Head of Accounting, Corporate Controller

Muon Space • San Jose, CA

1d • $202,000 - $228,000

About The Position

About the Role We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Head of Accounting, Corporate Controller to lead Muon Space’s accounting organization and build the scalable financial foundation required to support rapid growth across commercial and government programs. Reporting directly to the CFO, this role will own the company’s accounting strategy and execution, including financial close, external reporting, technical accounting, cost accounting, and internal controls. This is a highly visible leadership role partnering closely with cross-functional departments to ensure strong financial governance, disciplined program cost tracking, and audit-ready reporting in a complex, long-cycle industry. The ideal candidate combines deep technical accounting expertise with strong leadership, keen attention to detail and a systems mindset to scale processes, teams, and infrastructure as the company grows.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting with CPA.
• 12–15+ years of progressive accounting experience, including 5+ years leading teams and owning close/reporting in a complex environment.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial statement preparation, and accounting controls.
• Demonstrated experience building scalable accounting processes, strengthening internal controls, and driving audit readiness.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, or similarly complex operational/program environments.
• Experience with cost accounting, inventory accounting, and long-cycle program financial structures.
• Strong communication skills and ability to partner cross-functionally in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment.

Nice To Haves

• MBA a plus.
• Experience supporting both commercial and government contracts in a project-based environment.
• Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and reporting/BI tools (Tableau, PowerBI).
• Familiarity with government compliance frameworks and contract structures (e.g., FAR/DFARS) a plus.

Responsibilities

• Accounting and Controller Leadership Lead the accounting organization, setting strategy, operating cadence, and performance expectations across the team.
• Own the end-to-end monthly, quarterly, and annual close, ensuring timely, accurate, and GAAP-compliant financial statements.
• Establish and maintain a strong controls environment, accounting policies, and procedures aligned with growth and audit readiness.
• Serve as the primary accounting leader to the CFO and executive team, providing clear insights on financial results, risks, and control matters.
• Lead external audit execution, including coordination with auditors and advisors, and ensure high-quality deliverables and on-time completion.
• Ensure timely and accurate tax and compliance reporting.
• Financial Reporting and Technical Accounting Own preparation and review of external financial reporting packages.
• Oversee technical accounting and complex transactions, including revenue recognition, capitalization policies, leases, equity compensation, and accrual methodologies.
• Ensure consistent application of accounting standards and provide guidance across the business on accounting implications of strategic decisions.
• Partner with tax advisors and internal stakeholders to support tax compliance and planning (income, sales/use, property, payroll-related filings as applicable).
• Operational Accounting and Scalable Infrastructure Oversee core accounting operations including AP, AR, payroll accounting, fixed assets, cash, accruals, and intercompany (as applicable).
• Drive improvements to transaction processing, close automation, and reconciliation discipline to improve speed, accuracy, and scalability.
• Lead ERP and finance systems strategy in partnership with Finance leadership, including implementation, optimization, and governance.
• Establish strong master data management and reporting standards to improve reliability of financial data across the company.
• Ownership and administration of the company's equity program.
• Cost Accounting, Inventory & Program Finance Enablement Build and own scalable cost accounting practices for a manufacturing and program-driven environment, including inventory/WIP, overhead allocation, and COGS integrity.
• Partner with Production, Supply Chain, and Program teams to ensure accurate and timely tracking of labor, materials, subcontractors, and program costs.
• Support accounting and compliance requirements for commercial and government contracts, including contract cost structure, billing support, and reporting readiness.
• Drive strong financial controls and audit trails across long-cycle programs to support customer, investor, and government reporting needs.
• Risk Management, Compliance & Cross-Functional Partnership Identify financial and operational risk areas and proactively strengthen controls, documentation, and review processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and customer-driven reporting standards.
• Partner with FP&A to ensure clean, consistent actuals and reliable reporting inputs for forecasting, margin analysis, and strategic planning.
• Support due diligence and integration efforts related to financing events, strategic partnerships, or potential acquisitions.
• Team Leadership & Organizational Scaling Hire, develop, and retain a high-performing accounting organization, building a culture of accountability, rigor, and continuous improvement.
• Define team structure, roles, and career development paths to support scale and complexity growth over time.
• Lead with a “build-to-scale” mindset: process documentation, repeatable workflows, system controls, and audit-ready discipline.

Benefits

• equity compensation
• medical, dental, and vision insurance
• a 401k retirement plan
• short & long term disability and life insurance
• three weeks paid vacation for new employees
• 12 paid holidays
• unlimited sick time
• paid parental leave
• Competitive compensation package with performance-based incentives.
• Opportunity to play a key role in advancing space exploration and commercialization.
• Collaborative, mission-driven culture working alongside world-class engineers and scientists.
• Career growth in a rapidly expanding global industry.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees