Commercial Finance Manager - Sales Phase - Americas, East

Fluence is the leading global energy storage technology and services company, created and backed by Siemens and AES, two industry powerhouses and pioneers in energy storage. Fluence unites the scale, experience, breadth, and financial backing of the two most experienced icons in energy storage.

Our mission is to create a more sustainable future by transforming the way we power our world. Energy storage is critical to this transformation, yet today the market is fragmented and customers face the challenge of finding a trusted technology partner amidst conflicting technical claims, inexperienced vendors and installers, and new market entrants with limited power sector knowledge.

Fluence brings the proven technology solutions and services that overcome the commercial and regulatory barriers that stand in the way of modernizing our energy networks. We are the partner that can deliver at a global scale with the most experienced and knowledgeable team in the world.

East Region: This role will support Fluence business in the East region of the United States.

Office Locations: Hybrid position in office 3 days per week in Arlington VA, Alpharetta, GA or Houston, TX.

The Commercial Finance Manager CFM is responsible for all commercial aspects related to customer offers at the sales phase.  This includes, but is not limited to, driving the process for commercial issues to ensure compliance with company guidelines for contractual, accounting, legal and tax aspects of the offers. The CFM ensures compliance to applicable regulations (internal and external) during the bidding process and ensures a full and accurate presentation of the risk and financial profiles of each opportunity from the firm offer phase to the contracting phase. The CFM role is crucial and active during customer contract negotiations and ensures a proper balance of the risk/reward relationship for each opportunity. This role requires a background in finance preferably working with large turnkey projects in the Energy Sector.

-Secures adequate and timely support from subject matter experts within the organization to properly develop the commercial aspects of offers during the bidding process

-Supports the Sales team in managing and optimizing targeted financial results with due professional care (e.g. project margin, cash flow, security and credit instruments, insurance, contractual risks, etc.)

-Ensures accurate communication of customer’s commercial requirements and provides an accurate assessment of the contractual/financial risks

-Secures proper approval levels within the organization including to the Executive Leadership Team as necessary. 

-Drives the review and evaluation of the customer’s contract conditions and ensures examination by Legal

-Signs off the project pricing calculations and documentation

-Participates in contract negotiations, and drives negotiations related to commercial contractual terms ensuring adherence to company’s risk profiles

-Ensures accuracy of risk and opportunity assessments

-Conducts the project handover from sales to execution teams

8-10 years of financially managing large projects in the Energy Sector including scopes of Engineering, Procurement and Construction and Long-Term Services

Advance knowledge of contract (EPCs/Services) requirements

Advanced understanding of commercial contract terms and conditions, including light drafting with contracts

Excellent negotiations skills with 3rd parties and customers

Advanced understanding of Project Accounting Methods

Advanced understanding of Project financial KPIs

Advanced understanding of Project risk management requirements such as insurance, securities, guarantees, liquidated damages, etc.

Good working knowledge of project management related activities

Detail oriented with strong time management and project management skills

Good working knowledge of Energy Storage Industry

Demonstrated ability to interact with executive management

Strong background in using MS Office software: Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

Up to 25% travel as needed domestically and potentially globally

Supporting sales organization which requires more contract risk and contract set-up and financial analysis

Required Education and Training

Bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting, business administration, or finance

Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification and/or advanced degree in applicable disciplines preferred