Senior Staff Accountant in Santa Ana, California at FirstElement Fuel

Come join our team at FirstElement Fuel and be a part of impacting the world in positive ways!

FirstElement Fuel along with its True Zero brand is the leader in the deployment of retail hydrogen refueling stations. We are a California-based company established in 2013 to provide safe, reliable, retail fuel to customers of fuel cell electric vehicles. The True Zero retail hydrogen network is the largest in the world today and is critical to California global energy transformation.

Our mission is to foster the widespread adoption of hydrogen vehicles and reduce the impact of driving on our planet. FirstElement Fuel is continuously growing the refueling infrastructure and we believe hydrogen will change the world in a positive way.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: SENIOR STAFF ACCOUNTANT

We are seeking a Senior Staff Accountant who thrives in a hands-on, evolving environment. This role will work closely with the accounting and finance team, as well as cross-functional partners across operations, public policy, and development. The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in public accounting (with additional private industry experience a plus), is detail-oriented, and is comfortable owning processes, reconciling accounts, and proactively collaborating to gather information and resolve issues.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

Month-End Close & Financial Reporting:

• Prepare and post general ledger entries in accordance with GAAP.
• Own and maintain monthly balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Reconcile all cash accounts and record related transactions.
• Analyze variances and provide flux analysis on financial results versus budget.
• Identify, prepare, and record accruals for month-end reporting.
• Maintain and update accounting schedules, databases, and supporting documentation.

Billing & Accounts Receivable:

• Prepare monthly customer invoices and ensure accurate billing.
• Communicate with customers and internal stakeholders to support timely collections.

Process Improvement & Cross-Functional Support:

• Partner with cross-functional teams to obtain necessary financial information and improve data flow.
• Proactively identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and scalability.
• Participate in periodic meetings (e.g., with construction/operations teams) to review job cost reports and variances.

Audit, Compliance & Special Projects:

• Assist with year-end audit requests and support external auditors.
• Support the development and maintenance of internal controls and accounting policies.
• Contribute to risk management efforts, including review of relevant financial documentation.
• Support ad hoc financial analysis and special projects as needed.

Other Accounting Duties:

• Assist with year-end audit requests.
• Recommend ways to reduce costs and enhance revenue.
• Collaborate with other departments to build out existing processes and identify opportunities for new process improvements.
• Other ad-hoc requests as required.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• 3+ years of experience in Big 4 public accounting required; private industry experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and month-end close processes.
• Proven experience preparing and maintaining account reconciliations.
• Comfortable reaching out to internal teams and external parties to gather information and resolve discrepancies.
• Strong attention to detail with a high level of accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Office (especially Excel).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-starter with a process improvement mindset and adaptability to change.

Desired Skills & Knowledge:

• Experience in a high-growth or startup environment.
• Experience with standard costing, job costing, construction accounting, or project-based accounting.
• Exposure to audit processes and working with external auditors.

Schedule + Benefits:

• Excellent Benefits, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) Plan with 6% employer match, Life insurance, PTO, committed work environment

The base salary range for this full-time position is $120,000 to $135,000 + benefits (DOE). Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for this position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work locations and additional factors, including job-related skill, experience, and relevant education or training. Please note that the compensation details listed reflect the base salary only and do not include any bonus or benefits.

FirstElement Fuel is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, training or promoting, on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, medical condition, age, U.S. military or protected veteran status or political affiliation. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. We also perform employment background checks.