Accounting Manager

Job description

**Who We Are:** Chestnut Carbon is a leading developer of nature-based carbon removal solutions, focused on generating high-quality, U.S.-based forest carbon projects that are additional, verifiable, and designed to accelerate the path to net zero. Founded in 2022 with the support of energy-focused alternative asset manager Kimmeridge, Chestnut uses a proprietary, technology-enabled approach to restore and conserve forestland—maximizing ecological value and long-term climate impact. To date, Chestnut has planted over 17 million trees across 30,000 acres and enrolled more than 175,000 acres of privately owned forestland in its improved forest management program. Our projects deliver measurable environmental benefits, including enhanced air and water quality, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat. Chestnut has executed landmark carbon removal agreements with Microsoft and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Chestnut recently executed a first-of-its-kind $210 million non-recourse project financing and closed a $250 million Series B round led by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, with participation from Cloverlay, DBL Partners, and Kimmeridge LPs. Chestnut was named one of TIME Magazine’s Top GreenTech Companies of 2025 and received both the FSC President’s Award and the distinction of being the first U.S. project verified through FSC’s Verified Impact program for Biodiversity Conservation. At Chestnut, we are pioneering conservation for profit—scaling ecological restoration through market-driven solutions—and driving innovative climate financing to unlock the full potential of nature-based carbon removal. Chestnut was founded and backed by Kimmeridge, a US-based private equity firm with offices in New York and Denver. **Position Summary:** The Accounting Manager will own the day-to-day general accounting and month-end close function across Chestnut Carbon and its consolidated subsidiaries. This role is a critical operational leader responsible for the integrity, timeliness, and audit-readiness of the general ledger, close deliverables, reconciliations, intercompany accounting, and financial reporting inputs. The Accounting Manager will partner closely with the Technical Accounting Manager, AP Manager, FP&A, Treasury, Tax, and external auditors, and will play a key role in scaling processes, systems, and internal controls. ### Responsibilities: **General Accounting & Month-End Close** - Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process across all Chestnut Carbon legal entities for assigned areas - Review and approve journal entries prepared by staff (accruals, prepaids, fixed assets, debt, intercompany, and project cost capitalization) - Oversee balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring all high risk accounts are reconciled monthly with proper supporting documentation and reviewer sign off, consistent with SOX/ICFR expectations - Perform monthly flux and variance analyses (P&L and balance sheet) with written explanations at the entity and consolidated levels; escalate anomalies to the Controller - Manage the consolidation process, intercompany eliminations, and preparation of consolidated trial balances used for internal and external reporting **Financial Reporting Support** - Prepare and review supporting schedules and workpapers for GAAP based consolidated financial statements - Support the Company's transition from AICPA audited financial statements to PCAOB audited financial statements **Audit & Compliance** - Serve as a day-to-day point of contact for external auditors during interim and year-end fieldwork for assigned areas by preparing PBC deliverables, responding to inquiries, and driving timely resolution of open items - Ensure all accounting conclusions and journal entries are documented, and audit-defensible - Design, document, and operate key controls over general accounting, close, reconciliations, journal entries, and consolidation **Systems & Process Improvement** - Identify and support automation and process improvement initiatives to shorten close, reduce manual effort, and improve data quality as transaction volumes scale, in partnership with Controller - Maintain accounting policies, desktop procedures, close checklists, and process narratives at a level of quality suitable for external audit review **Cross-Functional Support** - Partner with FP&A, Treasury, and other departments on cross-functional projects, transactions, and reporting requests - Support special projects, including system implementations, policy rollouts, and organizational initiatives. ### Qualifications: **Required** - Bachelor's degree in Accounting; Master's degree in Accounting or Taxation preferred - CPA required - 6+ years of progressive accounting experience, including a foundation in public accounting (Big 4 or national firm strongly preferred) and industry experience at a high-growth private or pre-IPO company - Demonstrated experience owning month-end close, consolidations, and reconciliations in a multi-entity environment - Strong expertise in U.S. GAAP and financial reporting - Experience supporting external audits under AICPA or PCAOB standards - Hands-on ERP experience (NetSuite preferred) - Detail-oriented and strong organizational skills. **Preferred** - Experience in a project developer, renewables, real estate, energy, or infrastructure environment, including project level SPV accounting and capitalized development cost accounting - Prior experience at a pre-IPO or SEC reporting company; direct exposure to IPO readiness workstreams - Familiarity with carbon markets, forestry, land management, or nature-based solutions ### Physical Requirements: - Sitting: Must be able to sit for extended periods of time. - Standing and Walking: Occasionally required to stand and walk. - Manual Dexterity: Frequent use of hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls. - Repetitive Movements: Ability to perform repetitive movements, such as typing and using a mouse. - Visual Acuity: Close visual acuity required for viewing a computer screen and reading documents. - Communication: Ability to understand and communicate clearly with others. - Lifting: Occasionally required to lift and carry objects weighing up to 20 pounds. - Bending and Stooping: Occasionally required to bend, stoop, and reach