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.

Thomas Edwards Group is an Executive Search Firm specializing in the direct hire and interim placement of Accounting, Finance, HR and IT professionals. We’ve been in business since 1997 and the Dallas Business Journal has ranked us a Top Search Firm in Dallas and one of the “Best Places to Work” multiple times. Thomas Edwards Group also made the Inc. 5000 list in 2016 and our award-winning team of Search Consultants, which rank among the best and most experienced in the area, includes MBAs, CPAs, former Big 4 Professionals, Controllers, IT Search Professionals, Finance/Banking, and Business Professionals.