Controller

Southside Electric Cooperative is seeking an experienced, hands-on Controller to help lead the financial operations that support safe, reliable, affordable, and innovative electric service across Southside Virginia. This is an excellent opportunity for a strong accounting professional who has grown from entry-level accounting work to controller-level responsibility-and who is ready to bring both technical expertise and people-centered leadership to a mission-driven cooperative.

The Controller works closely with the Chief Financial Officer and plays a key role in accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, purchasing, warehouse oversight, internal controls, audits, and financial decision support. The right candidate will be comfortable with details, confident leading people, and able to explain complex financial information clearly to any audience.

At SEC, our work supports reliable service and the communities we serve. This role offers the opportunity to lead meaningful financial operations, develop an exceptional team, improve processes, and contribute to the long-term strength of a cooperative that values people, service, accountability, and trust.

What You'll Do

Lead accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, audits, and internal controls to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant financial information.

Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, including financial statements, regulatory reports, account reconciliations, and regular financial analysis.

Maintain the accuracy and integrity of the general ledger.

Guide annual operating and capital budget planning by working with departments to develop assumptions, evaluate spending needs, prepare recommendations, monitor performance, and explain variances.

Provide financial analysis and decision support for capital projects, operating initiatives, major purchases, cost-management opportunities, cash needs, and other business decisions.

Monitor financial trends, operating results, budget performance, and business activity to help Cooperative leadership and the Board make informed decisions.

Oversee cash management, banking relationships, bank reconciliations, authorized access, segregation of duties, internal controls, and related financial procedures.

Provide leadership and oversight for purchasing and warehouse functions, including procurement controls, vendor relationships, contract-related processes, inventory accuracy, materials management, receiving, issuing, and coordination with accounting and work order records.

Provide recommendations on processes, internal controls, documentation, accountability, and financial procedures across accounting, payroll, purchasing, and warehouse.

Serve as a trusted resource for employees, supervisors, management, Board members, auditors, vendors, lenders, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Lead, coach, and develop direct and indirect reports by setting clear expectations, supporting performance, encouraging professional growth, addressing concerns when needed, and encouraging a collaborative, service-focused team culture.

What We're Looking For

Someone who knows the numbers, understands how they affect the Cooperative, and can use that knowledge to support good business decisions.

A high level of accuracy and attention to detail in accounting, budgeting, purchasing, warehouse, payroll, and reporting processes.

Clear, professional communication skills with employees, management, the Board of Directors, vendors, auditors, and other stakeholders, including the ability to explain financial information to both financial and non-financial audiences.

Strong analytical ability, including experience interpreting financial results, large datasets, trends, variances, risks, and alternatives and translating findings into practical recommendations and solutions.

Proven budget and financial planning ability, including developing assumptions, building and analyzing operating and capital budgets, forecasting results, evaluating variances, and communicating financial impacts.

Strong knowledge of GAAP, RUS Uniform System of Accounts, SCC reporting requirements, internal controls, segregation of duties, financial policies, audit requirements, and risk management principles.

Working knowledge of procurement, purchasing, vendor management, competitive procurement, approval requirements, contract administration, warehouse operations, inventory controls, receiving, issuing, cycle counts, physical inventory, inventory valuation, and the relationship between materials and financial records.

Understanding of the relationship between general ledger accounts, departmental coding, activity codes, work orders, inventory and materials, budget project codes, payroll accounting, deductions, employer taxes, benefits, labor distribution, and cooperative policies.

Familiarity with disaster-related financial documentation, including FEMA Public Assistance documentation standards and reimbursement processes for electric utility events.

Advanced technical capability with Excel, financial reporting, financial modeling, workflow management, troubleshooting, system controls, automation, data integrity, and process improvement.

Ability to manage multiple priorities and functions, often in a very high-pressure environment, while maintaining accuracy, timeliness, accountability, and confidentiality.

Ability to work with other departments to resolve financial, purchasing, inventory, payroll, compliance, and operational issues.

Sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive Cooperative, employee, vendor, and financial information.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.

Minimum of 10 years of progressive accounting experience that demonstrates growth from entry-level accounting responsibilities into accounting leadership or controller-level responsibility, including direct supervisory responsibility for employees and teams.

Utility accounting experience is preferred.

Minimum of 4 years of supervisory experience with responsibility for leading people, developing staff, and managing performance.

Ability to combine strong technical accounting expertise with excellent communication, relationship-building, and team leadership skills.

All hires are subject to a pre-employment background check to include local, state, and federal criminal history; employment history; employment references; education verification; driver's record history; and, where applicable: license verification; safety history (linemen); and FMCSA query for positions requiring a CDL. We are a zero-tolerance drug-free workplace. All hires must take a pre-employment drug & alcohol test and have a pre-employment physical. All employees of Southside Electric Cooperative are subject to random drug tests at any time.