Controller — Government Contracting

Confidential; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential in the Washington DC area seeks a hands-on, permanent Controller to build and lead the full accounting and controllership function for a government contracting business establishing independent finance infrastructure.

You will partner with current finance leadership during the transition, establish policies, close processes, and oversee government contract accounting and compliance specific to public-sector work.

Qualifications

• Government contract accounting experience is required; this is not a standard commercial controller background.
• Demonstrated experience leading a full Controller function, including close process, financial reporting, technical accounting, and team management.
• Comfort operating in a growing, newly stand-alone organization.
• Available to begin immediately.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full Controller function for a government contracting business as it stands up independent finance infrastructure.
• Establish accounting policies, close processes, and financial reporting for a new stand-alone entity.
• Oversee government contract accounting and compliance requirements specific to public-sector work.
• Build and develop a finance team capable of supporting a growing organization.
• Partner with current finance leadership to support the ongoing transition.
• Establish scalable financial processes and controls for long-term growth.

Skills

Government contract accounting

Team leadership

Financial reporting

Education

Certified public accountant (CPA)

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

A private equity backed provider of outsourced support services operates in the government contracting space, serving public-sector clients nationally.

The company recently transitioned to new ownership and is building out its finance function accordingly. Company leadership is looking to bring senior functional finance leadership on board early so the organization can build its own team and infrastructure without delay.

The Opportunity

This is a hands-on, permanent Controller role designed to build and lead the full accounting and controllership function for a government contracting business establishing independent finance infrastructure. The role exists because company leadership wants senior finance leadership established early.

The professional will partner closely with current finance leadership during this period. Government contract accounting experience is required; this is not a standard commercial controller profile.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the full Controller function for a government contracting business as it stands up independent finance infrastructure.
• Establish accounting policies, close processes, and financial reporting appropriate for a newly stand-alone entity.
• Oversee government contract accounting and compliance requirements specific to the company's public-sector work.
• Build and develop a finance team capable of supporting a growing, stand-alone government services organization.
• Partner closely with current finance leadership to support the organization's ongoing transition.
• Establish scalable financial processes and controls that will carry the organization forward.
• Coordinate with cross-functional workstreams supporting the broader organizational stand-up.
• The Controller function must be built largely from the ground up as the organization establishes independent finance infrastructure.
• Government contract accounting requirements add a layer of complexity beyond a standard commercial controller mandate.
• The role requires sound independent judgment alongside close partnership with current finance leadership.
• The pace of the underlying transition places pressure on how quickly finance infrastructure must be stood up.

Ideal Professional Profile

• Government contract accounting experience is required; this is not a standard commercial controller background.
• Demonstrated experience leading a full Controller function, including close process, financial reporting, technical accounting, and team management.
• Comfort operating in a growing, newly stand-alone organization.
• Available to begin immediately.
• Prior experience within a newly stand-alone or transitioning finance function.

Location

• The ideal professional can reside in DC/Virginia as well as the Dallas/Fort Worth region