Controller

Aero Precision • Lakewood, WA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Controller owns accounting operations for a growing, multi-location manufacturing business and reports to the VP of Finance. This is a build role: some processes, systems, and controls need to be improved, while others need to be created. The Controller is expected to bring prior manufacturing experience, experience leading distributed accounting teams, and finance-side acquisition experience.

The position is onsite in Lakewood, Washington, with occasional travel to other company locations. Compensation is a base salary of $125,000 to $140,000 annually, with an annual bonus target of 25% of base salary and maximum total target compensation of $175,000.

The Controller leads accounting operations, manufacturing cost accounting, a distributed team, acquisition and integration finance work, process automation, budgeting, forecasting, management reporting, and relationships with external financial partners. The role also requires compliance with GAAP, tax, audit, lender, and applicable export-control and firearms-possession eligibility requirements.

Requirements

• Manufacturing cost accounting experience within the past five years, including standard costing, inventory valuation, variances, and overhead allocation.
• At least seven years of progressive accounting experience, including at least three years as a Controller or Assistant Controller.
• Experience managing accounting staff across locations, including remote or out-of-state team members.
• Experience building or rebuilding an accounting function in a startup, new entity, or cleanup situation.
• Finance-side experience with at least one acquisition, including purchase accounting, opening balance sheet, or integration work.
• Measurable results reducing manual work and shortening the close.
• Practical use of AI or automation in accounting workflows.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Must be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62, including a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or person granted asylum or refugee status.
• Must not be prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)) or Washington state law.

Nice To Haves

• CPA, CMA, or MBA.
• SAP Business One experience.
• QuickBooks experience.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, firearms, or other regulated manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Assess existing accounting processes, controls, and reporting, and prioritize improvements.
• Establish accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls where they do not exist and strengthen existing ones.
• Lead monthly, quarterly, and year-end close, including reconciliations, accruals, and financial statements, and shorten the close calendar over time.
• Own manufacturing cost accounting, including standard and actual costing, inventory valuation, and variance analysis across production lines.
• Review inventory counts, reserves, and adjustments, and work with operations to resolve discrepancies at their source.
• Partner with plant and operations leaders to explain cost drivers and act on variances.
• Manage, train, and develop accounting staff across locations, including remote and out-of-state team members, and set clear standards and accountability.
• Lead finance work on acquisitions and integrations, including purchase accounting, opening balance sheets, and bringing new entities onto company systems and close processes.
• Support system changes and conversions in SAP Business One and QuickBooks.
• Identify and implement automation and AI-assisted workflows to reduce manual entry, reconciliation time, and reporting turnaround.
• Improve data accuracy and reporting in SAP Business One and related tools.
• Prepare budgets, forecasts, and management reporting at company, department, and location levels.
• Maintain a rolling 13-week cash flow forecast.
• Present results, risks, and trends clearly to executive and operational leaders.
• Manage relationships with auditors, tax advisors, lenders, and insurance providers, and ensure GAAP, tax, audit, and lender compliance.

Benefits

• Annual bonus target of 25% of base salary.
• 401(k) with 6% company match.
• Three weeks of paid time off.
• 12 paid holidays.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, with 80% of the cost employer-paid for the employee and dependents.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior