Finance & Operations Lead

Join Renewell to drive innovation at the cutting edge of the energy storage and well remediation sectors.

Our breakthrough technology tackles the climate crisis by converting inactive oil and gas wells into gravity-based energy storage systems—providing reliable renewable power while cleaning up millions of idle wells across the U.S.

This is a rare opportunity to be one of the early hires at a mission-driven startup that is entering a promising growth phase with ~$15M raised to-date (VCs, US DOE (ARPA-E), CEC, etc.), regulations recently changed in 3 states, and deployment poised to 5-11x in the next 2 years. If you’re excited by hands-on engineering, creative problem-solving, and scaling a revolutionary technology in a high-paced environment, let’s talk.

Role: We’re scaling rapidly from pilots into multi-site deployment and are hiring a Finance & Operations Lead to help reshape the energy industry by converting idle oil and gas wells into gravity-based energy storage. In this high-impact role, you’ll own financial planning, forecasting, and deployment-level economics , translating operational activity into clear insights that inform executive and board decisions. You’ll partner directly with the CEO on strategic planning, fundraising, and business operations , while overseeing an external accounting firm to ensure accurate, audit-ready financials.

This role also carries end-to-end ownership of $6.4M in awarded grant reimbursements , corporate compliance, and core people operations, ensuring Renewell scales with financial discipline and regulatory rigor. You’ll work with modern tools (QuickBooks Online, Gusto, Ramp, Carta) and step into a clear growth path as Renewell expands multi-site deployments — a rare opportunity to build the financial backbone of a venture-backed climate tech company at an inflection point.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Finance & FP&A (Primary)

● Own and continuously refine Renewell’s financial model , including deployment-level unit economics, capital planning, and investor-facing analyses.

● Lead budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis , providing clear insight into actuals vs. plan.

● Maintain a 13-week cash flow forecast and longer-range runway scenarios to support capital allocation and fundraising decisions.

● Partner directly with the CEO on board materials, fundraising diligence, and strategic planning , translating operational complexity into financial clarity.

Accounting Oversight & Financial Controls

● Oversee the external accounting firm to ensure accurate, timely, and audit-ready financials, including monthly close and reconciliations.

● Own internal financial controls across accounts payable (AP), expenses, and reimbursements , leveraging Ramp (online payment platform) and vendor workflows.

● Maintain equity records and compliance in Carta (online equity management platform), including option grants and cap table support.

● Coordinate with CPAs on tax filings, reviews, and audits , serving as Renewell’s primary internal point of contact.

Grants Management & Corporate Compliance

● Own end-to-end management of $6.4M+ in awarded grants , including reimbursement strategy, documentation, and agency interactions.

● Prepare and submit grant reimbursement applications , gathering payroll data, invoices, and engineering time logs.

● Maintain audit-ready grant documentation and ensure timely, accurate submissions with minimal rework.

● Track and manage Renewell’s corporate compliance calendar , including entity filings, board governance requirements, and 401(k) testing.

People Operations & Internal Infrastructure

● Run payroll and benefits administration through Gusto (online payroll and benefits platform); liaise with benefits brokers and providers.

● Lead onboarding and offboarding , including systems access, compliance paperwork, and process documentation.

● Maintain employee handbook and HR policies; ensure compliance with state and federal employment regulations .

● Support company culture through all-hands, team events, and offsites as the team scales.

Special Projects

● Lead or support cross-functional projects related to systems upgrades, process improvements, compliance clean-up, or operational scaling.

Requirements

● 3–5 years of experience in finance, business operations, or accounting, ideally within a product-driven, capital-intensive, or field-operational environment (energy, industrials, agriculture, or startups).

● Strong foundation in financial planning, forecasting, and cash flow analysis , with the ability to translate data into strategic insight.

● Experience overseeing external accounting partners and maintaining financial rigor without needing to do all transactional work personally.

● Hands-on familiarity with QuickBooks Online, Gusto, Ramp, and Carta (or equivalent tools).

● High judgment, ownership mindset, and comfort operating with ambiguity in a fast-moving startup environment.

● Organized, detail-oriented, and proactive — able to manage complex workflows while keeping an eye on the big picture.

Location

This job will be based in Bakersfield, with the possibility of bringing the entire team into an office as early as the end of 2026. The location of that office has not been finalized, but it will probably be the greater Los Angeles area or Denver, CO.

Benefits

Renewell Energy values collaborative, growth-minded, innovative thinking and finding ways to have fun while maintaining a culture of excellence. We offer competitive compensation and benefits including:

● Salary range for this position (depending on experience and skillset): $80k to $115k + equity

● Silver-level family health coverage (medical, dental)

● Employer 401(k) contributions, up to 5%, full match

● Life insurance and disability coverage

Renewell Energy is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, or any other classification protected by law.