Controller

Overview

The Controller will serve as a senior leader within the Finance organization, responsible for building, scaling, and leading a best-in-class accounting function that supports a complex, high-growth business. This role owns the integrity of financial reporting, drives a timely and accurate close process, ensures audit readiness, strengthens internal controls, and partners cross-functionally with executive leadership to support strategic growth initiatives.

Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Close

• Lead the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
• Own the close process, ensuring timely, accurate, and scalable financial reporting while continuously improving close timelines, process quality, and operational efficiency.
• Oversee general ledger activity, account reconciliations, consolidation processes, and overall financial statement integrity.
• Develop and deliver high-quality financial reporting packages for executive leadership, the Board, and, as applicable, Audit Committee audiences.
• Establish reporting standards, review mechanisms, and operating rhythms that support accuracy, accountability, and executive-level decision-making.

Technical Accounting

• Serve as the senior technical accounting leader, owning accounting policies, technical memos, and conclusions across complex areas including revenue recognition under ASC 606, inventory, leases under ASC 842, stock-based compensation, business combinations, and other areas as the business scales.
• Monitor, assess, and lead implementation of new accounting pronouncements and evolving reporting requirements.
• Advise the CFO and executive leadership on accounting implications of strategic initiatives, transactions, customer contracts, financing activities, acquisitions, and new business models.
• Partner with Legal, FP&A, Operations, Supply Chain, and external advisors to ensure accounting positions are well-documented, supportable, and aligned with company objectives.

External Reporting & Readiness

• Build financial reporting processes, documentation, and governance practices aligned with public-company standards and increasing external scrutiny.
• Partner with external auditors, legal counsel, and other advisors on complex reporting, disclosure, and compliance matters.
• Contribute to readiness for enhanced external reporting requirements, including preparation for future liquidity events, large-scale financing, public-company expectations, or other significant corporate milestones.
• Support the preparation of materials for Board and Audit Committee engagement, including financial reporting updates, audit matters, control environment updates, and key accounting judgments.

Audit, Tax & Compliance

• Serve as the primary executive liaison for external auditors, managing the annual audit and any interim or quarterly review processes.
• Ensure audit readiness through disciplined documentation, strong accounting processes, timely issue resolution, and a proactive approach to auditor engagement.
• Oversee tax compliance in partnership with external providers, including federal, state, local, and international filings as applicable.
• Ensure accounting and reporting processes are designed to support compliance with regulatory, contractual, and government contracting requirements where applicable.

Risk, Controls & Compliance

• Design, implement, and maintain a scalable internal control framework that supports company growth, operational complexity, and reporting obligations.
• Partner with Internal Audit or equivalent functions to identify key risks, evaluate control effectiveness, and ensure appropriate mitigation strategies are in place.
• Continuously evaluate and strengthen business process controls across accounting, payroll, procurement, inventory, financial reporting, and related workflows.
• Drive a culture of compliance, accountability, and strong financial stewardship across the organization.

Leadership & Team Building

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing accounting organization capable of supporting the organization through its next stages of growth.
• Develop the accounting team structure, hiring roadmap, operating model, and career progression pathways aligned with business needs.
• Establish a culture of ownership, accuracy, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Balance executive-level leadership with hands-on execution, particularly in areas where processes, systems, or teams are still being built.
• Serve as a trusted partner to the CFO and executive team on accounting strategy, organizational design, risk management, and financial infrastructure.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner closely with FP&A to support forecasting, budgeting, performance analysis, and executive reporting.
• Collaborate with Legal on contracts, compliance matters, equity compensation, corporate governance, and transaction support.
• Work with Operations and Supply Chain on inventory accounting, cost accounting, manufacturing processes, and operational reporting.
• Support executive leadership with timely financial insights, reporting, and analysis that inform strategic decisions.
• Partner with HR on payroll, equity compensation, headcount planning, and related accounting processes.
• Act as a senior Finance partner across the organization, translating accounting and control requirements into practical, scalable business processes.

Systems & Infrastructure

• Evaluate, implement, and optimize ERP and financial systems, including NetSuite or equivalent platforms.
• Drive automation, data integrity, and scalability across accounting workflows, reporting processes, close activities, reconciliations, and financial operations.
• Ensure alignment between financial systems, operational systems, and reporting requirements.
• Lead system upgrades, integrations, and process redesign efforts as the organization scales.
• Establish financial systems infrastructure that supports auditability, operational efficiency, and executive-level visibility.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA required.
• 12+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including senior leadership experience within a complex or high-growth environment.
• 7+ years of people management experience, including experience building, leading, and scaling accounting teams.
• Prior experience operating in a public-company environment or similarly complex, highly regulated reporting environment.
• Deep expertise in U.S. GAAP, technical accounting, financial reporting, consolidations, and internal controls.
• Proven experience designing, implementing, and scaling internal control frameworks.
• Strong experience managing external audits and serving as the senior point of contact for external auditors.
• Demonstrated ability to lead in fast-paced, high-growth environments with increasing operational and reporting complexity.
• Strong executive presence, sound judgment, and the ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership, Board stakeholders, auditors, and external advisors.

Preferred

• Big 4 public accounting background.
• Experience supporting a company through a significant liquidity event, large-scale financing, acquisition, public-company readiness process, or transition to a more complex reporting environment.
• Experience in defense technology, aerospace, manufacturing, hardware, SaaS, or hardware-enabled software environments.
• Strong background in inventory accounting, cost accounting, and manufacturing-related accounting processes.
• Experience with international entities, consolidations, and multi-entity structures.
• ERP implementation or optimization experience; NetSuite strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with government contracting requirements and related compliance frameworks.
• Experience building accounting functions in founder-led, venture-backed, or private-equity-backed companies.

First 90–180 Day Priorities

• Assess the current accounting organization, systems, close process, reporting cadence, controls environment, and team capabilities.
• Identify gaps in financial reporting, audit readiness, internal controls, systems infrastructure, and scalability relative to best-in-class standards.
• Develop and begin executing a roadmap to strengthen the close process, improve reporting quality, and accelerate monthly and quarterly reporting timelines.
• Establish a prioritized internal controls and audit-readiness roadmap, including documentation standards, control ownership, and key risk areas.
• Build strong relationships with the CFO, executive team, cross-functional partners, external auditors, tax advisors, and other key stakeholders.
• Develop a team structure and hiring plan to scale the accounting organization in alignment with company growth.
• Evaluate ERP and financial systems infrastructure and define a roadmap for optimization, automation, or implementation.
• Create a clear operating rhythm for accounting, reporting, audit preparation, controls, and cross-functional finance support.

Compensation & Benefits

• 100% Employer paid Health Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your families
• Life Insurance (Employer Paid)
• Ability to participate in the 401k program (Matching)
• Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2 week minimum
• Equity Package
• Work / Home Office Stipend
• Global Entry
• 16 Week Paid Parental Leave
• Monthly Health and Wellness Stipend

Location

Providence, Rhode Island

Equal Opportunity

The organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. Applicants are welcomed from all backgrounds and are not discriminated against based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.