Assistant Controller

Position Summary:

The Assistant Controller partners with the ASNA Vice President of Finance to oversee the organization’s accounting operations and maintain an accurate, compliant, and efficient controllership function. This position is responsible for the integrity and timeliness of financial close and reporting process, manufacturing cost accounting, inventory controls, financial systems, process improvement, internal controls, and development of the accounting team.

The Assistant Controller serves as a technical accounting and strategic business partner to Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Human Resources, IT, and senior management. The position also supports financial planning and analysis, applicable government-contract accounting requirements, audits, and the implementation of practical automation and AI-enabled tools in accordance with Company data security, confidentiality, and internal control requirements.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

Essential functions of the position include, but are not limited to:

Accounting and Financial Reporting

• Assist in developing and implementing accounting policies, finance controls, priorities, and procedures that support the Company’ operational and financial objectives.
• Lead and participate in the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, ensuring financial information is complete, accurate, properly supported, and reported on time.
• Review and approve journal entries, account reconciliations, account analyses, accruals, and other financial close documentation.
• Oversee the preparation of financial statements, management reports, and supporting schedules in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and Company requirements.
• Direct the maintenance and integrity of general ledger, subsidiary ledgers, and supporting accounting records.
• Maintain accurate records relating to product cost, tax, inventory, taxes, fixed assets, operating expenses, insurance, and other financial activities
• Review financial statements, operating results, and significant variances with senior management.

Prepare and present financial analyses, forecasts, and reports regarding current performance and estimated future costs and revenues.

• Assist with the annual budgeting and forecasting processes, including the preparation of supporting documentation, assumptions, analyses, and management presentations.
• Review customer bids, proposals, and pricing submissions for compliance with applicable accounting standards, Company policies, profitability expectations, and approval requirements.

Manufacturing Cost Accounting and Inventory

• Oversee manufacturing cost accounting, including standard costs, work in process, overhead absorption, inventory valuation, labor and material variances, and cost-of-goods-sold reporting.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain to analyze manufacturing performance, product costs, inventory activity, and operational variances.
• Maintain appropriate accounting controls over inventory transactions, cycle counts, physical inventories, excess and obsolete inventory, and inventory adjustments.
• Support efforts to improve product-cost accuracy, inventory integrity, operational performance, and profitability.

Internal Controls, Compliance, and Audits

• Establish, maintain, and continually improve accounting policies, procedures, documentation, and internal controls.
• Monitor compliance with Company financial policies, delegated-authority requirements, and applicable legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations.
• Serve as the primary Finance contact for internal audits involving accounting processes, administrative controls, and financial records.
• Coordinate the preparation of schedules, documentation, and other materials required for external audits, tax filings, and corporate reporting.
• Support applicable government-contract accounting requirements, including cost allowability and compliance with FAR, DFARS, and related contractual requirements.
• Identify financial, operational, and compliance risks and recommend appropriate corrective actions and control improvements.

Financial Systems, Automation, and Data Governance

• Oversee the effective use and integrity of the Company’s ERP accounting and inventory-control systems.
• Evaluate financial-system controls and assist with the development and implementation of procedures for new or enhanced systems.
• Identify opportunities to automate and improve ERP, accounting, reporting, reconciliation, forecasting, and financial-planning processes.
• Partner with Information Technology and functional leaders to implement scalable system and process improvements.
• Lead the evaluation and responsible adoption of AI-enabled tools that improve the efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness of accounting, reporting, forecasting, reconciliation, and financial-analysis processes.
• Establish appropriate controls, data-governance practices, validation standards, and human-review procedures for the use of AI and automation within Finance.
• Ensure confidential, proprietary, personal, and controlled information is protected when using financial systems, automation, AI-enabled tools, and data-analytics platforms.
• Train Finance employees on the responsible and effective use of approved automation, AI, and digital tools.

Leadership and Team Development

• Supervise accounting functions and personnel responsible for general accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and related activities.
• Establish clear performance expectations and ensure work is completed accurately, efficiently, and within required deadlines.
• Coach, train, and develop accounting team members to strengthen technical capabilities, operational knowledge, accountability, and career development.
• Promote collaboration, continuous improvement, and strong customer service within Finance and across the organization.
• Evaluate workloads, staffing requirements, processes, and priorities to ensure the accounting function effectively supports business needs.

General Responsibilities

• Perform other related duties as required or assigned.
• Follow all Company policies, procedures, safety requirements, and standards of conduct.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• Master of Business Administration or other relevant advanced degree preferred.
• Certified Public Accountant designation preferred.
• 7 to 10 years of progressively responsible accounting experience, preferably within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience with financial close, financial reporting, manufacturing cost accounting, inventory controls, internal controls, audits, and team leadership.
• Experience supporting government contracts, FAR/DFARS compliance, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment strongly preferred, based on business requirements.

Qualifications:

• Strong technical knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial-statement preparation, internal controls, and audit requirements.
• Thorough knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting, including standard costing, inventory valuation, WIP, overhead absorption, and variance analysis.
• Working knowledge of corporate income tax, sales and use tax, and property tax requirements.
• Experience working with ERP-enabled accounting, costing, and inventory-control processes; Syspro experience preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Experience with Power BI, financial-reporting tools, planning systems, SQL, and data analytics preferred.
• Working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, cost allowability, and government-contract accounting principles preferred, based on business requirements.
• Demonstrated experience implementing accounting-process improvements, system enhancements, automation, and data-driven reporting.

• Familiarity with AI-enabled finance and productivity tools, including data-security requirements, appropriate human review, and internal-control considerations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, motivate, and retain a high-performing team while balancing service, compliance, control, profitability, and growth objectives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to finance and non-finance audiences.
• Ability to collaborate across functions, build effective working relationships, and influence business decisions.

Training Requirements:

NA

Travel Requirements:

Periodic travel may be required to support project functions such as supplier visits, product testing, and technical customer meetings.

ITAR Requirements:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Physical Demands: (*)

The employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle, touch, or feel; and talk and hear. The employee is also required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, and kneel. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds with assistance. Vision requirements include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment: (*)

This position requires work in a variety of environments, including office, shop floor, field, supplier, test, and customer locations, both domestic and international. While performing the duties of this position, the employee may be exposed to static electricity, explosives under controlled test conditions, fumes, airborne particles, outdoor weather conditions, and office environments that are air-conditioned and heated. The noise level in the work environment is normally moderate but may occasionally be high. Appropriate personal protective equipment and adherence to applicable safety procedures may be required depending on the work location and activity.

*Note: The Physical Demands and Work Environment sections describe conditions associated with performing the essential functions of the position and support consideration of reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Airborne Systems is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range:  $135k – $170k Annually – commensurate with experience and qualifications.  Actual pay may be higher or lower than the posted range.

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.