Director, Customer Finance

Position: Director, Customer Finance

Reports to: VP, Energy & Insights

Location: Loveland, CO

Division: Lightning Energy & Insights

Salary Range: $136,562 to $173,800 (Depends on Experience)

About Lightning

The Lightning team works with forward-thinking fleets to engineer, deliver, and manage full transportation electrification solutions, including vehicles, charging, data analysis, energy infrastructure and financing solutions.

Lightning eMotors has been providing specialized and sustainable fleet solutions since 2009, deploying complete zero-emission-vehicle (ZEV) solutions for commercial fleets since 2018 – including Class 3 cargo and passenger vans, ambulances, Class 4 and 5 cargo vans and shuttle buses, Class 4 Type A school buses, Class 6 work trucks, Class 7 city buses, and motor coaches. The Lightning eMotors team designs, engineers, customizes, and manufactures zero-emission vehicles to support the wide array of fleet customer needs with a full suite of control software, telematics, analytics, and charging solutions to simplify the buying and ownership experience and maximize uptime and energy efficiency.

Why join Us?

Here at Lightning, we focus on innovation, exceeding expectations, collaboration, integrity in our work, and respect for all.

We are a fast-growing company, and we recently went public! This enables us to continue scaling our teams and capabilities while also maintaining our leadership within the commercial electric vehicle market. This is your opportunity to be an integral part of the team, working with like-minded professionals who are dedicated not only to making a difference in our world but also transforming the automotive industry.

About our Headquarters

We are headquartered in the heart of beautiful Northern Colorado!

Loveland is located just 45 minutes north of Denver/DIA; 40 minutes from Boulder; 35 minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park/Estes Park; and only 15 minutes from Fort Collins, the home of Colorado State University. Whether you are an art lover, outdoor enthusiast, foodie, wildlife admirer, big-city dreamer, or just want to get away, Loveland is the ideal location; and Lightning eMotors is grateful to be a part of this wonderful city.

Visit us at: www.lightningemotors.com to learn more about our organization and living in Colorado!

Position Summary

The Director of Customer Finance reports directly to the Vice President of Energy & Insights, and is a key member of the customer solutions team, working with like-minded team members passionate about making a difference in the world and transforming the automotive industry. This role will build and implement customer financing solutions that package the customer vehicle, subsidies (such as FTA, EPA, State grants, IRA Tax credits, etc.), charging hardware, charging installation, service, extended warranties, and other add-on options. In addition, this role will work closely with partners who provide the funding and with the executive, sales and marketing teams to ensure a high-level of customer attachment.

Responsibilities

• Working with our sales team and customers to understand customer financing requirements and bottlenecks
• Identifying and securing outside finance partners then working with them to ensure their support and alignment
• Building Lightning branded traditional financing programs for vehicles and charging infrastructure (leases & loans)
• Developing fully turnkey EV as a Service (EVaaS) and Charging as a Service (CaaS) solutions
• Working with marketing to develop materials in support of these offerings
• Providing finance-related support to the sales team
• Collaborating with our grants team to understand available programs and incorporate rebates, grants and other revenue streams (LCFS, V2G, etc.) into the financing strategy
• Coordinating with the internal finance and legal teams on program structure, asset ownership, cashflow and 606 revenue recognition strategy
• Working with our vehicle production, service, energy, insights and other teams, as needed, to provide fully-financed, fully-managed, turnkey fleet electrification solutions to our customers.
• Work with financing providers and internal finance team to process credit checks, completing applications on-behalf of customers when required
• Keep current on industry trends, ensuring that the company maintains and expands its leadership position
• Utilize ERP system (Netsuite), or other systems, to perform project planning, task management, partner management and sales management
• Other related duties, as assigned

Competencies

• Customer Financing Management: Experience developing and managing customer finance programs in the commercial vehicle space for a commercial vehicle OEM, dealer or finance company; and/or similar experience in the energy efficiency space (PPAs, ESCOs, etc.). Familiarity with “as a service” delivery models, such as, charging as a services, EV as a service, power purchase agreements or other similar financing mechanisms.
• Solution Oriented: The ideal candidate will have a collaborative, hands-on approach with an eye towards understanding how to use customer finance instruments to drive incremental revenue. The role offers a great opportunity to make your mark and bring your innovative ideas to life in the quickly growing commercial electric vehicle market.
• Communication: Demonstrated ability to interact respectfully with all colleagues and customers. Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills are essential along with the ability to listen intently to others. Integrity is key.
• Time management: Proven ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, meet deadlines, remain organized, and focused on work in a dynamic, start-up environment. Capable of shifting priorities as changes occur.
• Customer Service: Passion for delivering exemplary service. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers. You should be collaborative and exhibit a positive attitude toward your work and colleagues with a focus on the team’s success over personal achievement.
• Analytical: Possess advanced ability to conceptualize, analyze, and solve problems as well as prioritize accordingly. You should be detail-oriented, open to learning from mistakes, and understand business initiatives. Excellent strategic problem solving & analytical skills; strong business acumen.

What we require: (education, experience, certifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field
• Minimum 5 years of experience developing and managing customer finance programs for a commercial vehicle OEM, dealer, finance company, or company in an industry with similar financing mechanisms
• Demonstrated knowledge of vehicle titling and vehicle dealer laws
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and ERP systems

What we prefer: (education, experience, certifications)

• MBA; an emphasis in Accounting or Finance is highly desired
• Pre-existing relationships with established external finance partners
• 10 years of experience developing and managing customer finance programs for a commercial vehicle OEM, dealer, finance company or company in an industry with similar financing mechanisms
• Previous experience building “as a service” solutions in the commercial vehicle space

Benefits offered:

Once hired, employees are offered generous benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision insurance
• Health Savings Account and Health Reimbursement Plan (if enrolled in medical plan)
• 401(k)
• Paid time off (accrued)
• Paid holidays
• Short and Long-term disability
• Life insurance
• Employee assistance program

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Lightning eMotors is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, military or veteran status.

Note: Statements included in this description are intended to reflect in general, the duties and responsibilities of this position and are not to be interpreted as being all-inclusive.