Controller

Laser Isotope Separation Technologies (LIS Technologies Inc.); Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid time off and holidays

Professional development support

Job summary

Laser Isotope Separation Technologies (LIS Technologies Inc.) in Oak Ridge, TN seeks an accomplished accounting leader to own the corporate accounting function and lead the close process across monthly, quarterly, and annual cycles. You will ensure audit readiness, manage SEC reporting, and drive improvements in internal controls and policy development.

The role requires a CPA, 10+ years of SEC experience, and strong Excel/ERP capabilities, with the ability to navigate multi-entity consolidation

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Active CPA license.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive accounting experience, including significant experience with SEC registrants.
• Demonstrated ownership of financial reporting at an SEC-reporting company, including preparation or detailed review of Forms 10-K and 10-Q and related footnote disclosures.
• Direct, hands-on experience operating within an internal control environment subject to Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404.
• Demonstrated technical depth in U.S. GAAP, with the ability to independently research complex issues, reach supportable conclusions, and document them in formal accounting memoranda that withstand external audit scrutiny.
• Experience preparing or reviewing consolidated financial statements for a multi-entity group, including intercompany eliminations.
• Experience managing external audit relationships as a primary point of contact.
• Proven ability to operate in a fast-moving environment with competing deadlines, and to deliver on a public company filing calendar with limited margin for slippage.
• Advanced Excel skills and demonstrated proficiency with ERP and financial reporting systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the corporate accounting function, including the general ledger, monthly, quarterly and annual close processes.
• Drive close calendar discipline and compress reporting cycle times without sacrificing control quality.
• Oversee project cost accounting for projects and programs, and other capital-intensive activities.
• Ensure audit readiness with well-organized workpapers and documentation.
• Prepare and review consolidated financial statements, footnote disclosures, and analyses per U.S. GAAP and SEC rules.
• Research complex accounting transactions and document conclusions in formal memoranda.
• Manage engagements with third-party valuation specialists for purchase price allocations and impairments.
• Support financial due diligence and readiness for acquisitions and investments.
• Oversee government grants, tax credits, and incentive programs accounting.
• Develop and communicate accounting policies across the organization.
• Own the Company’s ICFR framework under SOX 404 including scoping, risk assessment, and evidence retention.
• Drive control environment execution and attestations.
• Extend controls to new entities post-acquisition and remediation of gaps.
• Evaluate control deficiencies and remediation efforts with management.
• Oversee entity-level controls and SOX advisory relationships.
• Plan for potential transition to in-house function as company scales.

Skills

SEC reporting

U.S. GAAP knowledge

Analytical thinking

Deadline-driven

Advanced Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance

Active CPA license

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

Accounting Operations, Close & Consolidation

• Own the corporate accounting function, including the general ledger, monthly, quarterly and annual close processes.
• Drive close calendar discipline and continuously compress reporting cycle times without sacrificing control quality or accuracy.
• Oversee project cost accounting for projects and programs, and other capital-intensive activities.
• Ensure a continuous state of audit readiness by maintaining complete, well-organized, and review-ready workpapers and documentation.
• SEC Reporting & Technical Accounting
• Prepare and review consolidated financial statements, footnote disclosures, and supporting analyses in accordance with U.S. GAAP and SEC rules, partnering with the CFO on the financial content for Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and registration statements.
• Research, evaluate, and document accounting conclusions for complex and judgmental transactions in formal technical memoranda.
• Partner with the CFO to manage engagements with third-party valuation specialists regarding purchase price allocations, intangible asset and equity instrument valuations, and impairment analyses, providing support and evaluating their conclusions.
• Support financial due diligence and drive opening balance sheet readiness for acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic investments.
• Manage the accounting for government grants, tax credits, and state and federal incentive programs, while actively monitoring emerging accounting standards and SEC guidance for potential impact on the company.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate accounting policies and procedures across the organization.
• Assume management ownership of the Company’s ICFR framework under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including scoping, risk assessment, process narratives, control matrices, and evidence retention sufficient to support external auditor attestation under Section 404(b).
• Drive the execution of the control environment throughout the reporting calendar, ensuring controls are performed on cadence and evidenced to a standard that withstands rigorous attestation testing.
• Extend the control framework to newly acquired entities, including scoping, designing new controls where required, and remediating gaps identified during integration.
• Evaluate control deficiencies, drive remediation efforts to completion, and support management’s assessment of ICFR effectiveness and related disclosure controls.
• Oversee entity-level controls, segregation of duties, delegation of authority, and system access reviews as headcount and systems scale.
• Manage the relationship with the Company’s SOX advisory partner, continually evaluating the optimal resourcing model and supporting a potential future transition to an in-house function as the company scales.

Audit, Tax & External Stakeholders

• Serve as primary day-to-day contact for external auditors across quarterly reviews and the annual integrated audit, overseeing audit deliverables (PBCs), issue resolution, and strict timeline adherence.
• Coordinate with tax advisors on U.S. federal, state, compliance, transfer pricing, and the tax implications of acquisitions and entity structuring.
• Manage relationships with accounting resources, valuation firms, and other specialized external advisors to ensure high-quality, timely deliverables.

Systems, Process & Team

• Evaluate, enhance, and scale the accounting technology stack, including ERP, consolidation, and close management tools, with a focus toward automation, standardization, and control-by-design.
• Lead system implementations and enhancements from the accounting side, including requirements definition, testing, cutover, and post-implementation controls.
• Build, mentor, and develop the accounting team, and design the organizational structure needed to support the Company’s growth and vertical integration strategy.
• Partner cross-functionally with other departments and program leadership to ensure transactions are captured accurately and business decisions reflect their accounting and reporting consequences.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
• Active CPA license
• Minimum 10 years of progressive accounting experience, including significant experience with SEC registrants.
• Demonstrated ownership of financial reporting at an SEC-reporting company, including preparation or detailed review of Forms 10-K and 10-Q and related footnote disclosures.
• Direct, hands-on experience operating within an internal control environment subject to Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404.
• Demonstrated technical depth in U.S. GAAP, with the ability to independently research complex issues, reach supportable conclusions, and document them in formal accounting memoranda that withstand external audit scrutiny.
• Experience preparing or reviewing consolidated financial statements for a multi-entity group, including intercompany eliminations.
• Experience managing external audit relationships as a primary point of contact.
• Proven ability to operate in a fast-moving environment with competing deadlines, and to deliver on a public company filing calendar with limited margin for slippage.
• Advanced Excel skills and demonstrated proficiency with ERP and financial reporting systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Public accounting background at a national or Big 4 firm, ideally including audit experience with SEC registrants, combined with subsequent industry experience.
• Experience at a company that transitioned to large accelerated filer status, or that established a 404(b)-compliant control environment for the first time.
• Substantive purchase accounting experience under ASC 805, including opening balance sheets, purchase price allocation review, and post-acquisition integration of acquired entities onto the corporate close calendar and control framework.
• Experience with pre-revenue, development-stage, or capital-intensive companies, including R&D, cost accounting, and program or project cost tracking.
• Familiarity with accounting for government grants, tax credits, and federal or state incentive programs.
• Experience in energy, nuclear, aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, or another heavily regulated technical industry.
• Experience leading or supporting an ERP implementation, migration, or significant systems upgrade.
• Track record of building and developing an accounting team.

Security & Work Authorization

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-clearance.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen under 10 CFR Part 810 and/or export control requirements (ITAR/EAR) as applicable.

Working Conditions

• Ability to obtainOnsite role – Oak Ridge, TN
• Monday – Friday, Full Time; Occasional overtime is expected for ensuring deliverables.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to build the accounting and reporting infrastructure of a company at an early and formative stage.
• Substantive technical accounting work.
• Close partnership with the CFO, with ownership of the external audit relationship and the reporting calendar.
• An opportunity to play a pivotal role in a cutting-edge company, driving financial excellence and helping shape a finance function that evolves alongside a fast-paced, innovative business.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Competitive salary starting at $150,000 – $175,000 (commensurate with experience).
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), disability and life
• Paid time off, paid holidays and professional development support