Director of Finance

Company Description

American Lithium Energy (ALE) is a clean energy leader specializing in advanced lithium-ion battery technology for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and grid storage solutions. The company designs high-performance batteries with superior energy density and long lifespans to improve efficiency and reliability across diverse applications. ALE is deeply committed to sustainability, emphasizing responsible sourcing, ethical manufacturing, and minimized environmental impact. Its success is driven by an experienced team, strong industry collaborations, and a focus on innovation that keeps the company at the forefront of the rapidly evolving energy storage market.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and manage ALE's capital structure, including evaluation of equipment and asset-based financing appropriate to a capital-intensive battery manufacturing operation.
• Develop and own ALE's financial strategy, multi-year financial model, and capital plan to fund production scale-up, capacity expansion, and working capital needs of a growing manufacturing operation.
• Own and directly oversee the finance and accounting organization, working alongside the Controller and Accountant(s), including hands‑on ownership of day-to-day accounting operations and cost accounting execution, and ensuring GAAP‑compliant financial statements, strong internal controls, and accurate reporting.
• Own the annual budgeting and forecasting process, working closely with Operations, Manufacturing, and Sales to align financial plans with production capacity and customer commitments.
• Manage banking relationships, credit facilities, and treasury/cash management, including cash flow forecasting appropriate to a capital-intensive manufacturing business.
• Own enterprise risk management, including financial, operational, and compliance risk, and report key risk areas to the CEO and Board.
• Ensure financial practices and internal controls meet AS9100 quality system requirements and applicable government contract cost accounting standards (FAR/CAS) given ALE's DoD and defense customer base.
• Serve as ALE's primary financial point of contact for existing investors and the Board of Directors, including investor relationship management, board reporting, and board deck preparation.
• Report financial results to investors and the Board of Directors on a regular cadence, including financial statements and key performance metrics.
• Lead audit relationships (financial and, where applicable, government/DCAA‑type audits); ensure timely, accurate financial reporting to the Board, investors, and lenders.
• Build and scale the finance and accounting organization as ALE grows, including hiring, developing, and managing the Controller, Industrial Accountants, and future finance hires.
• Lead the evaluation, selection, and implementation of financial systems and ERP infrastructure to support accurate financial reporting, cost accounting, and scale as production volume increases.
• Own day-to-day accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, and monthly close, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of financial records.
• Partner with HR to ensure payroll processing and pay practices comply with California wage‑and‑hour law, including meal and rest period requirements, overtime calculations, and timely final pay.
• Partner with the CEO and executive team on M&A, strategic partnerships, pricing strategy, and other corporate finance matters as they arise.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field; MBA or CPA strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive finance/accounting leadership experience, including prior experience as a Director of Finance, Controller, or similar senior finance role.
• Finance and accounting background with direct, hands‑on experience executing day‑to‑day cost accounting within a manufacturing or hardware environment.
• Experience presenting financial performance and reporting to a Board of Directors, investors, or senior leadership team.
• Strong GAAP knowledge and experience overseeing audited financial statements.
• Proven ability to build and scale financial systems, processes, and a finance/accounting team through a period of rapid company growth.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience with ERP evaluation, selection, and/or implementation, ideally in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of California wage‑and‑hour law and payroll compliance requirements or demonstrated ability to partner effectively with HR on these matters.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in battery, energy storage, aerospace, or other advanced manufacturing sectors.
• Corporate financial management experience related to mining, mineral exploration, or raw material supply chains relevant given ALE's reliance on lithium and other critical battery materials.
• Experience with government contract accounting (FAR/CAS) and DoD or other government customers.
• Prior experience operating in an AS9100‑or ISO 9001‑certified environment.
• Experience with ITAR/export‑controlled business environments.
• Direct experience implementing or administering ADP Workforce Now or a comparable HRIS/payroll platform.
• Background in hedge funds, investment management, or capital markets is a plus, supporting future growth into fundraising‑focused finance leadership as the role progresses toward VP of Finance and CFO.

Work Environment

This is a fully on‑site position at ALE's Vista, California facility. Regular presence on the manufacturing floor is expected to maintain a direct understanding of production costs and operations. Travel for board meetings and banking relationships occurs as needed but does not change the on‑site expectation for regular working days.

Equal Employment Opportunity

American Lithium Energy Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Job Type: Full-Time Salary, Onsite

Salary range: $170,000 - $205,000