A bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance and an active Certified Public Accountant license are required.
At least 8 years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 3 years as a Controller or in a core finance leadership role, is required.
Direct experience with defense or federal contracts, such as Department of War, Army, Navy, Department of Energy, or similar contracts, is required.
Working knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, Cost Accounting Standards, Defense Contract Audit Agency audits, indirect rates, and incurred cost submissions is required.
Experience building or scaling an accounting function at a startup or high-growth company, including bringing outsourced work in-house, is required.
Experience running accounting in an enterprise resource planning system with project or job costing, such as Deltek Costpoint, Unanet, NetSuite, or Acumatica, is required.
The candidate must be a hands-on operator who performs accounting work while building the team.
Successful completion of a background check and drug screening is required.
U.S. Person status may be required due to access to export-controlled information.
Responsibilities
Own the general ledger, chart of accounts, and monthly, quarterly, and annual close, producing accurate U.S. generally accepted accounting principles financial statements.
Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, expenses, and bank and balance sheet reconciliations.
Ensure each transaction is correctly coded at entry by contract, charge code, and cost pool.
Lead the annual financial review or audit and manage external accounting relationships.
Build and maintain an accounting system that meets Defense Contract Audit Agency adequacy standards, including the SF 1408 pre-award survey criteria, to prepare for cost-type and larger federal awards.
Ensure compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 31 cost principles, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, and Cost Accounting Standards as applicable.
Develop indirect rate structures, including fringe, overhead, and general and administrative rates, provisional billing rates, and annual incurred cost submissions.
Own contract billing through government systems such as PIEE (Wide Area Workflow), as well as collections.
Implement labor timekeeping by contract charge code that meets Defense Contract Audit Agency standards, and lead the company through audits and reviews.
Own the newly implemented enterprise resource planning system for accounting, job costing, and project accounting; refine its configuration and drive adoption across Operations, Production, and Programs.
Design and document internal controls, segregation of duties, approval authorities, and close procedures suited to a regulated government contractor.
Establish standard costs and inventory and work-in-process accounting for energetics production as plant operations ramp.
Manage current bookkeepers and outsourced providers, and bring work in-house on a planned timeline.
Build and lead a finance team of 5–6, sequenced with contract awards and plant ramp, including a staff accountant, an accounts payable/accounts receivable and billing specialist, a cost and plant accountant, and a government contracts and pricing analyst.
Report directly to the chief executive officer on close results, compliance status, and cash position.
Set indirect rates and supply the cost history used by Financial Planning and Analysis for proposal pricing and bid strategy.
Within the first 90 days, take ownership of the general ledger and close and deliver an accurate, on-time monthly close.
Within the first 90 days, assess current bookkeeping, outsourced providers, and enterprise resource planning configuration, and set a timeline for bringing work in-house.
Within the first 90 days, identify gaps against Defense Contract Audit Agency adequacy criteria, including SF 1408, and establish a plan to address them.
Within 6–12 months, establish a Defense Contract Audit Agency-adequate accounting system, labor timekeeping, and indirect rate structure.
Within 6–12 months, document internal controls and close procedures, and lead the annual review or audit.
Begin hiring the finance team in step with contract awards and plant ramp.
Work on-site in an Austin office and travel periodically to company sites, including the Ballinger facility, to support operations, inventory, and site finance processes.
Follow required personal protective equipment and site safety protocols when site visits include manufacturing and laboratory areas.
Desired Qualifications
Manufacturing cost accounting experience, including standard costs, inventory, work in process, and yield, is preferred.
Experience with other transaction agreements or Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer awards is preferred.
Experience supporting financial due diligence for a capital raise, debt financing, or acquisition is preferred.
An active security clearance or experience in a cleared environment is preferred.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Senior Controller
Department
Finance
Reports To
Chief Executive Officer
Location
Austin, TX
Work Arrangement
On-site
Travel
Periodic travel to CMG sites, including Ballinger, TX
FLSA Status
Exempt
Employment Type
Full-time
Direct Reports
None initially; will build and lead a finance team of 5–6
Clearance
Not required (active clearance or cleared-environment experience preferred)
POSITION SUMMARY
Critical Materials Group (CMG) is a federally licensed energetics manufacturer rebuilding America’s defense industrial base, and is building its finance function from the ground up. As CMG’s first accounting leader, the Senior Controller reports to the CEO, owns the books, the close, and government contract compliance, brings work now handled by bookkeepers and outsourced providers in-house, and builds the accounting team underneath it. This role answers the question every auditor, lender, and investor will ask: are the numbers right, compliant, and on time? Forecasting, pricing models, and strategic analysis sit with CMG’s FP&A function, which depends on the clean, DCAA-ready books this role delivers.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Accounting Operations & Close
▪ Own the general ledger, chart of accounts, and monthly, quarterly, and annual close, producing accurate U.S. GAAP financial statements.
▪ Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, expenses, and bank and balance sheet reconciliations.
▪ Ensure every transaction is coded correctly at entry, by contract, charge code, and cost pool.
▪ Lead the annual financial review or audit and manage CMG’s external accounting relationships.
Government Contract Accounting & Compliance
▪ Build and maintain an accounting system that meets DCAA adequacy standards, including the SF 1408 pre-award survey criteria, so CMG is ready for cost-type and larger federal awards.
▪ Ensure compliance with FAR Part 31 cost principles, DFARS, and Cost Accounting Standards as they apply.
▪ Develop indirect rate structures (fringe, overhead, and G&A), provisional billing rates, and annual incurred cost submissions.
▪ Own contract billing through government systems such as PIEE (Wide Area Workflow), plus collections.
▪ Implement labor timekeeping by contract charge code that meets DCAA standards, and lead CMG through DCAA audits and reviews.
Systems & Internal Controls
▪ Own CMG’s newly implemented ERP for accounting, job costing, and project accounting; refine its configuration and drive adoption across Operations, Production, and Programs.
▪ Design and document internal controls, segregation of duties, approval authorities, and close procedures suited to a regulated government contractor.
▪ Establish standard costs and inventory and work-in-process accounting for energetics production as plant operations ramp.
Team Building & Leadership
▪ Manage current bookkeepers and outsourced providers, and bring work in-house on a planned timeline.
▪ Build and lead a finance team of 5–6, sequenced with contract awards and plant ramp, including a staff accountant, an AP/AR and billing specialist, a cost and plant accountant, and a government contracts and pricing analyst.
▪ Report directly to the CEO on close results, compliance status, and cash position.
Partnership with FP&A
▪ Set indirect rates and supply the cost history FP&A uses for proposal pricing and bid strategy.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
First 90 days
▪ Take ownership of the general ledger and close, and deliver an accurate, on-time monthly close.
▪ Assess current bookkeeping, outsourced providers, and ERP configuration, and set a timeline for bringing work in-house.
▪ Identify gaps against DCAA adequacy (SF 1408) criteria and put a plan in place to close them.
First 6–12 months
▪ Have a DCAA-adequate accounting system, labor timekeeping, and indirect rate structure in place.
▪ Document internal controls and close procedures, and lead the annual review or audit.
▪ Begin hiring the finance team in step with contract awards and plant ramp.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
▪ Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance and an active CPA license.
▪ 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 3 years as a Controller or in a core finance leadership role.
▪ Direct experience with defense or federal contracts (Department of War, Army, Navy, DoE, or similar).
▪ Working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, CAS, DCAA audits, indirect rates, and incurred cost submissions.
▪ Has built or scaled an accounting function at a startup or high-growth company, including moving outsourced work in-house.
▪ Experience running accounting in an ERP with project or job costing, such as Deltek Costpoint, Unanet, NetSuite, or Acumatica.
▪ Hands-on operator who does the work while building the team.
Preferred
▪ Manufacturing cost accounting experience, including standard costs, inventory, work in process, and yield.
▪ Experience with other transaction agreements (OTAs) or SBIR and STTR awards.
▪ Experience supporting financial due diligence for a capital raise, debt financing, or acquisition.
▪ Active security clearance or experience in a cleared environment.
WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS
▪ Based in Austin, TX, in an office environment.
▪ Periodic travel to CMG sites, including the Ballinger, TX facility, to support operations, inventory, and site finance processes.
▪ Site visits may include manufacturing and laboratory areas where personal protective equipment and site safety protocols are required.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
▪ Successful completion of a background check and drug screening
▪ May require U.S. Person status due to access to export-controlled (ITAR/EAR) information
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Base salary: To be determined. This role is also eligible for equity, a sign-on bonus where applicable, and CMG’s full benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Critical Materials Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.