Accounting & HR Director in Mount Airy, North Carolina at AES

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.

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 organization, including executives, managers, frontline employees, vendors, banks, auditors, and legal counsel.
• Ability to handle sensitive financial, HR, and legal matters with professionalism, diplomacy, and strict confidentiality, including pay, medical and investigation records.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and strategic problem solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial and HR information and turn it into actionable decisions.
• Advanced financial acumen, including cash flow forecasting, budgeting, financial modeling, cost control, margin analysis, risk assessment, and ROI evaluation.
• Demonstrated success partnering with operations to improve profitability, optimize working capital, strengthen cost discipline, and evaluate capital investments.
• Strong understanding of accounting systems, internal controls, GAAP compliance, and financial best practices.
• Strong understanding of employment laws, HR compliance, multi state regulations, litigation processes, and working with employment attorneys.
• Experience leading cultural initiatives that strengthen engagement, accountability, mission alignment, and organizational health.
• Strong data literacy, including ERP/MRP systems, dashboards, KPI management, financial reporting tools, and HRIS platforms.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel (advanced formulas, modeling, pivot tables), Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability to lead process improvement and automation initiatives in both accounting and HR workflows to increase accuracy, speed, and efficiency.
• Ability to assess financial and HR risks, prioritize actions, and make sound decisions in fast paced and changing environments.
• Ability to work collaboratively and cross functionally, supporting companywide goals and contributing as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to coach, guide, challenge, and influence others constructively.
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and follow through in financial, HR, and compliance responsibilities.
• Strong initiative, ownership, and accountability, with the ability to drive strategic projects from concept to implementation.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines, re prioritize as conditions change, and maintain high-quality output under pressure.
• Ability to interpret and apply federal and state labor laws, company policies, and regulatory requirements consistently and fairly.
• Ability to evaluate, negotiate, and manage vendor relationships, including banking partners, benefits providers, insurers, auditors, and service partners.
• Skill in building trust and credibility across the organization, ensuring financial transparency, cultural alignment, ethics, and employee engagement.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequent sitting at a workstation while using the phone and/or working on a computer.
• Occasional bending, stooping and walking.
• Frequent use of eye, hand, and finger coordination enabling the use of office equipment or computers.
• Oral and auditory capacity enabling interpersonal communication as well as communication through automated devices such as the telephone.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environmental characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Generally, will work in an office environment that is clean, well lit, and climate controlled with minimal noise.
• Ability to occasionally travel domestically up to 50% of the time to other AES facilities, customer and supplier sites as well as industry related events and community events.
• Occasional presence in shop and warehouse areas where required personal protective equipment must be worn and that may or may not be well lit, be climate controlled, or have loud warehouse type noise.

Occasional: activity exists less than 1/3 of the time.

Frequent: activity exists 1/3 and 2/3 of the time.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed in this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities, or working conditions associated with the position, and it does not constitute an employment contract or alter the at-will nature of employment with AES. AES reserves the right to revise this job description at any time.

AES is an Equal Opportunity Employer. AES does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. AES provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and to sincerely held religious beliefs and practices, absent undue hardship.