Controller

ND DEFENSE LLC•Madison Heights, MI

18d

About The Position

ND Defense is seeking an experienced Controller to lead our accounting function, reporting directly to the CFO. This role owns all aspects of accounting, reporting, and internal controls across the organization as ND Defense expands beyond tactical wheeled vehicles into maritime, aerospace, electronics, medical devices, and energy. The ideal candidate is a CPA with deep expertise in General Ledger management, managing and streamlining receivables and payables operations, and optimizing close processes who thrives in a high-growth environment. Experience in defense or project-driven manufacturing industries is strongly preferred.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or closely related field; active CPA license required
Minimum 10 years of progressive accounting experience, including 2-3 years as Controller, Assistant Controller, or senior accounting lead
AI Automated 3-way match and cash app, and/or AI – Agentic experience preferred.E xperience leveraging AI tools, data analytics platforms, and/or automation to improve accounting operations
Deep expertise in general ledger management, receivable and payable operations, and recurring monthly and annual financial close processes
Strong knowledge of GAAP within defense and manufacturing industries; familiarity with government contract accounting (FAR/CAS) highly desirable
Hands-on experience with ERP systems (Infor/LN preferred) and demonstrated ability to optimize accounting workflows
Experience building and maintaining KPI dashboards and financial reporting tools for executive audiences
Must have well developed leadership and people skills with a proven ability to partner successfully within and across diverse teams and personalities.
Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident)

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in defense, aerospace, or government contracting (strongly preferred)
Experience with Power BI, Tableau, or AI-driven tools for financial dashboard development and maintenance
Experience supporting rapid company growth including expansion into new product lines or industry verticals
Familiarity with multi-entity accounting structures and international operations
Experience with DCAA audits and compliance in a defense manufacturing environment

Responsibilities

Complete responsibility over the General Ledger, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and chart of accounts maintenance across all multiple business units and entities
Lead all month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of financial reporting
Manage AP and AR functions including oversight of aging, fixed assets, collections, vendor payment cycles and working capital management in a high-growth environment
Prepare and present monthly financial statements, variance analyses from budget, and management reports to the CFO and executive leadership
Leverage AI-powered accounting tools and automation to streamline close processes, identify anomalies, and support the finance function in revisions to budgeting and forecasting.
Develop and maintain executive-level KPI dashboards and financial reporting infrastructure to track company-wide performance metrics in real time
Ensure compliance with GAAP and applicable government contract accounting standards (FAR/DFARS/CAS)
Maintain working knowledge of national and local tax regulations; ensure timely compliance filings
Design, implement, and maintain internal controls over financial reporting appropriate for a growing defense manufacturer
Serve as primary liaison for external auditors, tax advisors, and regulatory agencies; oversee annual audit preparation
Ensure compliance with DCAA audit requirements and cost accounting standards
Maintain and enforce company-wide accounting policies and procedures
Build, mentor, and manage the accounting team across all departments and divisions, scaling as the company enters new verticals
Evaluate and improve ERP configurations and workflows to support multi-entity, multi-vertical operations
Partner with the CFO on cash flow management, treasury operations, and strategic financial planning
Collaborate cross-functionally with supply chain, contracts, and operations to ensure accurate cost accounting and project tracking