Director of Finance / Controller (Government Contracting)

Director of Finance / Controller (Government Contracting)

Company Overview

Founded in 1990, Kauffman and Associates, Inc. (KAI) is an American Indian- and woman-owned management consulting firm dedicated to uplifting American Indian and Alaska Native people, Tribal and urban Indian communities, and social sector programs. We value Indigenous Knowledge and believe in the inherent strength, resilience, and sovereignty of Tribal Nations to find community-led solutions for intergenerational healing, wellness, and growth.

Our expertise spans behavioral health, public health, education, Tribal affairs, and related specialty areas. We work closely with diverse stakeholders, combining lived experience with data-driven insights to drive positive change across Indian Country. At KAI, we do work that matters.

About the Role

The Director of Finance / Controller leads KAI's Finance & Accounting function and reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer. This position is accountable for the integrity, accuracy, timeliness, and compliance of KAI's accounting records and financial reporting while also supporting financial strategy, forecasting, pricing, contracts, cash management, and sustainable growth.

Serving as both finance leader and Controller, the position owns the monthly and year-end close, general ledger, reconciliations, financial statements, accounting policies, internal controls, government-contract accounting, audit readiness, and supervision of day-to-day accounting operations. The role translates reliable financial information into practical guidance for executive leadership, project managers, and business development teams.

Essential Responsibilities

Controllership, Accounting Operations & Close

• Lead and supervise accounting staff responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, payroll, cash receipts, and general ledger activities; establish clear responsibilities, review standards, and deadlines.
• Own the monthly, quarterly, and year-end close process, including close calendars, journal entries, accruals, allocations, account analysis, review, and timely completion.
• Ensure complete and accurate reconciliations of bank accounts, credit cards, payroll liabilities, accounts receivable, accounts payable, fixed assets, prepaid expenses, deferred items, intercompany activity, and other balance-sheet and general-ledger accounts.
• Prepare and review timely financial statements and management reports, including balance sheet, income statement, cash-flow reporting, budget-to-actual results, project profitability, indirect-rate performance, and supporting schedules.
• Maintain the chart of accounts, accounting system configuration, financial reporting structure, recurring entries, and documentation standards to support consistent and reliable reporting.
• Establish, document, monitor, and improve accounting policies, internal controls, segregation of duties, approval authorities, and record-retention practices; promptly investigate and correct control or accounting deficiencies.
• Ensure accounting transactions are supported, properly authorized, accurately coded, recorded in the correct period, and maintained in an audit-ready manner.
• Coordinate year-end activities with external accountants and tax advisors, including schedules and information required for financial statement, tax, retirement plan, insurance, or other examinations and filings.
• Monitor receivables, collections, payables, payroll, and cash requirements; escalate material issues and recommend corrective action.

Government Contracting Compliance & Cost Accounting

• Maintain compliant project and contract accounting practices for federal, state, Tribal, nonprofit, and commercial awards, including direct and indirect cost classification, labor distribution, timekeeping, billing, revenue recognition, and contract closeout support.
• Monitor compliance with applicable contract terms, Federal Acquisition Regulation requirements, agency guidance, and KAI policies; maintain documentation to support audit and monitoring requests.
• Develop, monitor, and reconcile indirect cost pools and allocation bases; analyze actual versus provisional rates and recommend adjustments to protect cost recovery and competitiveness.
• Manage and negotiate indirect cost rate agreements and lead preparation and submission of required indirect cost reports and the Incurred Cost Electronically (ICE) Model through resolution.
• Support incurred-cost, DCAA, client, and financial audits by coordinating requests, preparing schedules, reconciling submissions to the general ledger, and tracking corrective actions through closure.
• Oversee contract billing accuracy, unbilled receivables, funding limitations, work-in-process, revenue recognition, and contract-level financial reporting in coordination with contracts and project management.
• Maintain written support for accounting judgments, allocations, rate calculations, and system processes affecting government contracts.

Financial Planning, Analysis & Strategy

• Execute the company's financial strategy and translate strategic priorities into budgets, forecasts, cash plans, and measurable operating targets.
• Develop and maintain budgets and rolling forecasts for revenue, direct costs, indirect costs, labor utilization, cash flow, and profitability by project, service line, and company.
• Analyze actual results against budget, forecast, and prior periods; identify trends, risks, and opportunities and provide concise recommendations to leadership.
• Monitor and manage organizational cash flow, liquidity, working capital, and near-term funding needs.
• Provide project managers and executives with accurate financial information for staffing, spending, pricing, margin, and operational decisions.
• Develop financial models and scenario analyses for growth initiatives, staffing decisions, investments, and other business decisions.

Pricing, Proposals & Contracts Support

• Lead or support pricing for proposals and prime/subcontract agreements, including labor categories, direct costs, indirect rates, fee, escalation, assumptions, and price-to-win considerations.
• Define and maintain labor rates and pricing structures, including GSA or other contract schedules, and ensure consistency between the technical approach, staffing plan, basis of estimate, and budget.
• Review financial and accounting terms in solicitations, contracts, subcontracts, and modifications; identify financial risk and recommend appropriate controls or negotiation positions.
• Provide financial input for contract start-up, funding changes, modifications, invoicing, and closeout.

Systems, Data Integrity & Process Improvement

• Administer and optimize Deltek Costpoint and connected finance processes; maintain appropriate access, workflows, reporting, and data controls and provide support to project teams as needed.
• Ensure the accounting system and subsidiary records reconcile to the general ledger and that financial reports are generated from controlled, validated data.
• Design and maintain standard operating procedures, close checklists, reconciliation templates, dashboards, and quality-control reviews.
• Identify opportunities to automate repetitive work, strengthen controls, shorten the close, improve reconciliation accuracy, and increase the usefulness of financial reporting.
• Protect confidential financial, payroll, employee, vendor, client, and contract information.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Operations

• Set priorities, performance expectations, and quality standards for the Finance & Accounting team; coach staff, provide timely feedback, and ensure continuity of essential duties.
• Partner with the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Executive Officer, project managers, contracts staff, business development staff, and other leaders on financial and operational matters.
• Serve as KAI's primary internal contact and counterpart to external auditors, accountants, banks, tax advisors, and other finance-related service providers.
• Communicate financial results, risks, control issues, and required actions clearly to both financial and nonfinancial audiences.
• Perform other finance, accounting, controllership, and operational duties as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible finance and accounting experience, including substantial responsibility for general ledger accounting, financial reporting, close, reconciliations, and staff oversight.
• Demonstrated Controller-level experience establishing accounting discipline, internal controls, audit readiness, and accurate, timely financial statements.
• Advanced knowledge of Deltek Costpoint and experience with paperless accounting and financial reporting systems.
• Strong knowledge of federal government contracting, cost accounting, indirect rates, contract billing, and applicable compliance requirements.
• Experience managing external audits, incurred-cost submissions, and audit support.
• Strong leadership, organization, project management, analytical, and written and verbal communication skills.
• CPA certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a professional services or management consulting organization with multiple cost-reimbursement, time-and-materials, and fixed-price contracts.
• Experience improving month-end close, account reconciliation, cash forecasting, project accounting, and management reporting processes.
• Experience developing accounting procedures, control matrices, and corrective action plans.

Core Success Standards

• Accurate, complete, and timely accounting records and financial reports.
• Reconciliations completed, reviewed, supported, and cleared according to the established close calendar.
• A disciplined close process with documented ownership, review, issue escalation, and resolution.
• Reliable cash, budget, forecast, project, and indirect-rate reporting that supports leadership decisions.
• Audit-ready documentation and prompt closure of audit, compliance, or control findings.
• Clear accountability, cross-training, and consistent quality across the Finance & Accounting team.

Contact with Others

The Director of Finance / Controller communicates face-to-face, by email, virtually, and by telephone with the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Executive Officer, project managers, Finance & Accounting staff, other KAI employees, subcontractors, clients, auditors, and service providers as required. Interactions include exchanging information, coordinating activities, receiving assignments and instructions, advising on financial matters, resolving issues independently, and communicating risks and required actions.

Job Conditions

The Director of Finance / Controller works in a remote home-based office. The position may include travel, evening meetings, extended hours, and interruptions from time to time. Close computer work for extended periods is required.

Disclaimer

This job description is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the position. KAI employees may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time to meet the organization's ongoing needs. Nothing in this job description alters the at-will employment relationship or creates a contract of employment.

Benefits Overview

• Up to 75% company-paid medical insurance premiums, depending on plan choice, plus a portion of family coverage
• Up to 100% company-paid dental insurance premiums, depending on plan choice, plus a portion of family coverage
• Vision insurance
• Company-paid $50,000 life insurance
• Partial internet reimbursement
• 100% remote work
• Matching 401(k)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)