Finance & Accounting

Ascend Elements is a fast-growing organization that is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials for electric vehicles. Recognized as a climate technology leader, the company elevates the value of recycled elements and engineers sustainable battery materials to support the global clean-energy transition. The company’s patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ direct precursor synthesis technology produces new, sustainable cathode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in improved performance and lower carbon emissions. Ascend Elements is taking sustainability in the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.

We’re hiring a Associate Financial Analyst who will provide strategic analytical support to management across the organization and collaborates cross-functionally to support strategic planning, devise financial modelling and profitability analysis, perform budgeting/forecasting, develop KPI’s and metrics, and ensure business performance management. This role will support financial systems and data management processes.

Job Location: This role will be hybrid out of Westborough, Massachusetts.

Required Travel: Domestic travel on occasion (approximately 10%) to Covington, GA facility or Hopkinsville, KY facility.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with business partners to develop annual budgets and quarterly forecasts to set performance expectations for corporate departments.


• Analyze current and historical trends for key performance measurements, identify opportunities for financial improvement and provide recommendations to management.


• Apply knowledge of business systems and processes and leverage best practices when working with business partners to solve business issues.


• Prepare departmental reporting packages including standard reports and variance commentary.


• Increase the use of automation across the organization to streamline and improve new and existing management reports.


• Assist with the implementation of budgeting and forecasting software tools.


• Provide financial modeling, financial analysis and ad-hoc projects as required.

Education and Other Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting (foreign equivalent is acceptable); including:
  
  
  
  • Bachelor’s degree level of knowledge in computational finance.
  
  
  • Bachelor’s degree level of knowledge in corporate finance.
  
  
  • Bachelor’s degree level of knowledge in financial management.
  
  
  • Bachelor’s degree level of knowledge in financial accounting.
  
  
  
  


• A minimum of 1 year of employment or internship experience. Employment or internship experience must include:
  
  
  
  • A minimum of 1 year of employment or internship experience working with accounting principles, including accruals, prepaids, amortization, and financial modeling measures.
  
  
  • A minimum of 1 year of employment or internship experience with 3-statement financial modeling.
  
  
  • A minimum of 1 year of employment or internship experience working with an ERP system.
  
  
  • A minimum of 1 year of employment or internship experience managing, analyzing, and summarizing large datasets in Microsoft Excel.
  
  
  • A minimum of 1 year of employment or internship experience assisting project teams with financial guidance.
  
  
  
  

Certification Requirements:

• Certified in Financial Modeling and Valuation Analysis by the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI).

Ascend Elements is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Ascend Element is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.

The Assistant Corporate Controller reports to the Corporate Controller and will be responsible for leading and driving the monthly closing process and assisting the Controller with managing overall accounting operations of Ascend Elements, Inc. The Assistant Controller will direct and manage the organization’s expense side of its accounting function, including establishing and maintaining accounting principles, practices, and procedures, preparing financial statements, and reporting to senior management.

This is a hybrid position with an on-site component at our Westborough, MA offices.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• The candidate is required to have experience with managing and improving monthly and other period end (monthly, quarterly and annual) accounting close cycles.


• Managing payables and related payment support with the Director of Treasury.


• Have the ability to develop and mentor junior staff.


• Both create entries and/or post other key contributor’s entries within SAP 4/HANA Cloud.


• Manage T&E reimbursement process to ensure all required receipts support the requested. reimbursement (Concur) and are timely reimbursed to the employees.


• Prepare/review the appropriate account reconciliations on a monthly basis.


• Provide support for external Audits and Quarterly review procedures.


• Evaluate and ensure compliance with accounting policies and procedures.


• Effectively communicate with all levels of the organization as necessary.


• Serve as a key member of the accounting and finance leadership team, maintaining in-depth relationships with each member, participating in key decisions with the team and providing leadership and expertise to local leadership in areas relating to accounting.


• Help to establish and monitor internal controls to ensure that accounting activities are in accordance with established legal, regulatory, US GAAP and company policies and procedures.


• Support new systems or project selections and implement them from strategic finance and internal control perspective.


• Protects assets by establishing, monitoring, and enforcing internal controls.

Requirements/Qualifications/Education:

• 10+ years relevant experience to include top 10 firm.


• CPA required.


• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance preferred, advanced degrees such as an MBA, MSA are desired.


• Current solid ERP systems background (SAP), including reporting tools such as SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) or similar, as well as Concur.


• Proficient in Word and Excel.


• Strong written and oral communication skills.


• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.


• Strong organizational and analytical skills.


• Willingness to establish and maintain effective working relationships across the organization.


• Team player with exceptional interpersonal skills suited to a fast paced, value driven culture.


• Effective verbal and written communication skills


• Ability to interact with employees and vendors in a professional manner.

Ascend Elements is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.