Accounting & HR Director

Description

SUMMARY

Provides strategic and operational leadership over all financial and HR functions in the organization. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, strong internal controls, sound budgeting and forecasting practices, effective cash flow management, and compliant HR operations that support a high performance, people first culture. The Director partners closely with Operations, Sales, and IT to drive financial discipline, talent development, and organizational alignment that supports the company’s mission, vision, values, and long term strategic objectives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following, other duties may be assigned:

Finance & Accounting

• •Develops and executes financial strategies to achieve company objectives.
• •Works closely with Operations to analyze job costing, production efficiency, labor utilization, overhead absorption, and waste reduction.
• •Identifies opportunities to expand profit margins and support operations in executing improvements.
• •Maintains a forward-looking cash flow forecast, advising the CEO and SLT on cash flow and proactively addressing future strains.
• •Forecasts cash needs and advises CEO on financing, credit lines, reserves, investment, and liquidity strategies.
• •Manages banking and finance partner relationships, insurance carrier and broker relationships, and CPA and audit firm relationships.
• •Determines optimal timing for large expenditures, investments, and capital purchases through CAPEX plans.
• •Evaluate CAPEX investments (equipment buildings, technology), acquisitions, and other growth initiatives. Provides performance reports to include ROI projections vs. targets / forecasts to CEO and identifies causes for ROI changes.
• •Builds ROI models, risk assessments, payback period analysis, and financial simulations.
• •Ensures every major investment has a clear business case, measurable financial targets, and tracks results post-implementation.
• •Works with A/P, Purchasing, and others to:
• •Negotiate payment terms to strengthen cash flow position and increase margins.
• •Optimize inventory levels from a cash flow standpoint.
• •Improve collections processes without harming customer relationships.
• •Identify automation, process improvements, and system integrations that streamline financial operations.
• •Creates annual operating and capital budgets and presents to CEO for approval. Designs budgets to ensure we achieve financial objectives. Meets with budget owners to review over/under budget spending and making adjustments as necessary.
• •Approves headcount within the approved plan, decides band placement and pay changes within it.
• •Participates in developing new business by reviewing prospective contracts, identifying funding opportunities, determining cost effectiveness and creating budgets.
• •Manages and comply with local, state, and federal government reporting requirements and tax filings.
• •Represents the company at legislative sessions, to financial partners and at formal functions.

Human Resources

• •Leads, sets objectives, and reviews overall performance of all HR functions: recruiting, onboarding, performance management, employee relations, etc.
• •Leads initiatives that embed AES’ mission, vision, and values into daily operations.
• •Partners with CEO and HR staff to strengthen culture, engagement, and organizational health.
• •Ensures that the workplace supports safety, accountability, respect, and professional growth.
• •Oversees legal and regulatory compliance across all employment practices.
• •Manages relationships with employment attorneys.
• •Lead response and strategy for:
• •Legal claims
• •Investigations
• •Regulatory inquiries
• •Workers compensation escalations
• •Ensures compliance with:
• •State Tax registrations
• •HR, Payroll, & Benefit laws
• •State and industry-specific regulations
• •Record management & retention
• •All other requirement for establishing operations in new states
• •Owns & provides overall direction on:
• •Recruiting strategies
• •Benefits plan design
• •Pay structures and pay-band framework
• •Employee relations
• •Performance management
• •Training and development
• •Policy management
• •Ensures policy consistency, clarity, and alignment with AES values.
• •Leads efforts to improve retention, accountability, and employee satisfaction.
• •Ensures AES is an employer of choice in the region and industry.
• •Attends leadership team meetings and other required meetings to discuss sales trends, operational challenges, competitive activities, and opportunities to maximize sales efforts.
• •Participates in leadership training and other company programs to develop leadership and job skills.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES

• •Actively participating in the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to shape and execute the company’s strategic plan to achieve strategic objectives set out in the company’s strategic plan.
• •Leading with the company’s Mission, Vision, and Values, and modeling Truly Human Leadership by treating every individual with respect, dignity, and care.
• •Making company wide decisions that prioritize the long term health, culture, and performance of the organization, beyond departmental interests.
• •Collaborating closely with fellow SLT members to strengthen operational alignment, improve communication, and ensure consistent execution across all departments.
• •Serving as a cultural ambassador who reinforces accountability, trust, continuous improvement, and people first leadership throughout the organization.
• •Taking responsibility for developing future leaders, coaching team members, and creating an environment where individuals can grow, succeed, and find meaning in their work.
• •Supporting financial stewardship through thoughtful resource management, cost discipline, and operational focus aligned with company performance goals.
• •Maintaining a unified, one team approach in all discussions, decisions, and initiatives, ensuring company success comes before departmental priorities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversees the Accounting Department including interns, reception, accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial analyst(s), controller(s), and relevant accounting staff. Oversees the Human Resources Departments including interns, human resource management, payroll, benefit staff, and other relevant human resources staff.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• •Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required.
• •12+ years of progressive work experience in accounting or related field with managerial experience in an organization of at least 100 employees including 5 years running an accounting function and direct accountability for HR compliance at a multi-site employer.
• •Demonstrated success improving financial results and influencing operational decisions.
• •Deep understanding of financial modeling, forecasting, and cash flow management.
• •Familiarity with employment law, compliance, and HR best practices.
• •Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• •Experience in service-oriented field preferred.
• •Experience negotiating financing, capital purchases, and vendor terms.
• •Experience supporting multi-state HR operations and multi-state accounting / tax requirements.
• •Experience with modern ERP systems, upgrading software and automation tools for accounting and/or HR functions.

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES

• •CMA required. CPA preferred.
• •SHRM-SCP required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal, with all levels of the org