operational solar sites. Leading a team of two direct reports, Finance Manager, US Operations will represent the key ARC contact for numerous internal and external stakeholders, including Investment Management, Asset Management and external joint venture partners.

Key Deliverables

- Accurate and timely financial reporting in accordance with IFRS and US GAAP

- Implementation and maintenance of strong financial control environment

- Business partnering and support of internal and external stakeholders

- Team development

Duties and responsibilities

Management Accounts

- Oversight and ownership for all financial reporting and related control processes in respect of a defined portfolio of operational solar sites

- Responsibility for accurate and timely completion of all required month-end close activities related to defined portfolio

- Produce monthly management accounts in accordance with IFRS and US GAAP, and related commentary to facilitate understanding of asset performance

- Independently review, understand and interpret financial reporting for defined portfolio, and present results each month in the execution of month-end review processes

- Ownership of balance sheet integrity including maintenance of the general ledger

- Ensure all underlying accounting records are maintained in accordance with business policies

- Drive the implementation and maintenance of Internal Controls for Financial Reporting (‘ICFR’)

- Work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure all relevant information requests are delivered accurately and within agreed timescales

- Co-ordinate and prioritise activities of direct reports, ensuring timely and accurate completion of financial reporting activities

Business Partnering and Team Development

- Maintain close and effective relationships with all relevant stakeholders, including:

- Asset Management to understand events or conditions arising at the solar site and consider their potential accounting implications (ie severe weather impacts, site malfunctions, or major repairs), and explain financial performance

- Investment Management to understand and deliver lender and/or investor requirements and agreements, including debt and hedging arrangements as well as financial reporting requirements

- Power Marketing team to understand and interpret revenue contracts

- Gain an understanding of the differing transmission markets and there impacts on revenue agreements and other solar site operations

- Work closely with Group Reporting and Technical Accounting to communicate, assess and implement necessary accounting processes or transactions related to complex and non-routine arrangements

- Proactively manage and promote the development of team members.

Reporting and Distributions

- Prepare all required internal and external financial reporting, including the consolidation of relevant accounts in accordance with US GAAP and IFRS

- Produce relevant commentary required to assist in month over month variance analysis, as well as budget to actual performance

- Prepare US GAAP consolidated and unconsolidated financial packages for distribution internally and externally

- Work internally to calculate required distributions to internal and external shareholders

- Assist with the delivery of additional annual schedules, as required by auditors and/or lenders

Financial Processes and Systems

- Identify and drive improvements in financial processes/systems including those that enhance team effectiveness and/or accuracy of financial reporting

- Identify opportunities for process efficiencies, and support their implementation

- Liaise with internal Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable departments to ensure accurate processing of cash transactions

- Work with team to ensure all intercompany accounts are reconciled with respective counterparties

Audit and Tax and Entity Compliance

- Assist with the preparation of all schedules and supporting information required for year-end audit procedures for IFRS and US GAAP.

- Assist in the preparation of schedules for quarterly tax payments, and year end corporate returns

- Liaise with the external auditors and tax advisors as required

Other activities

- Take a hands-on approach where required, processing entries for all ledgers as necessary, as well as the oversight of activities of direct reports

- Take ownership and pride in the accuracy, quality, and timeliness of financial information

- Preparation of monthly accounts package in line with agreed deadlines

- Liaising with other members of the wider finance team

- Taking an analytic approach to all tasks at hand and provide added value to stakeholders

- Active involvement in M&A transactions, including the potential sale of assets as part of LSbp’s Develop to Sell Down (‘D2SD) business model

- Partner with other ARC functions globally to create synergies and improve relationships across Global ARC

What You'll Bring

Knowledge

- The ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment interfacing with internal teams and external clients.

- Ability to identify, interpret and account for technical accounting arrangements and complex transactions.

- Prepare, own and interpret management accounts of defined portfolio including interpretation of financial performance to stakeholders.

- Understand how to effectively manage team members and be a team player towards wider team goals

Qualifications

- CPA, including in-depth US GAAP and IFRS knowledge

- Ability to organize workload and prioritize to maximum effect

- Excellent attention to detail when performing reviews, including the identification and resolution of anomalies

- Set high standards of performance for yourself and the broader finance team

- Demonstrate excellent MS Excel and SAP skills

Experience

- 7-10 years of experience ideally with renewable energy, project infrastructure and/or manufacturing experience

- 2 years of experience managing direct reports

- Previous professional practice at Big 4 firm preferred

- Experience of tax equity preferred

- Experience of accounts consolidation and reporting

- Experience working within a global company

- SAP experience preferred

Personal qualities

- Keen problem solver who can focus on appropriate detail when solving problems and propose effective solutions

- Ability to pick up systems and processes quickly

- Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills, dealing with different levels in the organization

- Positive can-do attitude, ability to maintain a positive attitude in demanding situations

- Work effectively as part of a team, share information with relevant parties

- Willingness to take on a variety of duties as required

- Be adaptable and open to change

We offer

- Competitive compensation: $120,000 to $130,000 annually plus a 20% annual bonus.

- Health, dental, prescription, and vision care for US team members starts on your first day of employment with zero premiums for employee-only coverage.

- Retention bonuses

- Four weeks of vacation and three weeks of sick leave annually plus 11 paid holidays

- 401(k) plan, with a 3% nonelective employer contribution.

- Hybrid working environment (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday in office, Monday and Friday remote)

- Monthly personal phone bill reimbursement of up to $100 and a monthly commuter benefit of up to $150.

- Lifestyle Savings Account and more!

Why you’ll want to work with us

Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow – a place where your ideas and opinions matter.

Be you: We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.

Be responsible: Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity.

Be recognized: Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension, and other local benefits.

Be inspired: Join an agile, international team working across 15 countries to power the future and positively impact people, communities, ecosystems and biodiversity across the world.

Our core values: Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low-carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity/neurocognitive functioning, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation related to LSbp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us to request accommodations.