Controller

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Darkhive does not provide visa sponsorship for this position. Due to our work with export-controlled technologies, all candidates must be a 'U.S. Person' as defined by ITAR and EAR (e.g., U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee).

About Darkhive, LLC

Established in 2021, Darkhive is redefining the future of autonomous systems. We design and build next-generation hardware and software solutions that seamlessly integrate into critical public safety and defense networks. Our core focus centers on developing tactical, human-machine interfaces and scaling the mass production of affordable, attritable uncrewed systems alongside our government partners.

At Darkhive, we are a high-growth team of U.S. Special Operations veterans, aerospace engineers, robotics perception experts, and DevSecOps professionals. Above all, we are a mission-first culture. We believe that global teams operating on the front lines deserve high-quality, intelligent tools that ensure safety when each second counts.

If you are a free-thinking problem solver looking to build cutting-edge robotics in a fast-paced, highly collaborative startup environment, apply with Darkhive today!

About the Role:

Darkhive is seeking a hands-on Controller to lead and strengthen the company’s accounting function during a period of significant growth. Reporting to the company’s senior finance executive, the Controller will serve as the company’s senior accounting authority and a trusted partner to executive leadership.

The Controller will own accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, payroll oversight, government-contract accounting compliance, and the continued development of scalable financial processes and systems. This individual will be responsible for ensuring that management, the Board, investors, and lenders can rely on the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of the company’s financial information.

This is a builder-oriented role. The Controller will inherit a functioning accounting operation and will be expected to strengthen its foundation by improving the close, establishing rigorous controls and policies, developing the accounting team, and ensuring that systems produce reliable and reconciled financial data. The resulting accounting infrastructure will serve as the foundation for FP&A, program finance, operational decision-making, and external reporting.

This role is Remote with travel expected up to 15%.

Key Responsibilities:

Accounting, Reporting, and Financial Operations

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes and ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the company’s financial records and financial statements
• Serve as the company’s primary technical accounting expert, ensuring compliance with U.S. GAAP and establishing appropriate accounting treatment for significant or complex transactions
• Oversee the general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, fixed assets, inventory, cost accounting, revenue recognition, consolidations, and intercompany activity
• Develop rigorous financial and management reporting that supports executive decision-making, Board and investor communications, FP&A, program finance, and project profitability analysis
• Lead external financial statement audits or reviews, manage tax compliance and external provider relationships, and maintain audit-ready records and supporting documentation
• Oversee cash accounting and controls, monitor bank covenants, and coordinate accurate and timely lender reporting
• Support M&A and other strategic transactions, including financial diligence, quality-of-earnings analyses, purchase accounting, and integration activities

Government Contracting and Compliance

• Oversee government-contract accounting practices and ensure compliance with applicable FAR, DFARS, CAS, and other contractual and regulatory requirements
• Maintain accounting systems, policies, records, and supporting documentation that are prepared for DCAA audits and appropriately support DCMA oversight and contract-administration requirements
• Oversee indirect-rate structures, cost pools, allocation methodologies, timekeeping controls, government billing, and related project-accounting requirements
• Support incurred cost submissions, provisional billing rates, forward-pricing information, and other required financial schedules, as applicable
• Partner with contracts, operations, and program finance to interpret contract requirements, respond to government inquiries, and implement appropriate accounting and compliance practices

Controls, Systems, and Process Development

• Design and maintain an internal control environment appropriate for a growing, increasingly complex government contractor
• Develop and implement accounting policies and procedures covering areas such as purchasing, accounts payable, payroll, timekeeping, revenue recognition, inventory, cost accounting, capitalization, and the financial close
• Establish appropriate financial review and approval controls consistent with the company’s delegation-of-authority framework
• Lead the accounting and financial workstreams associated with Unanet, AIM, and other financial and operational system implementations and integrations
• Ensure that system configurations, workflows, master data, interfaces, and reporting logic support accurate accounting, reliable reporting, and applicable compliance requirements
• Establish processes to reconcile data between systems, resolve discrepancies at their source, and identify opportunities to automate and scale financial processes
• Partner with the company’s senior finance executive to develop and monitor reliable key performance indicators supported by consistent definitions and reconciled source data

Leadership and Business Partnership:

• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting team, while establishing clear responsibilities, review standards, and performance expectations
• Serve as a trusted accounting and financial-reporting advisor to the company’s senior finance executive and other members of executive leadership
• Partner with FP&A and program finance to ensure that forecasts, budgets, pricing models, and performance analyses are built on complete and reliable financial information
• Collaborate across contracts, operations, manufacturing, engineering, human resources, information technology, and legal to strengthen company-wide financial processes and controls
• Assess future staffing and organizational needs and build an accounting function capable of supporting the company’s continued growth

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including experience leading or playing a significant role in an accounting function
• Strong technical knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial reporting, general ledger accounting, revenue recognition, and internal controls
• Demonstrated experience owning monthly and annual close processes and coordinating external audits
• Experience developing accounting policies, improving financial processes, and implementing scalable controls
• Experience managing and developing accounting professionals
• Strong systems aptitude, including experience implementing, integrating, or optimizing an ERP or financial-management system
• Ability to operate as both a senior accounting leader and a hands-on contributor
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and project-management skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA designation
• Significant accounting experience within a government-contracting environment
• Working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, CAS, DCAA audit requirements, and DCMA oversight
• Experience with indirect-rate structures, project accounting, timekeeping compliance, incurred cost submissions, government billing, and contract-related audit support
• Experience in a manufacturing environment, including inventory accounting, standard or job costing, overhead allocation, work-in-process, and cost-of-goods-sold analysis
• Experience supporting a business with a mix of manufacturing, software, and professional or technical services
• Experience with Unanet and related modules, including AIM
• Experience in a high-growth, investor-backed, or transaction-oriented company
• Experience with multi-entity accounting, lender reporting, bank covenant compliance, and M&A-related financial diligence or integration

Attributes for Success:

• Technical credibility: Brings the accounting expertise and judgment necessary to serve as the company’s senior authority on accounting and financial-reporting matters
• Builder mindset: Enjoys creating structure, developing policies, and strengthening an evolving function
• Hands-on leadership: Can move comfortably between strategic issues, detailed account analysis, and team development
• Rigor and reliability: Establishes high standards for financial data, reconciliations, documentation, and reporting
• Practical judgment: Designs controls and processes appropriate for the company’s size, stage, contractual obligations, and risk profile
• Proactive risk management: Identifies potential accounting, compliance, covenant, and reporting issues before they become problems
• Collaborative approach: Builds effective working relationships across finance, programs, contracts, manufacturing, and company leadership
• Clear communication: Can explain complex accounting, compliance, and financial matters to both financial and non-financial stakeholders

Controller's First 6–12 Month Priorities:

• Assess the accounting organization, financial close, key balance-sheet accounts, government-contract accounting practices, and existing control environment
• Establish a reliable, timely, and appropriately documented monthly close
• Strengthen the quality and consistency of management, Board, investor, and lender reporting
• Ensure the company has effective processes for monitoring bank covenants and key performance indicators
• Assess readiness for DCAA, DCMA, financial statement, and other applicable audits or reviews
• Develop and implement the company’s core accounting policies and procedures
• Strengthen payroll oversight, reconciliations, and related controls
• Ensure the integrity of financial data throughout the continued implementation of Unanet, AIM, and related system integrations
• Clarify responsibilities and develop the accounting team’s roles
• Build a scalable and trusted accounting foundation that supports FP&A, program finance, operational decision-making, and the company’s next stage of growth

Physical and/or Mental Requirements:

• Ability to sit and/or stand for periods of time
• Ability to use a keyboard, mouse, and other equipment with or without accommodations
• Ability to maintain awareness during business hours
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds
• Excellent written and verbal communication and good command of the English language
• Learns and memorizes routine tasks
• Reasonable accommodations will be provided to any person with a disability to be able to perform the essential job functions of this position
• Darkhive retains the right to change or assign other duties as required for this position

Selection Process:

• Hiring team reviews applications
• 20-minute pre-screen with Darkhive recruiter
• 30-minute phone screen with the hiring manager
• Take home project
• In-person or video interview with hiring team

Benefits Darkhive Offers:

• Comprehensive medical plans
• 100% employer paid dental and vision insurance premiums
• Automatic 401k employer contribution with vesting
• Paid vacation and personal time off
• 11 Paid holidays
• 5 days of sick leave
• Stock options
• Welcoming and friendly work environment
• Respect of work-life balance

Darkhive is an equal-opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment against any employee or applicant because of race, color, gender (including pregnancy), age, gender identity, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.