Director of Finance

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

Customized Energy Solutions (CES) is a global energy services and technology company that helps market participants operate, comply, and compete in deregulated electricity and natural gas markets. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Philadelphia, CES works with utilities, independent power producers, energy suppliers, developers, asset owners, and investors across North America and globally.

CES delivers market intelligence, regulatory and market design support, asset and portfolio management, retail market operations, and energy technology solutions. Our teams track and interpret ISO/RTO rules and policy developments, support resource planning and market participation, manage operational and settlement processes, and develop proprietary software platforms—including CES BLUE, GOLD, RED, GRIDBOOST, and CoMETS—that help clients manage risk, optimize performance, and respond effectively to market change.

CES is committed to advancing transparent, efficient, and non-discriminatory energy markets while delivering practical, high-quality solutions marked by integrity, rigor, and long-term client value.

CES has been nationally and regionally recognized for sustained growth and innovation, including listings on the  Inc. 500|5000and  Philadelphia Business Journal’s Top 100 Companies , as well as a  Best Places to Work designation with Hall of Fame status for five or more consecutive years.

With headquarters in Philadelphia and offices across the U.S., Canada, Japan, India, and Vietnam, CES offers a collaborative, flexible, and globally connected work environment for professionals passionate about the future of energy.

The Director of Finance will provide financial leadership and oversight for CES’s U.S. and international finance operations, including India, Vietnam, Japan, and Canada. This role will supervise the U.S. Controller and India Finance Manager, who are responsible for managing day-to-day accounting operations and their respective accounting team members.

The Director of Finance will be expected to lead while maintaining strong visibility into close quality, reporting accuracy, controls, deadlines, invoicing procedures, cash flow, and business-facing financial analysis. The role is both strategic and hands-on at the leadership level, with responsibility for FP&A, management reporting, accounting oversight, controls, audit support, cash management, and cross-border finance coordination.

Because CES’s India operations are complex, experience with India finance operations, statutory compliance, tax coordination, and/or energy market accounting is highly desired.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide leadership oversight to the U.S. Controller and India Finance Manager, including expectations, deadlines, reporting cadence, controls, and accountability across the full finance/accounting team.
• Ensure timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes by setting standards, reviewing results, monitoring key reconciliations and accruals, and holding finance teams accountable for execution.
• Review financial statements, close packages, balance sheet reconciliations, AP, AR, billing, collections, intercompany activity, and other accounting outputs for accuracy, completeness, and business impact.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, financial modeling, and management reporting for U.S. and international operations.
• Prepare executive-level financial reports, dashboards, and analysis that explain performance by business unit, geography, project, service line, and/or cost center.
• Partner with leadership on financial planning related to staffing, compensation planning, project economics, pricing, vendor spend, office costs, and growth initiatives.
• Provide senior-level oversight of India finance operations, including invoicing, reconciliations, GST and other direct and indirect tax matters, statutory compliance coordination, corporate/secretarial compliance coordination, documentation, audit support, and return-support processes, while working through the India Finance Manager and local advisors for day-to-day execution.
• Oversee financial activity related to power trading and energy market operations, including settlements, revenue recognition support, payables, receivables, accruals, reconciliations, margin reporting, and working capital impact.
• Coordinate finance processes for Vietnam, Japan, and Canada, including local reporting support, cross-border expenses, vendor payments, intercompany activity, and local compliance coordination.
• Strengthen internal controls, approval processes, documentation standards, audit readiness, and financial policies across the global finance function.
• Support cash flow forecasting, banking relationships, liquidity planning, international payments, and foreign currency considerations as needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve finance systems, reporting tools, workflows, automation, and data flow between finance, operations, payroll, project reporting, and business leadership.
• Maintain visibility into finance and compliance coordination for CES Foundation, a separately registered Section 8 company in India, including coordination with the India finance team and local advisors to ensure its distinct statutory and compliance obligations are appropriately tracked and supported.
• Coordinate with business line team members to streamline client invoice processes.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or related field required; advanced degree or relevant credential preferred.
• CPA, CA, CMA, MBA, CFA, CTP, or comparable finance/accounting credential.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible finance/accounting experience, including leadership of accounting or finance teams.
• Prior experience supervising controllers, accounting managers, or comparable finance leaders.
• Hands-on experience with monthly close, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, audit support, and internal controls.
• Experience overseeing or coordinating India finance operations, including GST, direct and indirect tax matters, invoicing, reconciliations, statutory compliance, documentation, audit support, and return-support processes.
• Experience working with international operations, offshore accounting teams, subsidiaries, or multi-location finance structures.
• Strong Excel, financial modeling, reporting, and analytical skills.
• Experience with ERP/accounting systems required; experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or a comparable mid-market ERP/accounting platform strongly preferred.
• Ability to evaluate and improve financial reporting, accounting workflows, payroll interfaces, approval processes, and data flow between Business Central, payroll, project reporting, and business leadership.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with power trading, energy markets, electricity market accounting, commodity/transaction -based energy operations, or similarly complex settlement-driven financial activity.
• Experience in professional services, consulting, energy, technology, or project-based businesses.
• Experience working with India-based entities, statutory auditors, tax advisors, corporate/secretarial compliance providers, or charitable/nonprofit entities such as Section 8 companies.

LEADERSHIP PROFILE

• Able to lead through finance managers and controllers while maintaining clear visibility into key deliverables, financial details, and accountability across the full finance team.
• Comfortable working across time zones and cultures, especially with India, Vietnam, Japan, and Canada.
• Practical, hands-on, and able to build structure without slowing the business down.
• Strong communicator who can explain financial information clearly to non-finance leaders.
• High judgment, discretion, accuracy, and follow-through.

CES offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus a performance bonus, profit-sharing, a Medical Savings Account, comprehensive health insurance, disability and life insurance, 401(k) matching, and tuition reimbursement.

Beyond the package, here’s what you can expect at CES:

• Meaningful responsibility and the opportunity to make a real impact in dynamic energy markets.
• The chance to learn from and collaborate with experienced professionals across global teams.
• Ongoing opportunities to strengthen your technical, analytical, and leadership skills.
• A supportive culture that values initiative, accountability, and continuous professional growth.

Customized Energy Solutions provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Customized Energy Solutions provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.