Director of Finance

Critical Materials Group; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Critical Materials Group, based in Austin, TX, seeks its first Director of Finance to own the accounting function end-to-end. Reporting to the CEO with a direct line to Senior Leadership and the Board, you will build infrastructure for a fast-growth, DoD-focused manufacturer.

This exempt, full-time role requires a CPA, DoD contract experience, and a hands-on operator who can scale finance from startup to scale-up.

Qualifications

• This role requires a CPA with a finance background and a degree in accounting or finance.
• Experience building or scaling an accounting function in a startup or high-growth company.
• Direct DoD/USG contract accounting experience and knowledge of FAR/DFARS and CAS.

Responsibilities

• Own the full GL and monthly close with accurate financial statements.
• Manage AR/AP, government contracts billing and vendor payments.
• Oversee DoD/USG contract cost accounting and compliance.
• Manage outsourced accounting relationships and scale in-house as needed.
• Establish internal controls and ensure US GAAP compliance.
• Prepare annual financial reviews and investor reporting.
• Maintain cash flow visibility and rolling forecasts.
• Evaluate and implement accounting software/ERP for a government contractor.
• Build and lead an internal accounting team and define org structure.
• Partner with executive team on FP&A and long-term planning.

Skills

US GAAP knowledge

Attention to detail

Ownership

Strong governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

CPA license

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Reports To

CEO (direct line to Senior Leadership and the Board of Directors)

Job Description

Director of Finance

Department

Finance

Reports To

CEO (direct line to Senior Leadership and the Board of Directors)

Location

Austin, TX

FLSA Status

Exempt

Employment Type

Full-Time, Exempt

Position Summary

CMG is a federally licensed energetics manufacturer on a mission to fill the arsenal and rebuild America's defense industrial base. Founded in 2025 and headquartered in Texas, CMG is developing next-generation automated manufacturing processes to produce military-grade explosives — including RDX, HMX, associated formulations, and load/assembly/pack services — at scale. With a robust pipeline, CMG is growing rapidly and needs financial infrastructure to match its mission. This is CMG's first Director of Finance: a true ground-floor, build-from-scratch opportunity. Today the company operates with predominantly outsourced accounting and finance support; this role takes total ownership of the accounting function, rationalizes and consolidates what exists, and builds the financial infrastructure that will carry CMG from early-stage startup to a scaled defense manufacturer — reporting directly to the CEO with a direct line to Senior Leadership and the Board. This is not a maintenance role; it has significant white space, and the right person will thrive in it, defining the function as much as executing it.

Key Responsibilities

• General Ledger & Month-End Close: own the full GL and drive a clean, timely monthly close in coordination with other partners and the executive team; produce accurate, timely financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow).
• AR/AP Management: oversee accounts receivable and payable, ensuring timely billing on government contracts and disciplined vendor payment processes.
• Government Contract Accounting: manage cost accounting and financial compliance for DoD/USG contracts, including FAR/DFARS requirements, DCAA audit readiness, and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS).
• Outsourced Provider Management: manage existing outsourced accounting relationships; assess other partners or bring responsibilities in-house as the company scales.
• Financial Controls & Compliance: establish and enforce internal controls; ensure compliance with US GAAP and federal contracting/regulatory requirements.
• Audit & Investor Reporting: prepare and manage the annual financial review; support board and investor-level reporting.
• Cash Flow & Forecasting: maintain real-time visibility into cash position; deliver rolling forecasts and variance analysis to leadership.
• Systems & Infrastructure: evaluate and implement accounting software and ERP systems appropriate for a government contractor; build the tech stack to support rapid scale.
• Team Building: recruit and develop an internal accounting team as the company grows; define the org structure and make the hiring calls.
• FP&A / Forecasting: work alongside the executive team and other strategic partners to drive long-term financial planning and analysis.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required.
• Active CPA license.
• 4+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, with at least 2 years in a Controller or core finance role.
• Direct experience with government contracting, specifically defense-related contracts (DoW, Army, Navy, DoE, or similar agencies).
• Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS, DCAA audit requirements, and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS).
• Proven ability to build or significantly restructure/scale an accounting function — startup or high-growth company experience is a strong plus.
• Hands-on operator: comfortable doing the work personally while building the team and systems around it.
• Strong US GAAP technical foundation and sharp attention to detail.
• High tolerance for ambiguity and a bias toward ownership.

Clearance

• Clearance: Not required; an active clearance or cleared-environment experience is a plus.

This job description reflects the general nature and level of work performed and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Critical Materials Group reserves the right to amend this description at any time.