Director, Assistant Controller

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing AI tech-enabled startup in the nuclear and energy space, pioneering a fleet-scale approach to building the next generation of nuclear reactors. Through our design-once, build-many model, we're accelerating the deployment of safe, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy.

We operate with an AI-first mindset. Every employee is expected to leverage AI, technology, and the Nuclear Operating System (NOS) as integral components of their role to improve the quality, speed, and impact of their work. We expect every team member to continuously identify opportunities to automate workflows, enhance decision-making, improve processes, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of NOS as a strategic operating capability that enables The Nuclear Company to scale with excellence.

We hire people who are driven by purpose, thrive in ambiguity, and are energized by building what has never been built before. Our team combines intellectual curiosity with high agency, embraces candid feedback and continuous learning, and holds themselves and others to exceptional standards. Our values—Transparency, Responsibility, Unity, Scrappy, and Tenacity—guide how we hire, collaborate, and make decisions every day. They are not words on a wall; they are the standard by which we operate. TRUST is the foundation of our safety culture, fostering intellectual honesty, accountability, and open communication, while our values challenge every team member to execute with urgency, humility, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to our mission.

About the role

The Assistant Controller (Director) serves as the Corporate Controller’s second-in-command, with ownership spanning corporate accounting across all of TNC’s lines of business. Reporting directly to the Corporate Controller, this role owns the integrity of the corporate month-end close, financial reporting, project accounting, balance sheet reconciliation, and the internal control environment across the enterprise. 

The Director partners with the Director of Accounting, Nuclear, Project Accounting, FP&A, and external auditors to deliver a consistent, audit-ready close as the business grows. With the Nuclear businesses served by a dedicated accounting lead, this role anchors enterprise-wide consistency close calendars, accounting policy application, consolidation, and controls rather than any single segment.

This is a build-and-scale role for a hands-on player-coach who can strengthen corporate accounting capabilities while advancing audit and internal control readiness. 

NOTE* This is a hybrid position based in either our Columbia, South Carolina, or Washington, D.C. office, with the expectation of working in the office 3 days per week. This is not a remote position. Candidates must live within commuting distance of one of these locations or be willing to relocate. The position may also be posted in nearby markets where commuting may be feasible for visibility. 

Responsibilities

• Close and financial reporting. Own the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the corporate month-end and year-end close across all lines of business—close calendar, accruals, balance sheet reconciliations, and preparation of balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. Drive measurable improvement in close timelines, handoffs, and execution. 

• Accounting operations. Own general ledger integrity across entities and lines of business, including the reconciliation process, review of accounts payable and accounts receivable, and the accuracy of complex journal entries and intercompany activity. 

• Project accounting. Establish and own project and job-cost accounting for the company’s capital programs—cost capture, construction in progress, capitalization in line with company policy, and project-level reporting and analysis. 

• Internal controls and compliance. Lead the design, documentation, and operation of internal controls across accounting operations. Support control testing and remediation, and build toward public-company-level discipline, documentation, and timelines. 

• Audit. Lead day-to-day coordination of external and internal audits, including ownership of the PBC process, schedules, and supporting documentation, driving to clean, on-time completion. 

• Budgeting and forecasting support. Provide supporting data and analysis for annual budgeting and ongoing forecasting; track departmental spending and lead variance analysis. 

• Segment partnership. Partner with the Director of Accounting, Nuclear to align close calendars, accounting policies, consolidation handoffs, and reporting requirements, ensuring consistency between segment and corporate results. 

• Process improvement and systems. Identify and implement improvements to accounting processes, controls, documentation, and systems utilization. Leverage AI and automation to increase accuracy, visibility, and efficiency across the function

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive accounting and controllership experience, including a senior accounting leadership role such as Controller, Assistant Controller, or divisional controllership lead. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. 

• Strong understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and financial reporting standards across project-based services and capital-intensive development or construction activities. 

• Hands-on ownership of month-end close, including timelines, reconciliations, financial data analysis and interpretation, issue resolution, and reporting. 

• Proven multi-entity close experience, including intercompany transactions, eliminations, billing, and transfer pricing. 

• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and maintaining internal controls, including SOX readiness, testing, and remediation. 

• Proficiency with advanced accounting software and ERP systems. 

Nice To Have Experience 

• CPA certification or actively pursuing CPA certification. 

• Start-up or high-growth company experience. 

• Power, energy, nuclear, or utility industry experience. 

• Experience supporting large capital expenditure projects. 

• ERP implementation experience. 

• Revenue recognition and ASC 606 experience. 

• Big 4 public accounting experience. 

• Exposure to public-company reporting requirements. 

Benefits

• Competitive compensation packages
• 401k with company match
• Medical, dental, vision plans
• Generous vacation policy, plus holidays

Estimated Starting Salary Range
The estimated starting salary range for this role is $176,000 - $204,000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi-weekly basis. The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined in the Company’s discretion, which may include experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications held, and other criteria deemed pertinent to the particular role. 

EEO Statement
The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.