Controller (Finance)

Starcloud; Woodinville (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

On-site collaboration

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Starcloud is building a financial operating foundation as we develop data centers in space. As Controller, you will establish accounting controls, policies, and reporting to support a fast-growing deep-tech company across aerospace, AI compute, manufacturing, and space infrastructure.

You will own core accounting operations and partner with engineering, operations, leadership, auditors, and external advisors to ensure accurate US GAAP financial statements.

Qualifications

• 7+ years progressive accounting experience in growing company.
• Strong US GAAP knowledge including equity raises and depreciation.
• Experience leading month-end and year-end close processes.
• Ability to design internal controls and accounting policies.
• Experience coordinating external audits and tax teams.

Responsibilities

• Own monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes and reporting.
• Develop and maintain accounting policies under US GAAP.
• Establish internal controls and approval workflows.
• Partner with engineering and operations on capitalization vs. expense.
• Prepare for external audits; coordinate auditor requests.
• Build scalable finance processes to support growth.
• Provide accurate reporting and explain variances to leadership.
• Manage relationships with auditors, tax advisors, banks, and finance stakeholders.

Skills

US GAAP knowledge

Month-end close

Internal controls

Audits coordination

Financial reporting

Clear communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance

CPA or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

About This Role

This is an opportunity to build the financial operating foundation for Starcloud as we develop data centers in space. As Controller, you will establish the accounting controls, policies, and reporting processes needed to support a fast-growing deep-tech company working across aerospace, AI compute, manufacturing, and space infrastructure. Your work will ensure that that finance function will run smoothly with an end-goal of producing accurate financial statements that reflect the financial position and performance of the company.

You will own core accounting operations while partnering closely with engineering, operations, leadership, auditors, and external advisors. The role requires both technical accounting expertise and practical judgment: you will help determine how hardware development, manufacturing activities, capital expenditures, depreciation, equity financing, and operating expenses are recorded under US GAAP. This is a hands-on senior role for someone who enjoys creating structure in an evolving environment and communicating clearly with technical and non-finance stakeholders.

You will join a focused team building first-of-a-kind systems at the intersection of aerospace, energy, cloud infrastructure, and AI. Based on-site, you will have the opportunity to shape finance processes early, build trusted relationships across the company, and make an outsized contribution to Starcloud's ability to execute its mission.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, including close schedules, journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, fixed-asset accounting, and management reporting.
• Develop and maintain accounting policies under US GAAP for expenses, purchasing, capitalization, depreciation, equity financing, inventory or production-related activities, and other material transactions.
• Establish practical internal controls and approval workflows for procurement, expenses, payments, financial reporting, and asset management.
• Partner with engineering and operations teams to understand manufacturing and development activities, determine appropriate capitalization versus expense treatment, and maintain accurate asset records.
• Prepare the company for external audits by maintaining support schedules, documenting accounting positions, coordinating auditor requests, and addressing control or process gaps.
• Build clear, scalable finance processes that support Starcloud's growth from early spacecraft and hardware programs to larger orbital infrastructure deployments.
• Serve as a trusted financial partner to company leadership by providing accurate reporting, explaining variances, identifying risks, and improving the quality and timeliness of financial information.
• Manage relationships with external auditors, accounting advisors, tax professionals, banking partners, and other finance stakeholders.

Requirements

Must-haves

• 7+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, including experience as a Controller, Assistant Controller, or senior accounting leader in a growing company.
• Strong working knowledge of US GAAP, including equity raises, fixed assets, capitalization policies, depreciation, expense classification, and accounting for manufacturing or hardware development activities.
• Experience owning or leading month-end and year-end close processes, including reconciliations, journal entries, account analysis, financial reporting, and close-calendar management.
• Experience designing and implementing internal controls, accounting policies, approval workflows, expense policies, and operational processes in an evolving organization.
• Experience preparing for and managing financial statement, tax, or other external audits, including coordination with auditors and timely resolution of requests.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain accounting conclusions clearly to engineers, operators, executives, investors, and external partners.
• Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-moving, on-site startup environment.

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; CPA or equivalent professional qualification.
• Experience in aerospace, manufacturing, semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, data centers, or another capital-intensive technology environment.
• Experience implementing or improving accounting systems, financial reporting tools, or ERP processes.
• Experience supporting venture-backed companies through fundraising, rapid growth, audit readiness, or preparation for institutional reporting.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and meaningful equity participation aligned with the seniority and impact of the role.
• The opportunity to work on a category-defining mission at the intersection of aerospace, AI, cloud infrastructure, and energy.
• High ownership and visibility in a small, experienced team, with the ability to shape foundational processes and influence company-wide decisions.
• Professional growth through direct exposure to fundraising, audits, hardware development, manufacturing operations, and the financial infrastructure of an ambitious deep-tech company.
• A collaborative, technically rigorous culture that values clear communication, thoughtful execution, and long-term thinking.
• On-site partnership with experienced engineers and operators from leading aerospace, cloud, and advanced technology organizations.