Controller

#10934 Job Description
Controller

We are seeking a hands-on Controller for a privately held, small-to-middle-market company operating in the aerospace and defense industry, providing specialized engineering and custom-built electronic equipment and solutions for commercial aerospace and U.S. government/defense customers.
Reporting directly to the CEO, the Controller will lead the company's finance and accounting function, with responsibility for financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, internal controls, project/job-cost accounting, and financial systems. The business operates in a project-based environment with primarily fixed-price contracts, making job costing, percentage-of-completion revenue recognition, and project profitability key components of the accounting function.
Key Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and coordinate all finance and accounting operational functions.
• Lead the month-end and year-end close processes and ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Prepare and coordinate internal and external financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
• Maintain and enforce appropriate accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Manage the accumulation and analysis of financial data necessary to accurately report business and project performance.
• Maintain a hands-on role in accounting activities, including journal entries, reconciliations, revenue recognition, sales tax, and other close-related responsibilities.
• Manage project/job costing, percentage-of-completion revenue recognition, and earned-value/job-cost reporting for fixed-price and project-based engagements.
• Provide the CEO and management team with concise financial reporting, analysis, KPIs, and information necessary to support business decisions.
• Develop and enhance financial reporting and metrics appropriate for executive leadership and a sophisticated ownership/investor environment.
• Manage the annual budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Assess current accounting operations and recommend and implement improvements to processes, reporting, and controls.
• Evaluate and strengthen accounting and internal-control systems.
• Play a key finance/accounting leadership role in the company's ERP implementation and ongoing systems development.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of accounting software and supporting databases.
• Develop and monitor business performance metrics.
• Oversee tax planning and coordinate corporate tax reporting with the company's outsourced CPA firm.
• Oversee and support accounting staff responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll.
• Manage aspects of employee benefits administration in partnership with third-party HR and benefits providers.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressively responsible accounting and finance experience, preferably within a small or middle-market business.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; equivalent relevant business experience will also be considered.
• CPA or CMA strongly preferred.
• MBA is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and technical accounting principles, including revenue recognition.
• Demonstrated experience with project/job costing and percentage-of-completion accounting.
• Experience in a project-based or custom manufacturing environment where products, materials, labor, and other costs are accumulated against individual jobs is highly desirable.
• ERP implementation experience required, with meaningful involvement in the accounting/finance aspects of an implementation or conversion.
• Epicor experience is highly preferred; Sage experience is a plus.
• Experience preparing financial reporting, KPIs, and analysis for executive leadership, sophisticated ownership groups, or private equity investors is preferred.
• Aerospace, defense, space, government contracting, engineered-to-order manufacturing, or similar project-based industry experience is a plus.
• DCAA/government-contract accounting experience is a plus, but not required.
• Strong analytical, technology, communication, and management skills.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information in a clear and concise manner to executive leadership.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to successfully manage and develop a small, long-tenured accounting team.
• Comfortable operating in a small-business environment and personally performing accounting work in addition to managing the function.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Must meet applicable U.S.-person eligibility requirements for access to ITAR-controlled information and defense contract work.

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