Project Controls Lead

Quaise Energy is unlocking Earth’s deep heat to deliver clean, reliable, baseload energy at scale – almost anywhere in the world. As both a technology innovator and project developer, Quaise builds and operates solutions that harness superhot geothermal energy far below the surface, enabling power generation that can rival the output of today’s most efficient fossil fuel and nuclear plants. Leveraging millimeter wave drilling, developed after more than a decade of research at MIT, Quaise’s mission is to make superhot geothermal a backbone of the modern energy system, offering affordable, zero-carbon power and true energy independence for communities and nations everywhere.

The Project Controls Lead is a senior individual contributor role responsible for owning the financial, administrative, and compliance backbone of Quaise’s geothermal development and construction projects in partnership with the Finance and/or Supply Chain teams. This role supports multiple stakeholders while building scalable project controls, accounting, and compliance systems.

This position will play a key role in developing the project controls framework that supports Quaise’s transition from technology development to commercial deployment.

Additional responsibilities include maintaining a positive corporate culture, promoting a safe and creative work environment, identifying and supporting opportunities for external collaborations, and other activities designed to improve Quaise.

Work Location: Houston, TX, Bend, OR, or Boston, MA with consideration for hybrid or fully remote candidates.

Essential functions (Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.)

Project Accounting & Cost Control

• Serve as the primary finance partner to the project team, providing day-to-day financial support throughout the project lifecycle.
• Own project-level accounting including budget development, cost tracking, forecasting, invoice review, and approval workflows.
• Maintain accurate budget versus actual reporting and project cash flow forecasts; proactively identify and communicate variances.
• Track project commitments, change orders, and vendor payments in accordance with EPC and procurement contract terms.
• Support the procurement lifecycle by overseeing imports/customs, coordinating freight and logistics, arranging storage and preventative maintenance.
• Implement and administer renewable energy tax credit compliance plans developed by third-party tax advisors.
• Maintain complete, well-organized, audit-ready documentation supporting tax credit eligibility and adders.
• Coordinate with external tax consultants and internal teams to ensure timely and accurate compliance execution.
• Provide secondary support for tax credit transfer or sale processes, including data room preparation and documentation support.
• Lead evaluation and implementation of a project management and project controls platform separate from the ERP, including workflow definition and adoption support.
• Build strong working relationships across Project Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Accounting, and Corporate Finance.

Corporate Controlling Partnership

• Act as the primary liaison between the project organization and Corporate Controlling, ensuring project transactions are accurately reflected in the general ledger.
• Support monthly, quarterly, and year-end close activities related to the project, including accruals, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Collaborate with Corporate Controlling to implement standardized financial controls and reporting processes across projects.
• Provide feedback from project operations to help shape scalable accounting policies and financial processes.
• Help establish consistent workflows between Project Management, Supply Chain, Accounts Payable, and Controlling.

Competencies

• Strong financial analysis and cost management skills.
• Advanced budgeting, forecasting, and project reporting capabilities.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to operate within a fast-paced startup or high-growth environment with evolving priorities.
• Ability to operate independently while maintaining strong collaboration across teams.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on building scalable processes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Advanced Excel proficiency and comfort working in Excel-heavy project environments.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and collaboration tools including SharePoint and Teams.
• Experience maintaining project schedules and reporting milestones using Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, or similar tools.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and navigate ambiguity while knowing when to engage stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with both internal teams and external partners.

Supervisory responsibilities

• This role does not include formal people-management responsibilities.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, is preferred/required.
• 5–7+ years of experience in project accounting, project controls, project administration, construction accounting or related roles.
• Experience working for an energy development or ownership company preferred; construction or industrial project controls experience also valued.

Physical requirements

• This role requires prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• The employee is regularly required to stand, sit, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, as well as use hands to feel, reach, grasp, handle, or operate objects, tools and/or controls.
• The employee must be able to lift, push, pull, transfer, or move items up 20 pounds at times for departmental needs.
• Ability to move from one worksite to another or travel to various job sites and locations to complete tasks.
• The vision requirement includes reviewing written and electronic materials in digital and physical format.