Director of Accounting / Corporate Controller

Director of Accounting / Corporate Controller — Arlington, VA (Hybrid)

Atlas Connections has partnered with a rapidly scaling, institutional-quality data center developer and operator headquartered in Arlington, VA. The platform has approximately $4 billion of active data center development projects and controls roughly $10 billion of future development pipeline, with a focus on AI and HPC customers. As the business continues to scale, our client is hiring a Director of Accounting (also titled Corporate Controller) to serve as a key leader within the accounting and finance team.

About the Role

This role reports directly to the Chief Accounting Officer and is responsible for leading the monthly close, technical accounting, and tax-related areas for the platform. This is a hands-on leadership role for a CPA who enjoys operating in an entrepreneurial environment and combines strong technical accounting and internal control expertise with practical execution skills and the ability to collaborate closely across project accounting, financial reporting, development, asset management, third-party advisors, and senior leadership. The seat starts with direct oversight of an AP Specialist and a Senior Accountant, with the opportunity to scale and lead a team of 5 to 7 as the company grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the financial close process across multiple entities, ensuring accurate and timely financial results.
• Review journal entries, account reconciliations, and support schedules, maintaining high standards of documentation and controls.
• Oversee the general ledger and consistency across corporate entities.
• Serve as the primary technical accounting resource for the organization under US GAAP, researching, drafting, and maintaining accounting policies and position memos.
• Own tax reporting and compliance, acting as the primary interface with external tax advisors on federal and state partnership returns, tax planning, and forecasting, in close partnership with the CAO and CFO.
• Work closely with project accounting, financial reporting, development, and asset management teams to ensure alignment on accounting treatment, data flow, and general ledger consistency.
• Establish, document, and maintain accounting processes, workflows, and procedures across the finance organization, ensuring scalability and consistency as the business grows
• Continuously improve close efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Ensure compliance with US GAAP, internal accounting policies, and controls
• Support external audits and other compliance activities.
• Lead by example in a hands-on, entrepreneurial environment where leadership and execution go hand in hand.

Required Experience

• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience across public accounting and / or industry
• CPA required (active)
• Strong, progressive accounting experience working with real estate, infrastructure, data center, construction, or capital-intensive development clients or employers
• Strong working knowledge of US GAAP relevant to management services, real estate, and infrastructure projects, including but not limited to:
• Real estate and data center development, cost capitalization (ASC 970, 360)
• Consolidations, variable interest entities, and complex structures (ASC 810)
• Revenue recognition (ASC 606)
• Leases (ASC 842)
• Fair value (ASC 360, 820, 825, 946)
• Experience working at a Big 4 or large national accounting firm strongly preferred
• Strong working experience with Yardi preferred
• Hands-on experience leading or supporting multi-entity monthly and quarterly close
• Excellent communicator who can partner with executive leadership and translate accounting matters to non-finance stakeholders

Education

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