Controller / Finance Director
Position Summary
Our client is hiring a hands-on Controller / Finance Director to run the finance function end-to-end for a growing aerospace/ITAR machine shop. This person must be able to manage books and payroll with their eyes closed-accurate, fast close; clean controls; tight cash and working capital management- while also bringing strong cost accounting and margin analysis to support operational decisions and contract negotiations.
The ideal person has a “roll up their sleeves” mentality and will be able to handle forecasting, modeling, and strategic planning as well.
Compensation
Up to $250k total compensation (base plus bonus)
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Daily accounting & monthly close
- Own the monthly close in Epicor/Excel: journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, and financial package.
- Shorten and strengthen the close cadence (currently within ~2 weeks) while maintaining accuracy and control.
- Maintain disciplined GL structure, documentation, and internal controls.
- Own payroll process via ADP for ~100 employees (60% hourly / 40% salary).
- Ensure flawless payroll execution, reconciliations, reporting, and approval workflow.
- Deliver timely and accurate P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow reporting with variance analysis.
- Produce leadership reporting/KPIs using Epicor + Excel + Power BI that ties to how the shop runs.
- Create clear visibility into margins by program/customer, labor efficiency, material usage, and overhead absorption.
- Build and maintain driver-based forecasts and annual budgets (volume/mix, labor, materials, overhead, capex).
- Support contract negotiations with margin modeling, scenario analysis, and “true cost” views.
- Provide strategic financial planning that leadership trusts and doesn’t require rework.
Cash & working capital management
- Own weekly cash forecasting and working capital cadence (AR collections, AP terms, inventory turns).
- Partner with operations to improve cash conversion without disrupting production.
Team leadership
- Lead and develop a small finance team.
- Establish repeatable processes, training, and accountability; raise the bar on accuracy and speed.
Strategy sessions
- Serve as a finance partner to the GM and leadership team; bring data and clear options to decisions.
Board reporting & presentation
- Prepare board materials and present results, trends, and key risks/opportunities with confidence and clarity.
Year-end audit & lender compliance
- Own annual audit process and lender reporting/compliance requirements.
- Coordinate tax inputs with Clark Nuber (tax work handled externally).
Qualifications
- 6+ years in accounting/finance with significant Controller-level ownership in a manufacturing environment.
- Proven ownership of: close, payroll, AP/AR, controls, financial statements (hands-on, not just oversight).
- Strong cost accounting foundation: standard costing + actuals, variance analysis, inventory accounting, overhead absorption.
- ERP experience in manufacturing (Epicor strongly preferred); excellent Excel skills.
- Clear communicator who can work with operators and present to a board.
- Comfortable in an ITAR/aerospace environment with a compliance-first mindset.
Preferred Qualifications (but not required)
- High-end FP&A: driver-based forecasting, scenario modeling, pricing/quoting analytics.
- Strong Power BI/dashboarding tied to Epicor data.
- Banking relationship ownership (forecasting, covenants, lender packages).
- Experience supporting M&A diligence/integration as needed.
Compensation: Up to $250k total compensation (base plus bonus)
Posted: 3/9/26