Currently recruiting for a Controller to lead the Finance & Accounting (F&A) function for an aerospace and defense client. This leadership role is responsible for building and managing a coordinated, high-performing team—setting direction, documenting processes, developing staff, identifying efficiencies through modern tools, and ensuring the department scales alongside company growth.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, develop, and manage an F&A team across billing, payroll, accounts payable, and general accounting functions spanning multiple legal entities
- Establish clear ownership and accountability across all functional areas, eliminating single points of failure while maintaining proper segregation of duties
- Build a well-documented, cross-trained team with repeatable processes and shared institutional knowledge
- Identify growth opportunities for team members and actively support their development
- Foster a collaborative, organized, and transparent team culture aligned with company values
Monthly Close & Billing Operations
- Own and manage the monthly close calendar, ensuring a structured and consistently executed process
- Drive billing performance across multiple invoices and contract types (e.g., CPFF, T&M, FFP), ensuring accuracy and timeliness
- Oversee invoicing processes within ERP systems, including labor cost posting, direct cost entry, expense coding, and contract data integrity
- Manage payroll processing with appropriate controls and on-time execution
- Oversee accounts payable, journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and general ledger close
- Maintain indirect rate structures and produce monthly indirect expense reporting
Cross-Functional Coordination
- Partner with program and operations teams to ensure contract and cost data accuracy
- Coordinate with contracts teams to support timely modifications, billing updates, and compliance
- Establish clear standards for upstream inputs (e.g., timecards, expenses, contract data)
- Act as a financial partner to operations and program management
Reporting & Financial Visibility
- Deliver monthly financial reporting packages by legal entity, including P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, and key metrics
- Ensure stakeholders have timely access to financial and contract cost data through reporting tools and dashboards
- Provide executive leadership with clear, actionable financial insights
- Maintain and update an integrated financial model to forecast cash flow, EBITDA, and key performance indicators
- Continuously evaluate and improve departmental processes to enhance efficiency and scalability
Compliance & Audit Readiness
- Maintain compliance with government contracting accounting standards, including timekeeping, cost allowability, and internal controls
- Lead audit preparation efforts and coordinate with external advisors as needed
- Oversee annual incurred cost submissions
- Support annual audits and valuation processes
Basic Qualifications
- 7+ years of progressive experience in accounting or finance
- At least 2 years of experience managing a team with direct reports
- Proven ability to lead, develop, and hold a finance/accounting team accountable
- Working knowledge of government contracting finance, including compliance standards and billing across multiple contract types
- Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage priorities and explain financial data to non-financial stakeholders
Preferred Qualifications
- CPA or equivalent certification
- Experience with government contracting ERP systems (e.g., billing, cost accounting, indirect rates, and close processes)
- Familiarity with payroll systems such as ADP
- Experience working within an ESOP-owned organization
