Controller

About the role

You will own the end-to-end financial accounting lifecycle for NODA, translating complex mission requirements into accurate and compliant financial records. You are responsible for establishing the accounting policies, controls, and procedures that allow a defense technology company to operate confidently in a regulated environment. This role requires you to build the financial infrastructure from the ground up while maintaining the rigor necessary for government contracting. You will partner closely with the founding team to ensure financial decisions are informed, scalable, and aligned with strategic objectives. In this capacity, you will drive financial integrity and transparency across the entire organization.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Own and operate the end-to-end general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll integration to ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Design and maintain the chart of accounts and indirect cost pools that reflect the unique cost structure of government contracting engagements.
• Establish and enforce month-end close calendars, reconciliation procedures, and accounting policies that scale reliably as the business grows.
• Manage critical external relationships with auditors, tax preparers, banking partners, and outsourced accounting providers during the transition to in-house operations.
• Stand up a DCAA-compliant accounting system, including robust timekeeping, labor distribution, and indirect cost allocation methodologies.
• Develop and submit provisional billing rates, incurred cost submissions (ICE), and forward pricing rate proposals in support of contract execution.
• Ensure strict compliance with FAR, DFARS, and CAS requirements across the full portfolio of NODA's defense and commercial contracts.
• Partner with contracts and program teams on contract setup, billing structures, and revenue recognition for cost-reimbursable, fixed-price, OTA, and SBIR vehicles.
• Produce timely, accurate monthly and quarterly financial statements to support management decision-making and board-level oversight.
• Lead the preparation for the company's first external audit and own ongoing audit readiness activities as the organization scales.
• Establish revenue recognition policies aligned with ASC 606 to properly account for prototype, production, and government contract revenue streams.
• Implement internal controls and financial processes appropriate to the current stage of the company, with a clear roadmap toward public-company readiness.
• Select, implement, and administer core accounting, billing, expense, and payroll systems that can evolve from early stage into enterprise-scale operations.
• Build the integrations and reporting layer that connects financial systems with project accounting, contracts, and operational data sources.
• Create and maintain documentation, standard operating procedures, and training programs to enable a growing finance organization to operate efficiently.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related analytical field.
• Possess an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
• Bring a minimum of 7 years of progressive accounting experience with a solid foundation in Big 4 audit practice.
• Demonstrate direct experience with government contract accounting, including DCAA-compliant systems, indirect rate development, and incurred cost submissions.
• Show working knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and applicable Cost Accounting Standards (CAS).
• Have hands-on experience owning month-end close activities and producing financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Exhibit proficiency with modern accounting and ERP systems such as NetSuite, Unanet, Deltek Costpoint, or comparable enterprise platforms.
• Maintain strong Excel modeling and advanced analytical skills to support complex financial analysis and reporting.
• Be a U.S. citizen with the demonstrated ability to obtain a government security clearance.

Nice to have

• Big 4 audit experience serving a defense, aerospace, or government contracting client portfolio.
• Prior service as a Controller or Assistant Controller within a venture-backed defense technology company.
• Hands-on experience standing up a DCAA-compliant accounting system entirely from scratch.
• Direct experience supporting a Series B financing round in a regulated, government-facing environment.

Practical notes

This is a full-time position based in Austin, Texas, with a hybrid on-site arrangement. The role reports directly to the VP of Operations. U.S. citizenship is required due to the need to obtain a security clearance. No specific work hour window or maximum travel requirement is specified in the current description. There are no stated deadlines for application submission in the provided source material.