Director of Finance

Katalyst Space Technologies•Broomfield, CO

About The Position

Katalyst is seeking a highly capable, hands-on Director of Finance to own the company’s full finance operating rhythm across monthly close, budgeting and forecasting, cash management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial reporting, internal controls, and strategic finance support. This leader will be expected to operate as both a player and a builder: personally driving core accounting and finance processes in the near term while designing the systems, controls, and team structure needed to scale the business over time. The Director of Finance will serve as a key thought partner to leadership team, ensuring the company has accurate financials, strong operating discipline, and forward-looking financial visibility. This role is especially well suited for a finance leader who thrives in early-stage environments, can move fluidly between detail and strategy, and is excited to build a finance function that will support the company through its next phase of growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
8+ years of experience across accounting, controllership, or a related finance role
Prior experience in public accounting at a major firm
Strong foundation in accounting, financial reporting, close processes, reconciliations, and internal controls
Experience owning or materially contributing to budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and executive reporting
Demonstrated ability to operate in a highly hands-on role with limited infrastructure and build processes from scratch
Experience implementing, upgrading, or migrating accounting systems and improving finance tooling
Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and the practical application of GAAP in a scaling company environment
Excellent modeling, analytical, and communication skills
Ability to synthesize detailed financial information into clear business recommendations

Nice To Haves

CPA preferred
Prior experience in aerospace, defense, or another regulated hardware manufacturing industry
Experience preparing a company for audit, due diligence, or institutional investor reporting
Experience working in venture-funded companies, ideally in early-stage or high-growth environments
Experience building and managing small, high-performing finance teams
Familiarity with DCAA/DCMA accounting practices, government contract cost structures, documentation expectations, and compliance-oriented financial processes
Proficiency in Excel

Responsibilities

Build and lead the finance function
Establish the foundation of the finance organization
Design and implement scalable finance processes, controls, policies, and reporting cadences
Build the finance roadmap, including team design, systems architecture, and outsourcing strategy where appropriate
Hire, develop, and lead future finance team members across accounting, FP&A, and AP/AR as the company grows
Establish clear ownership, documentation, and standard operating procedures across all core finance activities
Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual finance operating cadence
Lead the monthly close process, including reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, prepaids, revenue recognition considerations, and financial statement preparation
Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting
Maintain budget-to-actual reporting and variance analysis across departments
Support quarterly reforecasts and annual planning processes
Prepare management reporting packages and support board-level reporting
Translate financial results into actionable insights, risks, and recommendations
Lead accounting operations and controllership activities
Own day-to-day accounting operations in a hands-on manner until team scale supports greater delegation
Oversee and improve accounts payable, procurement controls, accounts receivable, invoicing, and collections
Maintain balance sheet integrity through timely reconciliations
Ensure disciplined expense classification, cutoff, and period-end accruals
Develop and maintain internal controls appropriate for a scaling venture-backed business
Prepare the company for increasing audit, diligence, tax, and investor reporting
Drive budgeting, forecasting, and strategic finance
Develop monthly cash flow forecasts, including a rolling detailed cash forecast and long-term runway model
Partner with the leadership team on hiring plans, expense decisions, and resource allocation
Support pricing, vendor, customer, and investment decisions with financial analysis and scenario modeling
Support fundraising readiness by ensuring the company’s financial story, metrics, and supporting schedules are credible and consistent
Cash management and working capital ownership
Monitor daily and weekly cash position and ensure strong visibility into liquidity
Manage payment timing, collections, and cash conversion discipline to preserve runway
Build and maintain clear reporting on burn rate, runway, and key cash drivers
Identify risks and opportunities related to working capital, customer receivables, vendor obligations, and large spend commitments
Systems, controls, and GAAP readiness
Lead the migration from the company’s current accounting environment to a GAAP-compliant accounting system and finance infrastructure capable of supporting scale, investor expectations, and future audit requirements
Assess and improve the current accounting systems, close processes, chart of accounts, and reporting architecture
Implement systems and workflows that improve data integrity, auditability, and reporting efficiency
Establish accounting policies and procedures aligned with U.S. GAAP and the needs of a venture-backed business
Compliance and government contracting support
Partner with internal and external stakeholders to support tax, compliance, and regulatory requirements
Help ensure finance processes and records are maintained in a manner consistent with applicable government contracting expectations, including familiarity with DCAA/DCMA-related accounting environments, cost structures, and documentation disciplines