Controller

The company is a defense technology firm at an inflection point, building hardware and software systems for government customers. It is shifting toward a data-dominant revenue model with fixed-price contracts and defense-agency clients. The accounting infrastructure must mature rapidly to support this growth.

About the Role

The Controller will lead the growth and maturation of the company’s accounting function. Responsibilities include establishing project-level coding, migrating accounting software to a DCAA-auditable system, designing the chart of accounts and dimension structure for detailed reporting, and developing accounting policies and close processes to support the company’s next phase of growth. The Controller owns the accounting infrastructure—systems, close processes, compliance, and financial data—while the fractional CFO handles board communications and the FP&A lead manages pricing and forecasting.

Responsibilities

Accounting Operations & Close

• Own the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close, targeting a 5 to 7 business-day close within 6 months
• Maintain and refine a documented close checklist with clear ownership across the accounting team
• Manage and scale a small accounting team of 2 to 4, hiring as needed to support business growth
• Maintain reconciliations, journal entry approval workflows, and balance sheet schedules in the new ERP
• Ensure DCAA audit readiness by summer 2027

ERP Migration

• Lead ERP selection and vendor evaluation, with NetSuite as the primary candidate
• Own the full migration from QuickBooks, including COA redesign, dimension architecture, data migration, parallel close, and go-live
• Configure the system to support multi-element revenue recognition, project accounting, inventory and WIP costing, and indirect rate tracking
• Establish a chart of accounts and dimension structure that scales without GL code proliferation as the contract base grows

Policy and Documentation

• Establish and maintain written revenue recognition policies covering hardware, software, and data deliverables under ASC 606
• Document performance obligations, standalone selling prices, and allocation methodology for multi-element contracts
• Maintain deferred revenue schedules and ensure contract-level recognition is auditable and defensible
• Partner with the FP&A lead and fractional CFO to ensure recognition policies support accurate forecasting

Inventory & Cost of Goods Sold

• Oversee inventory accounting across raw materials, WIP, and finished goods
• Establish BOM costing methodology and maintain accuracy through engineering change processes
• Define and monitor COGS by segment; hardware margin and software/data margin must be visible independently
• Maintain capitalization policies for tooling, NRE, and internally developed software under ASC 350-40

DCAA Audit Readiness

• Maintain an accounting system that meets DFARS adequacy standards at all times
• Segregate and track unallowable costs under FAR Part 31 within all indirect cost pools
• Define and maintain indirect rate pool structure (fringe, overhead, G&A) with consistent allocation bases
• Prepare or oversee the annual Incurred Cost Submission and manage outside advisors as needed
• Serve as primary point of contact for DCAA inquiries and audits, briefing the fractional CFO on all government audit activity
• Monitor CAS coverage thresholds as contract awards grow; ensure cost accumulation is CLIN-level on applicable contracts

Financial Reporting & Controls

• Prepare GAAP-compliant financial statements and supporting schedules for board and investor reporting
• Build and maintain an internal controls framework appropriate for a scaling defense technology company
• Own the external audit relationship and maintain audit-ready documentation across all transaction cycles
• Produce a monthly reporting package including segment P&L, contract-level margin, and balance sheet analysis

Requirements

• 8 to 14 years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 4 years in an operational Controller, Assistant Controller, or Senior Accountant role with Assistant Controller-level responsibility
• Active CPA license
• Experience managing an ERP migration with project-level accounting
• Depth in project accounting; comfort thinking in dimensions rather than just GL codes, with prior experience structuring cost accumulation by contract or project
• ASC 606 experience with multi-element arrangements involving hardware, software, or services with more than one performance obligation
• Inventory and cost accounting experience, including WIP and COGS, in a product-based business
• Experience building or rebuilding accounting processes in an environment without a mature playbook

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct government contracting experience, including FAR Part 31, indirect rate structures, and DCAA audit exposure
• NetSuite or other ERP implementation or advanced configuration experience
• Exposure to defense, aerospace, or government IT services environments
• Familiarity with SaaS or data revenue models: ARR, deferred revenue, recurring revenue waterfalls
• Experience managing a team of 2 to 5 people through a system transition

What Makes a Candidate Stand Out

• Has lived through a scaling journey at a prior company and knows what breaks along the way
• Has designed a chart of accounts from scratch and can explain every dimension decision made
• Has been through a DCAA audit and knows how to prepare for one proactively
• Understands where the business is going, not just where it is, and builds accounting infrastructure for the future state