Comptroller

We are seeking a hands-on Comptroller to own the accounting functions. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Comptroller is responsible for the integrity of the books, the defensibility of every financial statement, and the compliance posture required to operate as a dual-use (defense and commercial) business. This role is the operational counterpart to the CFO. Where the CFO sets financial strategy, the Comptroller ensures the underlying financial machine is accurate , auditable, and audit-ready at all times . This is not a passive ledger-keeping role. You will build and lead accounting, select and implement the financial systems stack, and establish the internal controls framework that will carry the company through rapid revenue growth and scaling operational complexity. Key Responsibilities: Accounting Operations & Financial Close Own the general ledger, chart of accounts, and the full close cycle (monthly, quarterly, annual) Manage accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, fixed assets, and treasury Ensure accurate and timely recording of all transactions in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) Produce monthly financial statements and supporting schedules for the CFO, CEO, and Board Revenue Recognition & Billing: Design and maintain the revenue recognition policy for the token consumption pricing model in compliance with ASC 606 Establish accounting treatment for multi-element arrangements spanning platform access, token tiers (ingestion, transformation, query/export), professional services, and government contract deliverables Manage billing operations across commercial SaaS customers and government contracts (cost-plus, time-and-materials, firm-fixed-price, Other Transaction Authorities) Own deferred revenue, contract asset/liability, and commission capitalization under ASC 606 and ASC 340-40 Government Contract Accounting & DCAA Compliance: Establish and maintain a Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)-compliant accounting system Own the indirect rate structure — fringe, overhead, and General & Administrative (G&A) pools — including calculation, monitoring, and annual true-up Manage provisional billing rates, forward pricing rates, and rate agreements; maintain timekeeping compliance Ensure compliance with Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) as contract values grow Support contract proposals with cost volume inputs, rate analysis, and compliant pricing methodologies Internal Controls, Audit & Compliance: Design and implement a pragmatic internal control framework appropriate for a pre-public, venture-backed, government-contracting entity Lead the first independent financial audit and serve as primary point of contact with external auditors Establish policies for expense, procurement, corporate card, and travel in compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Own sales, use, and excise tax compliance; coordinate federal, state, and local income tax with external advisors Financial Systems & Infrastructure: Evaluate, select, and implement the core financial systems stack Integrate financial systems with upstream operational data Build reporting infrastructure that gives the CFO and Board real-time financial KPIs Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner daily with the CFO on financial strategy, fundraising support, investor reporting, and parent-company reporting Collaborate with COO on budget management and operational financial reporting Work with the operations team on contract profitability and government contract close-out Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance ; active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, with substantial time in a Comptroller, Controller, or equivalent senior role 5+ years in a leadership role owning the close and serving as the primary accounting authority Direct DCAA audit exposure — indirect rate management, incurred cost submissions, and contract-type-specific billing Proven track record implementing or migrating to a mid-market ERP during material revenue scaling Experience with venture-backed or private-equity-backed companies — audit prep, investor reporting cadence, institutional discipline Deep proficiency in U.S. GAAP with strong working knowledge of ASC 606 (revenue), ASC 842 (leases), ASC 718 (stock compensation), and ASC 805 (business combinations) Working mastery of FAR, DFARS and DCAA audit methodology