Chief Accounting Officer

Job Description

Job Description

About the Company

Our client is a rapidly growing, private equity-backed government contractor headquartered in Leesburg, Virginia. The company operates in secure environments supporting critical government missions and is entering an exciting phase of growth and value creation.

Why This Role?

This is an exciting opportunity to join the leadership team of a growing platform company backed by private equity investors. The Chief Accounting Officer will play a pivotal role in building accounting infrastructure, developing future leaders, supporting strategic initiatives, and helping prepare the organization for future transaction activity and value creation events.

Position Summary

The Chief Accounting Officer will serve as the organization's senior accounting executive and a strategic advisor to the CFO and executive leadership team. As the company continues its rapid expansion under private equity ownership, this leader will play a critical role in strengthening accounting operations, developing future leaders, supporting M&A activity, and preparing the organization for future liquidity events.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned accounting executive who combines deep government contracting expertise with the ability to build scalable teams, processes, controls, and reporting infrastructure in a high-growth environment.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting Operations & Governance

• Oversee all accounting operations and monthly close activities
• Ensure timely, accurate, and transparent financial reporting
• Maintain strong internal controls, governance practices, and accounting policies
• Drive accounting process improvements and organizational scalability

Executive Leadership

• Lead and oversee the organization's accounting function
• Serve as a key member of the finance leadership team
• Provide strategic accounting guidance to executive leadership
• Develop high-performing teams and future accounting leaders
• Build organizational depth and succession planning capabilities

Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Support audits and financial statement reviews
• Ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements
• Support reporting requirements related to private equity ownership
• Maintain accounting controls and reporting accuracy

Strategic Growth & Transaction Readiness

• Partner closely with the CFO on long-term strategic initiatives
• Support acquisitions, integrations, financing activities, and due diligence efforts
• Assist with accounting and organizational readiness for future transactions
• Build accounting infrastructure capable of supporting significant future growth

Industry & Compliance Support

• Provide accounting leadership within a government contracting environment
• Understand the unique characteristics of government contracting, including long-term contracts, secure environments, confidentiality requirements, and customer expectations
• Maintain eligibility for a security clearance if required
• Support compliance with company, customer, and contractual requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required
• CPA required
• 15+ years of progressive accounting experience
• Prior public accounting experience, including external audit experience, required
• Experience leading accounting teams in growing organizations
• Experience within government contracting, aerospace & defense, national security, or similarly regulated industries preferred
• Prior experience working in a private equity-backed company preferred
• Demonstrated success developing and mentoring accounting professionals
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills
• Experience supporting M&A activity, due diligence, integrations, or transaction readiness initiatives preferred
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment

Personal Characteristics

• Leadership-first mindset with a passion for developing people
• Strong executive presence and ability to influence across the organization
• Hands-on when necessary but focused on building scalable processes and teams
• Collaborative partner to the CFO and executive leadership team
• High integrity and discretion in handling sensitive information
• Comfortable operating in an environment preparing for significant growth and future transaction activity