About Us:
FirstLight is a leading telecommunications company with a strong commitment to innovation and excellence. We are dedicated to providing cutting-edge solutions to our customers while fostering a dynamic and inclusive workplace culture.
Position Summary:
We are looking for a skilled Director of Finance and Strategy to join our finance department. This position will report to the VP Finance and Strategy and will play a key role in driving the overall strategy of the organization, with exposures to business planning, banking/credit, taxation, insurances, and regulatory.
Key Responsibilities
Assist the VP Finance and Strategy in maintaining and continuously developing the Company’s long-term financial model, updating regularly with actual results, working closely with the FP&A team on short-term forecasting inputs, and clearly communicating results/outputs to the management team on a regular basis.
Maintain the Company’s borrowing availability model, including the aggregation of monthly bookings and success-based capex data, closely tracking the activities of ongoing material contracts, and reflecting actual borrowings placed against the calculated availability.
Ensure compliance with financial covenants outlined in the credit agreement, including the preparation of the quarterly covenant calculations, as well as utilizing forecast information available in the Company’s long-term financial model to ensure compliance in upcoming periods.
Lead reporting efforts around the Company’s cash flow position, including the tracking and reporting on actual/historical cash flows, as well as preparing cash flow forecasts/projections based on both known and forecasted customer receivables and vendor payables.
Participate actively in the Company’s cost savings program, including tracking ongoing and upcoming cost savings items, investigating business activity for potential savings measures, auditing invoices/records to validate realized savings, and leading any finance-based savings through realization.
Lead the Company’s pass-through taxation effort, ensuring sales and other telecom taxes collected are reported and remitted to appropriate municipalities timely and accurately, as well as investigating any taxation issues/audits that arise, and consulting with the appropriate third-party experts as appropriate through resolution.
Participate actively in the Company’s insurance renewal and administration process, including both property/casualty as well as health/welfare insurances, service as finance lead by working with respective brokers and other FirstLight personnel on annual renewals, leading all financial analysis around various coverage options, forecasting and tracking cash flows for outgoing claims and premiums, and leading any audit efforts on previous coverage periods that may arise.
Oversee the administration of the Company’s purchasing entity, designed to ensure all appropriate use taxes on goods and services purchased and deployed throughout the Company’s footprint are assessed, reported, and remitted to appropriate municipalities timely and accurately, as well as ensuring all intercompany billings/entries to record these transactions are handled timely.
Other duties as assigned by the Chief Financial Officer and/or VP Finance and Strategy
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field.
Proximity to Albany, New York area preferred, but not required.
Proven experience in the telecommunications industry or related field a plus, but not required.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data and draw meaningful conclusions.
Proficiency in financial modeling and forecasting.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial software applications.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate financial information effectively to non-financial stakeholders.
Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
Knowledge of telecommunications industry dynamics, market trends, and regulatory environment preferred.
Strong business acumen and strategic thinking ability.
Benefits and Compensation:
FirstLight offers a competitive benefits package including a comprehensive medical benefits, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, 401(k) and flexible work arrangements.
Estimated base annual salary is anticipated to be between $95,000 - $150,000. Pay ranges represent a good faith annual estimate at the time of the job posting. Actual pay will be based on multiple factors including experience, skill sets, location, internal equity, and market rates.
Join us in shaping the future of our dynamic telecommunications company and making a difference in the world through telecommunications. Your expertise and leadership can help us achieve our goals and empower our employees to thrive.
About FirstLight
FirstLight provides fiber-optic data, Internet, data center, cloud and voice services to enterprise and carrier customers throughout the Northeast connecting more than 13,000 locations in service with more than 125,000 locations serviceable by our more than 25,000-route mile network. FirstLight offers a robust suite of advanced telecommunications products featuring a comprehensive portfolio of high bandwidth connectivity solutions including Ethernet, wavelength, and dark fiber services as well as dedicated Internet access solutions, data center, cloud and voice services. FirstLight’s clientele includes national cellular providers and wireline carriers and many leading enterprises, spanning high tech manufacturing and research, hospitals and healthcare, banking and financial, secondary education, colleges and universities, and local and state governments.
FirstLight is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity,and inclusion. We recognize that our differences are assets that strengthen us as a team, and FirstLight is committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels welcomed, valued, respected and recognized. FirstLight Fiber is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with state and federal laws, FirstLight’s equal opportunity policy is that all applicants and employees are treated equally by the company with respect to employment opportunities, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status or veteran disability.
