Controller

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Controller for Whelan Machine & Tool (WMT) owns the subsidiary's full accounting close, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls function. This role manages day-to-day accounting operations, cost accounting for a defense manufacturing environment, and cash flow visibility. The Controller works closely with the Ajax Defense VP of Finance on consolidated reporting, intercompany transactions, and covenant/lender compliance, and serves as the primary financial point of contact for WMT operations leadership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Close & Reporting

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process for WMT, ensuring accurate and timely financial statements.
• Prepare and review balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement remain reconciled and internally consistent.
• Deliver monthly financial and operational reporting packages to Ajax parent-company leadership, including variance analysis against plan/budget.
• Maintain the general ledger, chart of accounts, and month-end journal entry process within the ERP system.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Own the annual operating budget process for WMT, partnering with Operations and Sales to build revenue, cost, and headcount plans by department and program.
• Maintain and update the rolling 13-week cash flow forecast and a longer-horizon (12+ month) financial forecast, reflecting current bookings, backlog, and production schedule.
• Produce monthly variance analysis comparing actuals to budget and forecast, identifying and explaining material drivers (volume, price, cost, mix) for parent-company review.
• Reforecast throughout the year as bookings, contract awards, and production plans change, keeping the operations leadership ahead of variances rather than reactive to them.
• Support capital expenditure planning and prioritization.

**Cost Accounting **

• Maintain standard and actual cost accounting for a discrete manufacturing environment, including labor, material, and overhead allocation.
• Support cost accounting practices and cost pool structures in coordination with Ajax finance leadership.
• Support pricing, quoting, and program financial analysis in partnership with Program Management and Sales.

Cash Management & Banking

• Manage day-to-day cash positioning, AR collections, and AP prioritization, including coordination with critical suppliers on payment terms.
• Serve as a point of contact for the LOC lender relationship, providing timely and accurate reporting as required under the credit agreement.
• Track and reconcile intercompany transactions and management fee arrangements between WMT and Ajax.

Internal Controls & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain internal controls over financial reporting appropriate for a CMMC Level 2-certified, ITAR-registered manufacturing environment.
• Support annual audit, tax, and insurance renewal processes for WMT.
• Ensure Kentucky sales and use tax compliance, including manufacturing exemption documentation under KRS 139.470.

Team Leadership & Systems

• Manage and develop WMT accounting staff (AP, AR, cost accounting, and payroll support functions).
• Serve as finance lead on ERP system administration and evaluation initiatives, maintaining data integrity across the platform.
• Identify and implement process improvements to strengthen close speed, forecasting accuracy, and reporting quality.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including 2+ years in a Controller or senior accounting management role.
• Manufacturing industry experience, including standard/actual cost accounting and inventory valuation.
• Strong Excel skills and hands-on ERP experience (Microsoft Dynamics NAV/Business Central, comparable discrete manufacturing ERP).
• Demonstrated experience owning an annual budgeting process and producing rolling financial forecasts, including variance analysis against plan/budget.
• Working knowledge of GAAP and internal controls in a closely held or private-equity-backed manufacturing environment.
• U.S. Person status required due to ITAR/export control regulations governing access to controlled technical data.

Preferred

• Strong hands-on plant/manufacturing controllership experience in lieu of certification are encouraged to apply. CMA or progress toward is a plus but not a prerequisite.
• Experience in a defense, aerospace, or other ITAR-regulated manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with CMMC 2.0 requirements and CUI data handling practices.
• Demonstrated track record of career progression through plant/shop-floor accounting roles (cost accountant, staff accountant, assistant controller) into a controllership position, reflecting applied operational expertise.
• Experience with managing treasury functions.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• High attention to detail with the ability to identify and resolve reconciliation discrepancies independently.
• Comfortable operating in a lean, hands-on finance function — this role blends strategic reporting with day-to-day transactional ownership.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present financial results clearly to non-financial operations and executive stakeholders.
• Sound judgment under time and liquidity pressure; discretion with sensitive financial and CUI data.

PHYSICAL & work environment

Ability to sit for extended periods in an office environment; occasionally lift and carry up to 15 lbs.; regular use of a computer and standard office equipment; periodic walking to and from the production floor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

This position is performed primarily in an office setting, with periodic visits to the Whelan Machine & Tool production floor to support cost accounting, inventory valuation, and operations finance needs. Standard PPE (safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toe footwear) is required when on the production floor. Standard business hours apply; additional hours may be required during month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close, as well as budgeting and audit cycles.

Access to ITAR-controlled technical data and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) requires verification of U.S. Person status prior to employment.

You should be proficient in:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Cost Accounting
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
• Budgeting
• Cash Management
• Financial Reporting
• GAAP
• Internal Controls
• Inventory Valuation
• Variance Analysis

Machines & technologies you'll use:

• ERP System