Assistant Controller

Description

Fervo Energy is building the most cost-effective, repeatable geothermal power plants in the world. Achieving this mission requires disciplined financial operations, strong controls, audit-ready documentation, and scalable processes that support Fervo's transition into a public-company operating environment. Joining Fervo means operating at the intersection of energy infrastructure, growth-stage execution, and public-company readiness, where reliability, accountability, and continuous improvement are foundational.

We are seeking an Assistant Controller to lead and strengthen Fervo's general ledger, monthly close, cash and bank reconciliation, prepaids, accruals, intercompany, allocations, consolidations, and account reconciliation processes. This is a senior leadership role within the Controller organization, accountable for a close and reporting function that is accurate, efficient, well documented, and ready for public-company controls.

The Assistant Controller will report to the Controller and own core close, general ledger, and reporting activities across multiple entities, serving as the Controller's deputy on close and controls matters. The role pairs hands-on review with people leadership, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration. The successful candidate will lead and develop the general accounting team, improve documentation, strengthen reconciliations, and build repeatable processes that reduce rework and overtime.

Fervo is scaling rapidly, so this role requires strong ownership, crisp communication, a controls mindset, and the ability to partner effectively across Accounting, Finance, Operations, Legal, Tax, Treasury, Commercial, and external advisors.

Requirements

Responsibilities

Month-End Close and General Ledger Ownership

• Own the end-to-end month-end close of ad hoc and recurring close activities, including accounts payable, cash posting, bank reconciliations, prepaids, accruals, PP&E accounts, payroll-related accruals, legal accruals, G&A allocations, and other general ledger entries.
• Drive close timing, dependencies, support quality, and reviewer follow-up to ensure timely and efficient closing within agreed upon timelines.
• Partner with, Operations Accounting, Treasury, Tax, and Financial Reporting to ensure entries are complete, accurate, timely, and properly supported.
• Review monthly results with the Controller, including flux analyses, key judgments, and accrual and reserve positions.

Reconciliations, Controls and Audit Readiness

• Own balance sheet reconciliation quality for assigned areas, ensuring reconciliations explain ending balances, are complete and include quality support.
• Build, or lead staff in creating, desktop procedures, process narratives, and control documentation embedded in key recurring workpapers.
• Research and apply accounting guidance to establish new processes for new contracts, business structures or other activities.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for external auditors regarding transactional accounting matters and lead SOX readiness and internal control evidence delivery for close, reconciliations, allocations, and accrual processes.

Process Improvement and Team Development

• Identify manual close tasks that can be simplified, standardized, automated, or delegated to staff
• Support implementation and use of close management, reconciliation, ERP, and automation tools.
• Hire, develop, and cross-train staff and senior accountants to ensure continuity, vacation coverage, and clear ownership of recurring tasks.
• Use analytics to identify unusual balances, stale reconciling items, missed accruals, allocation issues, and process bottlenecks.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including 3+ years managing accounting teams, with strong monthly close and general ledger ownership.
• Experience preparing and reviewing journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, allocations, and close support.
• Strong understanding of US GAAP, internal controls, and audit-ready workpaper standards.
• Experience managing multiple entities, cost centers, intercompany activity, or complex allocation processes.
• Advanced Excel skills and comfort with ERP reports, trial balances, reconciliations, and close analytics.
• Ability to lead, coach, review work, and partner cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred

• Active CPA license strongly preferred.
• Public accounting and/or public-company experience.
• Experience with FloQast, Quorum, OpenInvoice
• Experience in energy, tax equity infrastructure, renewable power, or multi-entity project accounting environments.
• SOX readiness, process documentation, or system implementation experience.

Success Profile

• Builds audit-ready workpapers and documentation that a reviewer, auditor, or backup owner can easily follow
• Owns work end-to-end, follows up until reviewer sign-off, and escalates blockers early.
• Communicates with clear action items, deadlines, and business context.
• Uses technology, AI-enabled drafting, and automation thoughtfully while validating outputs and underlying data.
• Develops repeatable processes and cross-training so the accounting organization can scale sustainably.