Controller

Red Cell Partners; McLean (VA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance - family

Unlimited PTO

Parental leave

Job summary

Red Cell Partners is seeking a Controller to own accounting, financial close, compliance, and reporting for a fast-growing defense technology company. The role operates in a hybrid capacity from McLean, VA, with weekly in-office presence and clearance-sensitive work as needed.

You will oversee the CFO's books, ensure accurate monthly closes, audit-ready financials, and robust government contract accounting aligned with DCAA and DCMA expectations.

Qualifications

• Active CPA required and progressive accounting experience with leadership ownership.
• Experience with U.S. government contracting including FAR/DFARS and cost accounting standards.
• Strong GAAP knowledge (ASC 606) and experience with external audits.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and year-end close under U.S. GAAP.
• Lead government contract accounting and compliance (DCAA/DCMA).
• Manage audits, prepare incurred cost submissions, and coordinate with external tax advisors.

Skills

Active CPA license

10+ years accounting experience

U.S. GAAP / ASC 606

DCAA/DCMA knowledge

Leadership experience

U.S. citizenship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Master's degree in Accounting (preferred)

Tools

Deltek Costpoint

Unanet

Procas

Job description

Red Cell Partners is an incubation firm building and investing in rapidly scalable technology-led companies that are bringing revolutionary advancements to market in three distinct practice areas: healthcare, cyber, and national security. United by a shared sense of duty and deep belief in the power of innovation, Red Cell is developing powerful tools and solutions to address our Nation’s most pressing problems.

About DEFCON AI

RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF DISRUPTION. DEFCON AI is an insights company that leverages artificial intelligence, mathematical optimization, data analytics, and software engineering for resilient optimization of complex systems.
In today’s dynamically changing world, Defcon AI’s technology aligns outcomes with operational goals, better decision making, and empowers customers to anticipate assess, and mitigate the impacts of disruptions.

About the Role

We are seeking a Controller to own accounting, financial close, compliance, and reporting for a fast-growing defense technology company supporting Department of War and commercial customers.

This role will operate in a hybrid capacity from our McLean, Virginia office, with at least one day per week in the office, or more as business needs require. Some work may need to be performed in a cleared facility.

You will serve as the CFO's right hand on the books, ensuring an accurate monthly close, audit-ready financials, and a government contract accounting environment that stands up to DCAA and DCMA review.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You will build scalable accounting processes, strengthen internal controls, and lead a small accounting team as DEFCON AI grows across defense and commercial markets.

Key Responsibilities

Own Accounting and Financial Close

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and year-end close under U.S. GAAP.
• Prepare financial statements, account reconciliations, and management reporting for the CFO, CEO, and Board of Directors.
• Manage revenue recognition under ASC 606 across firm‑fixed‑price, time‑and‑materials, cost‑reimbursable, and commercial contracts.
• Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, fixed assets, and equity and stock compensation accounting.

Lead Government Contract Accounting and Compliance

• Maintain a DCAA‑compliant accounting system, timekeeping process, and job‑cost structure.
• Develop and manage indirect rate structures, including fringe, overhead, and general and administrative rates, as well as provisional billing rates.
• Prepare incurred cost submissions, forward pricing support, and pricing inputs for proposals.
• Ensure compliance with FAR Part 31 cost principles, Cost Accounting Standards where applicable, and DFARS business system requirements.
• Serve as the primary contact for DCAA and DCMA audits and reviews.
• Support SBIR Phase III and other contract vehicles, including appropriate segregation of unallowable costs.

Manage Audit, Tax, and Internal Controls

• Lead the annual external financial statement audit from planning through final sign‑off, including PBC requests and supporting schedules.
• Serve as the primary day‑to‑day contact for external auditors throughout the year.
• Act as the company’s technical accounting lead by researching complex transactions and preparing position memos related to ASC 606, ASC 718, ASC 842, debt, and equity financings.
• Coordinate with external tax advisors on federal and state filings.
• Design and maintain internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures appropriate for a growing company.

Support Planning, Systems, and Business Operations

• Partner with FP&A on budgets, forecasts, cash flow planning, and contract profitability analysis.
• Own the accounting and ERP systems and drive process automation as the company scales.
• Work closely with Contracts, Program Management, Human Resources, and Security teams to support business operations and compliance.

Build and Lead the Accounting Team

• Hire, develop, and manage the accounting team.
• Establish clear ownership, operating rhythms, and quality standards across the accounting function.

Required Qualifications

• Active CPA license.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including ownership of the financial close and management of an accounting team.
• Experience with or strong knowledge of U.S. government contracting requirements, including FAR, DFARS, DCAA audits, indirect rates, and incurred cost submissions.
• Strong technical accounting skills and command of U.S. GAAP, including ASC 606.
• Experience leading annual audits and working directly with external auditors.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or a closely related field.
• Active U.S. security clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain one
• U.S. citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Accounting, including an MAcc or MSA.
• Public accounting experience, ideally with audit or government contracting advisory exposure.
• Experience in a venture‑backed or high‑growth defense technology company.
• Hands‑on experience with government contracting ERP systems such as Deltek Costpoint, Unanet, or Procas.
• Experience supporting both government and commercial revenue streams.

What Success Looks Like

• The monthly close is accurate, timely, and increasingly scalable.
• Financial reporting is audit‑ready and provides clear, reliable information to company leadership and the Board.
• Government contract accounting practices are well‑documented and prepared for DCAA and DCMA review.
• Accounting systems, controls, and team capabilities mature in step with company growth.
• The CFO has a trusted partner who can independently lead the accounting function and surface risks early.

What We Offer

• A flexible, results‑based work environment.
• Competitive salary, bonus, and equity package.
• 100% employer‑paid comprehensive health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Unlimited PTO, with your manager’s approval.
• Flexibility to manage your workday while meeting business and team needs.
• 14 weeks of fully paid parental leave.

Salary Range

$170,000-$220,000. This represents the typical base salary range for this position based on experience, skills, and other factors. This role is also eligible for an annual bonus and equity.

Our Red Cell Partners Benefits (may differ for each incubation):

For full‑time roles

• Career track opportunity with potential for rapid advancement withstrong performanceas the firm grows
• 100% employer paid, comprehensive health care including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.
• Paid maternity and paternity for 14 weeks at employees' normal pay.
• Unlimited PTO, with management approval.
• Opportunities for professional development and continued learning.
• Optional 401K, FSA, and equity incentives available.
• Mental health benefits are available through Tara Mind .
• Cost effective GLP-1 solutions available through Crux .

We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer: You’ll receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Red Cell Partners’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.