Controller

Position Overview

The Corporate Controller serves as the senior accounting leader managing day-to-day operational accounting, government contract compliance, and period-end close processes across the organization and its subsidiaries. This executive role ensures strict alignment with U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting guidelines, and specialized federal contracting rules. Core operational ownership encompasses the general ledger, transactional workflows, payroll, accounts payable, billing, and internal financial analytics.

Based out of our Herndon, VA office, this position reports directly to the Chief Accounting Officer (CAO). The Controller guides an 8-person team split between multiple locations, while interfacing regularly with the executive C-suite (CEO, CFO, CIO, CHRO, and Chief Legal Officer).

A primary near-term focus will involve modernizing our enterprise financial systems, specifically driving a Deltek Costpoint upgrade and overseeing its deployment at our recently acquired subsidiary.

Primary Responsibilities:

Accounting & Regulatory Reporting

• Operational Leadership: Direct the corporate close cycle, general ledger maintenance, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Transaction Workflows: Supervise full-cycle accounts payable, client billing, and payroll processing.
• Financial Visibility: Deliver timely monthly financial packages, including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow models, and project-level reviews.
• Audit & Public Readiness: Act as the operational lead supporting quarterly SEC reporting disclosures and coordinating the annual external audit.
• Technical Accounting: Control complex accounting areas including revenue recognition, indirect cost allocations, payroll liabilities, and structured accruals.
• Tax Administration: Oversee corporate tax calendars to guarantee timely filings for federal, state, franchise, and sales/use taxes alongside external tax advisors.

Government Contracting & Compliance

• Regulatory Alignment: Maintain rigorous compliance with FAR, CAS, DCAA, and DCMA frameworks.
• Audit Readiness: Author annual Incurred Cost Submissions (ICS) and manage primary communications with defense audit agencies.
• Project Accounting: Enforce accurate job costing models for Cost-Plus, T&M, and Firm-Fixed-Price contracts, actively supporting Estimate-at-Completion (EAC) evaluations.
• Cost Accounting Standards: Ensure proper cost segregation and unallowable cost handling under FAR Part 31.
• Rate Architecture: Provide historical accounting data to help model, monitor, and optimize corporate indirect rate pools.

Systems, Systems Automation & Internal Controls

• SOX Framework: Partner with the Director of SOX Compliance to design, test, and execute robust internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR).
• Policy Governance: Draft and standardize corporate accounting policies to maintain audit-ready documentation.
• ERP Modernization: Drive the technical upgrade of Deltek Costpoint and spearhead its integration at the newly acquired Dallas entity.
• Continuous Improvement: Champion automated workflows, paperless approvals, and process standardization across all accounting functions.

Leadership & Mentorship

• Talent Development: Manage and mentor a multi-site accounting team, building a culture anchored in precision, accountability, and professional growth.
• Strategic Liaison: Act as a dependable corporate bridge between subsidiary operations and headquarters to execute business goals smoothly.

Requirements

Education & Certification

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance is required.
• An active CPA license is highly preferred.

Experience Requirements

• Leadership Track: 10+ years of progressive accounting leadership experience managing operational accounting teams.
• Industry Focus: Deep experience within defense, aerospace, national security, or federal technology sectors.
• Public Markets: Proven experience navigating public company financial environments.
• Public Accounting: Foundational experience at a Big 4 or national public accounting firm auditing publicly traded corporations.
• ERP Systems: Hands-on experience optimizing or deploying defense-industry ERP platforms, with an explicit preference for Deltek Costpoint.

Core Competencies

• Technical Domain Expertise: Complete mastery of U.S. GAAP, SOX regulations, and federal procurement compliance rules.
• Regulatory Discretion: High integrity and sound judgment accustomed to working within a highly regulated national security ecosystem.
• Project Management: Excellent communication and analytical skills, with a track record of driving system transformations and hitting tight regulatory deadlines.