Accounting Manager

📍 Location: Arlington, VA (Hybrid; 4 days/week in office)

👥 Team: Accounting & Finance

🧭 Reports to: Controller

💼 Type: Full-time (exempt)

📌 Job details

Dandelion is seeking an experienced Accounting Manager to serve as the technical and operational core of our accounting function. Reporting to the Controller, you will be the primary driver of day-to-day accounting operations, month-end close, and technical accounting – owning execution quality while supporting the Controller in building processes that scale with the business.

This is a hands-on role that requires deep technical competency, a high degree of ownership, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-moving environment. You will be the point person on close execution and technical accounting matters, working directly with the team on reconciliations, revenue recognition, and audit support while driving meaningful process improvements.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical accounting skills from construction, energy, or similar service-based industries, thrives in a high-growth environment, and takes genuine pride in the quality and integrity of their work.

🛠️ Responsibilities

• Immediate Priorities

  • Co-lead the PwC audit alongside the Controller, serving as the primary preparer, PBC owner and day-to-day auditor interface

  • Support implementation of a durable revenue recognition policy and WIP accounting framework aligned with ASC 606 and operational realities in collaboration with consulting firm

  • Conduct a thorough review of the month-end close process and reconciliations to identify gaps and strengthen close discipline

  • Identify key financial control risks and support implementation of preventative controls, with particular focus on segregation of duties remediation

  Core Accounting & Reporting

  • Own execution of the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring accurate and timely delivery of GAAP financial statements

  • Own gross margin integrity at the project level, including job cost accounting, WIP schedules, and root-cause analysis of margin variances

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

  • Prepare and maintain account reconciliations, subledger schedules, and supporting documentation across all major balance sheet and income statement areas

  • Assist in drafting and maintaining accounting memos to support technical positions, particularly around revenue recognition (ASC 606)

  • Support external audit and tax firm requests as the primary preparer; partner with the Controller to manage audit workflows

  Systems & Process Improvement

  • Drive automation of reconciliations, close workflows, and routine accounting processes to strengthen controls and reduce manual effort

  • Serve as the primary NetSuite administrator and functional owner, maintaining system integrity and supporting optimization initiatives

  • Partner with the Controller and data team to improve system integration, reporting accuracy, and cross-functional data visibility

  • Build and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and process documentation to support consistency and scalability

  Team Leadership & Strategic Partnership

  • Directly manage staff accountant and AP specialist, providing clear direction, coaching, and performance feedback

  • Maintain daily and weekly operating rhythms for the team, including close checklists, reconciliation deadlines, and review cadences

  • Act as a collaborative partner to Operations, Sales, and FP&A

🎯 We’re looking for:

• Execution-oriented: You take ownership of deliverables end-to-end and hold yourself to a high standard of accuracy and timeliness

• Technically strong: You can work through complex accounting issues independently and translate technical guidance into practical application

• Detail-oriented: You have an exceptional eye for detail and take pride in the precision of your work

• Low ego, high impact: You're a collaborative team player who prioritizes the team's success and communicates proactively when issues arise

• Growth mindset: You're energized by building scalable processes and aren't deterred by ambiguity or a fast-evolving environment

• Mission-driven: You're 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 Required)

• 5+ years of accounting experience

• 1+ years direct people management experience

• Strong technical accounting skills, particularly in revenue recognition for construction, energy, or service-based businesses

• Experience supporting external audits, including PBC preparation and auditor interaction

• Expertise in NetSuite

• Proven ability to manage and develop junior accounting staff

• Track record of implementing process improvements and driving close discipline

🌟 Bonus points for:

• Big Four or regional public accounting background

• Industry experience in geothermal, construction, residential services, or other businesses with similar revenue recognition and WIP dynamics (percentage-of-completion, contract accounting)

• Experience with Salesforce, Ramp, Smartsheet, or similar tools

• Prior experience at a venture-backed startup or growth-stage company

• Familiarity with federal and state energy tax incentives and the Inflation Reduction Act (Section 48)

🌼 About Dandelion

Dandelion Energy is transforming how homes are heated and cooled—starting from (below) the ground up. As the nation’s leading residential geothermal company, we design, install, and maintain all-in-one heating and cooling systems that are cleaner, quieter, more affordable, and up to 4× more efficient than traditional HVAC. Our focus is on large, enterprise deployments with major homebuilders, helping bring geothermal to more homes, faster.

Backed by Google Ventures (GV) and other top tech investors, our end-to-end geothermal solution is challenging the status quo in residential heating and cooling. We’re scaling strategically and intentionally to meet growing demand. Our mission is simple and bold: to make geothermal the default choice for heating and cooling in the U.S.

🌳 Why Dandelion

Dandelion Energy is at the forefront of the transition to clean, efficient home energy. Our team has delivered thousands of high-quality geothermal installations across the country, helped elevate geothermal heat pumps nationally, and played a meaningful role in advancing electrification-friendly policy at both the local and federal levels.

We’re a multidisciplinary, mission-driven team spanning hardware engineering, HVAC, drilling, solar finance, behavioral economics, and startup operations. Together, we’re building something complex, impactful, and designed to scale … work that directly shapes how homes are powered for decades to come.

At Dandelion, you’ll find a collaborative, fast-paced, and inclusive culture where curiosity, ownership, and cross-functional teamwork are core to how we operate. Our nationwide team is united by a shared commitment to sustainability and a belief that clean, affordable heating and cooling should be the standard.

We’re driving a wholesale shift in how homes are heated and cooled. Join us.

🎁 Benefits & Perks

• Medical (including mental health), dental, vision, and pet insurance

• 401(k) plan

• Commuter benefits

• Generous paid sick leave, vacation, and parental leave

• Learning & development support, including on-the-job training and virtual courses

• Pet insurance