Finance and Accounting Associate

Connecticut Innovations is seeking a Finance and Accounting Associate for Bright Feeds in Berlin, CT. The role involves overseeing month-end close processes, ensuring internal controls, and preparing financial reports. Candidates should have 5+ years of relevant experience, strong Excel skills, and be detail-oriented. The position focuses on accounting operations (80%) and financial planning (20%), contributing to sustainability efforts by addressing food waste through innovative technology.
Are you ready to join Connecticut Innovation’s vibrant community of innovators? Connecticut Innovations (“CI”) is Connecticut’s strategic venture capital arm, and we are passionate about serving our portfolio of 220+ companies across various industries, with strengths in life sciences, technology, and climate tech.

Come join Zero Waste Food Management Services in New England | Bright Feeds as a Finance and Accounting Associate!

Bright Feeds | Company Overview

Bright Feeds is a New England-based green startup solving the food waste crisis by diverting unwanted food from the waste stream and converting it into a high-quality, nutrient-rich animal feed replacement for soy and corn. Using cutting-edge AI and drying technology, developed with engineers at Boston College and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Bright Feeds has brought food waste processing into the 21st century with an energy-efficient process that is carbon-negative.

Food waste is a key contributor to climate change.

In the U.S., about 40% of food is never eaten—and that waste often ends up in landfills or greenhouse gas-emitting incinerators. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), feeding animals is the top solution for reducing food waste after feeding hungry people.

Thanks to our pioneering technology, Bright Feeds can accept a wider variety of food waste than other food recycling alternatives: not just dry, grain-based bakery products, but also vegetables, fruit, and other wet waste. Being able to take in a variety of unwanted food enables Bright Feeds to produce a more nutritious feed ingredient. We then sell our meal blends to animal feed manufacturers who use our product as an ingredient in their feed.
• We call that “SUSTAINABILITY WITH REAL RETURNS”.

Finance and Accounting Associate | Position Overview

This role will be responsible performing and leading the month end close process, ensuring adherence to internal controls and overseeing documentation of standard operating procedures. The preferred candidate will have 5+ years of accounting and internal controls experience with strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills plus advanced Excel knowledge. The successful candidate will be a motivated self-starter, detail oriented and possess the ability to prioritize work to meet tight deadlines.

Accounting & Financial Operations (80%)
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting and a smooth month-end and year-end close process.
• Prepare and review journal entries ensuring accuracy and adherence to internal controls.
• Prepare and approve account reconciliations and fixed assets ensuring accuracy and adherence to internal controls.
• Prepare and review account analysis of activity/balances to identify discrepancies or necessary adjustments on a timely basis.
• Prepare schedules and provide information to support audits.
• Create and maintain Standard Operating Procedures and other process documentation.
• Drive levels of automation via technology and AI, ensuring scalable and efficient financial processes.

Financial Planning & Analysis (20%)
• Help create insightful financial analysis, forecasting, and reporting that drive executive and board-level decision-making. Help develop and implement frameworks for scenario planning, financial modeling, and capital allocation.
• Partner with leaders across the business to embed data into our operations and deliver commercial decision support.
• Review key financial and operational KPIs to measure and improve business performance.
• Perform monthly budget variance analysis and support leaders as they manage tradeoffs in resource allocation.
• Conduct financial analysis to identify opportunities for cost savings, revenue enhancement, and process improvements. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align financial planning with operational strategies.

About You
• 5+ years of accounting experience, preferably with some public accounting experience and/or CPA, manufacturing experience desired.
• Experience supporting multiple legal entities or subsidiaries is preferred.
• Experience in FP&A, financial modeling, and strategic finance desired.
• Experience implementing and optimizing financial and operational systems (e.g., NetSuite).
• Proven track record of operating in high-growth environments.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Exceptional analytical, process management, and problem-solving abilities.
• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related field.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Bright Feeds is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.