PE-Backed Controller & Accounting Leader

About Wind River Environmental Wind River Environmental is a leading provider of non-hazardous liquid waste services; helping commercial, municipal, and residential customers protect critical infrastructure and the environment. Backed by private equity and growing rapidly through acquisition and operational expansion, we are building a high-performance organization focused on safety, service, accountability, and continuous improvement. We are practical, hands-on operators who move fast, solve problems, and expect leaders to roll up their sleeves alongside their teams. The Opportunity We are looking for a high-impact Controller / VP of Accounting to join the leadership team at a pivotal moment in the company's growth. This role is ideal for a strong accounting leader who can operate comfortably both in the weeds and at the strategic level — someone equally capable of driving a clean monthly close, preparing for a Quality of Earnings process, partnering with operational leaders, and building scalable systems and processes for the future. This leader will play a critical role in helping prepare the organization for an anticipated transaction process while simultaneously improving day-to-day accounting operations, financial discipline, and cross-functional collaboration throughout the business. The right candidate will bring strong technical accounting and cash management expertise, thrive in a fast-paced PE-backed environment, embrace technology and automation, and possess the leadership presence to partner effectively with operators across a decentralized field organization. Reporting to the CFO, this position oversees accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash management, audit support, lender reporting, and financial controls. What You'll Be Responsible For Lead and Elevate the Accounting Function Oversee all core accounting operations including general ledger, month-end close, AP, AR, treasury/cash management, fixed assets, and financial reporting Ensure timely, accurate, and scalable financial processes and reporting across a multi-location service organization Drive continuous improvement in close processes, controls, reconciliations, and reporting quality Build an accounting organization capable of supporting continued growth, acquisitions, and increased operational complexity Develop and mentor a strong accounting team while raising overall performance standards and accountability Support Transaction Readiness and Due Diligence Partner directly with the CFO, executive leadership team, and PE sponsor to prepare the company for an expected sale process Lead accounting readiness efforts for Quality of Earnings (QoE), lender diligence, audit support, and buyer requests Ensure financial data integrity, consistency, and supporting documentation across the organization Coordinate effectively with external auditors, lenders, tax advisors, and diligence providers Identify and proactively address accounting or process gaps ahead of diligence activities Drive Cash Flow Discipline Maintain strong oversight of working capital, cash forecasting, collections, and liquidity management Partner with operations and customer-facing teams to sustain and improve DSO performance Improve visibility into billing, collections, and cash conversion metrics across the business Ensure disciplined management of AP and cash disbursement processes Be a Strong Operational Business Partner Work closely with field operations leaders who possess varying levels of financial acumen Translate financial concepts into practical operational insights that help leaders make better decisions Support budgeting, forecasting, and operational performance management in partnership with FP&A Help build financial accountability and stronger P&L ownership throughout the organization Leverage Technology and Process Improvement Champion the use of systems and automation to improve accounting efficiency, reporting accuracy, and scalability Optimize workflows and integrations across systems including: NetSuite Workday Adaptive Planning PowerBI/Copilot Ramp Billtrust/GetPaid Identify opportunities to reduce manual processes and strengthen reporting capabilities PI284761493 What We're Looking For Experience & Background 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance leadership experience Experience as an Assistant Controller, Controller, Director of Accounting, or similar senior accounting leadership with readiness to step into the next level role Strong preference for experience in: Private equity-backed companies Multi-site or decentralized service businesses Industrial services, transportation, environmental services, construction services, or related industries Proven experience supporting audits, lender reporting, and transaction/diligence processes Strong understanding of GAAP, internal controls, and financial reporting best practices CPA strongly preferred Leadership Style & Capabilities Comfortable operating both strategically and tactically Hands-on leader who is willing to dive into details while improving the bigger picture Strong communicator capable of partnering effectively across all levels of the organization, including executives, field operations teams, and PE sponsor advisors Able to build credibility quickly across a fast-moving, operationally focused organization High sense of urgency, accountability, and ownership Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously Systems & Technical Skills Strong ERP and financial systems experience required NetSuite experience strongly preferred Advanced Excel and financial modeling/reporting capabilities Experience improving processes through automation and technology enablement Why This Role Matters This is a rare opportunity to step into a highly visible leadership role at a growing PE-backed company entering an important phase of its evolution. The Controller / VP of Accounting will have a direct impact on the company's operational performance, transaction readiness, scalability, and long-term success. You'll join a leadership team that values practical problem-solvers, collaboration, accountability, and people who know how to get things done. Wind River Environment LLC is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable law, we prohibit discrimination against any applicant or employee based on any legally-recognized basis, including, but not limited to: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation , gender identity , age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed servicemember status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and co-workers. The base pay range for this role is estimated to be $165,000 - $265,000 at the time of posting. Final compensation will be determined by various factors such as work location, education, experience, knowledge, and skills. #J-18808-Ljbffr