NYC Accelerator Finance Specialist

Willdan•New York, NY

18h

About The Position

Willdan Lighting and Electric (WLE), a subsidiary of Willdan, is seeking a Finance Specialist to support the New York City Accelerator program in New York, NY. NYC Accelerator helps building owners comply with Local Law 97 by providing tools, guidance, and connections that support energy efficiency and decarbonization projects. This role functions as an account and case management role with a finance lens. The Finance Specialist supports building stakeholders and internal case managers by translating financing options, incentives, and capital planning considerations into clear, actionable guidance. The role is advisory in nature and does not include loan origination or brokerage.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy, Environmental Studies, or a related field.
4–7 years of professional experience in finance, energy programs, technical assistance, account management, or related advisory roles.
Strong understanding of core financial concepts, including debt service, cash flow, amortization, SIR, payback, and return on investment.
Experience working with incentives, rebates, tax credits, and/or grant programs supporting capital projects.
Ability to explain complex financial information clearly to non-financial audiences.
Experience supporting clients or stakeholders in evaluating financing or investment options.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience developing training or educational materials.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and comfort working with web-based tools, databases, or CRM systems.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple stakeholders and priorities.
Ability to work collaboratively across cross-functional teams and with external partners.
Ability to attend meetings and events in NYC as required.

Nice To Haves

Experience with building decarbonization, energy efficiency, electrification, or clean energy financing programs.
Familiarity with NYC building types (multifamily, affordable housing, co-ops/condos, commercial, industrial).
Knowledge of Local Law 97 and related compliance pathways, including financial hardship exemptions (§320.7).
Experience supporting PACE and/or non-PACE loan processes.
Experience engaging with lenders, CDFIs, green banks, or public-sector financing programs.
Familiarity with NYSERDA, utility incentive programs, and local, state, or federal clean energy tax incentives.
Experience delivering webinars, workshops, or trainings to external audiences.
Prior experience supporting public-sector, nonprofit, or government-funded programs.

Responsibilities

Serve as a finance-focused account manager, supporting building stakeholders with financing-related guidance as part of broader case management and project planning.
Help stakeholders understand and evaluate financing pathways for decarbonization projects, including how phased upgrades align with short- and long-term capital planning.
Support use of the Momentum platform’s Financial Solutions Menu, including interpreting data requirements, reports, and outputs to help prioritize options.
Explain core financial concepts relevant to building investment decisions, including debt service, cash flow, amortization, savings-to-investment ratio (SIR), payback, and return on investment (ROI).
Provide guidance on how incentives, rebates, tax credits, and other resources interact with financing options.
Support buildings considering or pursuing Local Law 97 §320.7 financial hardship exemptions, including eligibility, documentation, and submission requirements.
Develop clear, accessible financial guidance materials (e.g., one-pagers, presentations, calculators) and train internal NYC Accelerator staff on financing pathways by building type.
Monitor the financing and incentive landscape and support regular updates to Momentum’s Financial Solutions Menu.
Support stakeholders in navigating loan application processes (PACE and non-PACE), including understanding timelines, required documentation, and basic financial calculations.
Coordinate with lenders and financing partners to ensure accurate program information and identify gaps in available offerings, with a focus on under-resourced communities where appropriate.
Participate in finance-related webinars, outreach activities, and cross-functional program initiatives as needed.
Track and report on financing-related activity and metrics to support program planning and continuous improvement.