Assistant Controller Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Overview

Join a Company That Grows People

At Lewis, we're not just trimming trees - we're building a future. As the second-largest utility vegetation management company in North America and a proud employee-owned business, we believe every person on our team matters. When you join Lewis, you're not just taking a job - you're investing in your future.

Why You'll Love It Here

• Experience the great outdoors while working in nature, not stuck behind a desk!
• Elevate your career with us - we prioritize training and internal promotions!
• Join a vibrant team that champions safety, values your feedback, and fosters a strong sense of camaraderie!
• Shape your future with us through our fantastic Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)!

ResponsibilitiesWhat You'll Do as a Controller:

• Lead the accounting operations of the company, including accurate financial reporting, cost control, and visibility into customer profitability and job performance.
• Partner closely with operational leadership to execute company initiatives, including system redesign and process improvement projects.
• Lead key accounting functions, including general ledger, fixed assets, and accounts payable.
• Ensure accounting accuracy, integrity, and compliance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close and consolidation processes.
• Deliver timely, complete, and accurate financial statements.
• Partner with operations to analyze financial performance, explain variances, and provide actionable insights.
• Drive continuous improvement across the accounting organization by assessing procedures, identifying inefficiencies and control gaps, and implementing streamlined, standardized, and automated solutions.
• Support scalability, growth, and timely financial reporting through improved accounting processes.
• Serve as the accounting lead for system implementations, upgrades, and enhancements related to financial reporting and accounting operations.
• Partner with IT and business leaders to implement and optimize system performance, data integrity, and automation.
• Develop and enhance financial reporting to provide profitability analysis and performance insights to operational leaders.
• Support data-driven decision-making through clear, timely, and useful financial reporting.
• Lead the design and continuous improvement of cost accounting and job cost reporting.
• Establish and maintain cost accounting frameworks, policies, procedures, and methodologies.
• Ensure accurate profitability reporting and provide insight into margins, cost drivers, cost variances, and operational performance.
• Develop, implement, and maintain standardized internal controls to safeguard company assets and reduce the risk of errors and fraud.
• Interpret GAAP and determine how new standards and complex transactions should be recognized.
• Resolve complex or judgment-based accounting matters.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of accounting professionals.
• Foster a culture of support, excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Set departmental goals and KPIs in support of Finance organization objectives.
• Monitor team progress and hold team members accountable for results.
• Carry out other duties as assigned.

QualificationsWhat You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Certified Public Accountant designation.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive accounting experience.
• At least 7 years of supervisory experience.
• Deep knowledge of GAAP and regulatory reporting.
• Experience interpreting and implementing new accounting standards.
• Experience developing and implementing internal control frameworks.
• Experience leading accounting teams and supporting cross-functional operations.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, operationally driven environment.
• Ability to act quickly and confidently in ambiguous situations using logic and strategic judgment.
• Ability to manage stressful situations with composure and professionalism.
• Strong business acumen with a focus on margin improvement and operational efficiency.
• Ability to evaluate, mentor, motivate, and develop a high-performing workforce.
• Ability to quickly adapt to new software and office tools.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel and Outlook.
• Experience using relevant business systems.

Preferred:

• MBA.
• Experience leading accounting operations in a field-based, operational, or multi-location business.
• Experience with system redesign, process improvement, automation, or financial systems implementation.
• Experience with cost accounting and job cost reporting.
• Experience partnering directly with operations leadership.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Expert knowledge of GAAP and regulatory reporting.
• Strong ability to interpret and apply new accounting pronouncements.
• Strong understanding of internal controls and risk mitigation.
• Ability to assess processes, identify control gaps, and implement improved procedures.
• Strong business acumen and ability to understand business operating models and objectives.
• Ability to critically assess and resolve complex business process challenges.
• Proactive problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and recommend effective solutions.
• Ability to evaluate risks, costs, and benefits when making recommendations.
• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Ability to coach team members with clear, constructive feedback.
• Ability to address performance issues promptly and professionally.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a high level of honesty and integrity.
• Ability to earn the trust and confidence of senior management.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Improvement-minded approach to leadership, processes, and team development.

Physical DemandsAbility to:

• Stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time, reach, and perform repetitive computing tasks regularly.
• Communicate clearly in person, by phone, and through virtual platforms.
• Review financial reports, spreadsheets, business systems, documents, and computer screens for extended periods.
• Occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb stairs, and lift or move up to 25 lbs.
• Travel occasionally by ground and/or air transportation, including overnight stays.

Continuously: Sitting, communicating, using computersFrequently: Reviewing financial data, working in spreadsheets, preparing reports, analyzing business performanceOccasionally: Walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, climbing stairs, traveling, lifting or moving up to 25 lbs.Rarely: Exposure to field or operational work environmentsNever: Confined spaces

Environmental Conditions:

Regularly: Office environmentOccasionally: Travel-related environments, meeting rooms, field or operational locationsRarely: Outdoor exposure, temperature extremes, active jobsite exposureNever: Confined spaces

Comments: PPE required per OSHA and ANSI standards when visiting field or operational locations. Occasional travel may be required, including overnight stays.

Tools & EquipmentEquipment may include:

• Computers, phones, scanners, fax machines, and copiers
• Microsoft Office, including Excel and Outlook
• Financial reporting systems
• Accounting and consolidation systems
• General ledger, fixed asset, and accounts payable systems
• Cost accounting and job cost reporting tools
• Business intelligence, reporting, and data analysis tools
• Communication and collaboration platforms

What We OfferNon-Union Benefits:

• Competitive pay $148,000 - $178,000 
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan
• Paid training and certifications
• Career advancement opportunities
• Health, dental, vision, and HSA options
• 401(k) and retirement savings options
• Paid time off
• Employee Assistance Program

People PromiseOur commitment to Our People is key to the success of our business.  We respect the differences between us, and we leverage those differences to create an environment where all employees feel welcome and fairly treated.  We seek the best solutions possible by attracting and engaging a diverse workforce where all perspectives are sought out and valued. 

Lewis Tree Service is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity for both applicants and employees. Lewis Tree Service prohibits unlawful discrimination or harassment of employees and applicants based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age (40+), religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic, all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, apprenticeship, promotion, demotion, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment. Lewis Tree Service's practices and policies are administered under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Spanish PostingLo Que Haras como Controller:

• Liderar las operaciones contables de la compania, incluyendo reportes financieros precisos, control de costos y visibilidad sobre la rentabilidad de clientes y el desempeno de trabajos.
• Colaborar de cerca con el liderazgo de operaciones para ejecutar iniciativas de la compania, incluyendo rediseno de sistemas y proyectos de mejora de procesos.
• Liderar funciones contables clave, incluyendo libro mayor, activos fijos y cuentas por pagar.
• Asegurar la precision, integridad y cumplimiento contable con los Principios de Contabilidad Generalmente Aceptados en Estados Unidos.
• Supervisar los procesos de cierre y consolidacion mensual, trimestral y anual.
• Entregar estados financieros oportunos, completos y precisos.
• Colaborar con operaciones para analizar el desempeno financiero, explicar variaciones y brindar informacion practica.
• Impulsar la mejora continua en la organizacion contable mediante la evaluacion de procedimientos, identificacion de ineficiencias y brechas de control, e implementacion de soluciones simplificadas, estandarizadas y automatizadas.
• Apoyar la escalabilidad, el crecimiento y los reportes financieros oportunos mediante procesos contables mejorados.
• Servir como lider contable en implementaciones, actualizaciones y mejoras de sistemas relacionados con reportes financieros y operaciones contables.
• Colaborar con IT y lideres del negocio para implementar y optimizar el desempeno de sistemas, integridad de datos y automatizacion.
• Desarrollar y mejorar reportes financieros para brindar analisis de rentabilidad e informacion de desempeno a lideres de operaciones.
• Apoyar la toma de decisiones basada en datos mediante reportes financieros claros, oportunos y utiles.
• Liderar el diseno y la mejora continua de contabilidad de costos y reportes de costos por trabajo.
• Establecer y mantener marcos, politicas, procedimientos y metodologias de contabilidad de costos.
• Asegurar reportes precisos de rentabilidad y brindar informacion sobre margenes, impulsores de costos, variaciones de costos y desempeno operativo.
• Desarrollar, implementar y mantener controles internos estandarizados para proteger los activos de la compania y reducir el riesgo de errores y fraude.
• Interpretar GAAP y determinar como deben reconocerse nuevas normas y transacciones complejas.
• Resolver asuntos contables complejos o que requieran criterio profesional.
• Liderar, asesorar y desarrollar un equipo de profesionales contables de alto desempeno.
• Fomentar una cultura de apoyo, excelencia y mejora continua.
• Establecer metas departamentales y KPIs en apoyo de los objetivos de la organizacion de Finanzas.
• Monitorear el progreso del equipo y responsabilizar a los miembros por los resultados.
• Realizar otras tareas segun sean asignadas.

CalificacionesLo Que Aportas:

• Licenciatura en Contabilidad, Finanzas o un campo relacionado.
• Designacion de Contador Publico Certificado.
• Minimo de 10 anos de experiencia progresiva en contabilidad.
• Al menos 7 anos de experiencia supervisando equipos.
• Conocimiento profundo de GAAP y reportes regulatorios.
• Experiencia interpretando e implementando nuevas normas contables.
• Experiencia desarrollando e implementando marcos de control interno.
• Experiencia liderando equipos contables y apoyando operaciones interfuncionales.
• Capacidad para trabajar eficazmente en un entorno dinamico e impulsado por operaciones.
• Capacidad para actuar de manera rapida y segura en situaciones ambiguas usando logica y criterio estrategico.
• Capacidad para manejar situaciones estresantes con calma y profesionalismo.
• Fuerte conocimiento del negocio con enfoque en mejora de margenes y eficiencia operativa.
• Capacidad para evaluar, asesorar, motivar y desarrollar una fuerza laboral de alto desempeno.
• Capacidad para adaptarse rapidamente a nuevos programas y herramientas de oficina.
• Dominio de Microsoft Office, incluyendo Excel y Outlook.
• Experiencia usando sistemas empresariales relevantes.

Preferido:

• MBA.
• Experiencia liderando operaciones contables en un negocio operativo, de campo o con multiples ubicaciones.
• Experiencia con rediseno de sistemas, mejora de procesos, automatizacion o implementacion de sistemas financieros.
• Experiencia con contabilidad de costos y reportes de costos por trabajo.
• Experiencia colaborando directamente con liderazgo de operaciones.

Conocimientos, Destrezas y Habilidades:

• Conocimiento experto de GAAP y reportes regulatorios.
• Fuerte capacidad para interpretar y aplicar nuevos pronunciamientos contables.
• Solida compr...