Manufacturing Finance Manager

Allen Control Systems•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Allen Control Systems (ACS) is a cutting-edge defense startup founded by former Navy electrical engineers, developing an autonomous gun turret. The company is currently scaling Bullfrog production from initial units to hundreds of systems per year, under contract with SOCOM, the U.S. Army, and customers across six countries. The Manufacturing Finance Manager will join the team to manage the complex cash mechanics of this hardware production ramp, which is mission-critical for the company. This role reports directly to the CFO and involves daily collaboration with operations and supply chain teams. Key responsibilities include owning the rolling cash forecast, CapEx planning, and working capital modeling, all of which must be grounded in actual production schedules and contract payment mechanics. The company is looking for someone with experience in these areas at a scaled hardware company.

Requirements

Has built rolling cash forecasts for a hardware manufacturing business, grounded in production schedules and supply chain mechanics rather than revenue models; this is the core skill and will be probed in the interview.
Understands the cash mechanics of manufacturing scale-up: component lead times, supplier deposits, inventory build, WIP, and the gap between cash out and cash in on a production-to-delivery cycle.
Direct experience with CapEx planning for manufacturing operations; modeling the timing and cash impact of equipment purchases against production requirements, not just summarizing a budget.
Strong financial modeling skills including scenario analysis, sensitivity analysis, and the ability to rebuild a model quickly when the production plan changes.
Background at a scaled hardware company in defense, aerospace, robotics, industrial manufacturing, or an adjacent field; someone who has seen what a production ramp actually does to a balance sheet.
Comfortable using AI tools for financial modeling and analysis; we will ask how in the interview.
On-site in Austin, TX.

Nice To Haves

Experience with government contract payment mechanics including milestone billing, progress payments, and FMS deposit structures.
Familiarity with debt facility management including draw mechanics, covenant tracking, and borrowing base.
Has modeled working capital for a business with significant inventory and long supplier lead times.
Experience at a company that scaled through a major equity raise and had to manage liquidity through the transition.

Responsibilities

Own the rolling 13-week cash forecast, updated weekly, grounded in actual contract payment milestones, supplier payment terms, payroll cycles, and delivery schedules rather than top-down revenue projections.
Extend the cash model to 90-day and 180-day horizons with scenario analysis covering production acceleration, delivery slippage, and contract deposit delays.
Build and maintain the CapEx plan: what equipment we need, when we need it given production lead times, what it costs, and how it phases against our cash balance and debt facility availability.
Model working capital dynamics as production scales: component procurement timing, inventory build-up ahead of deliveries, WIP balances, and the cash conversion cycle at various production rates.
Partner with supply chain on supplier payment terms, deposit requirements, and the cash implications of BOM changes or supplier transitions.
Translate the production schedule into a cash demand curve: when does cash go out for materials, when does it come back in from contract milestones, and where are the gaps.
Maintain the debt facility model including draw timing, interest expense, covenant compliance, and available liquidity against projected needs.
Provide weekly cash and liquidity reporting to the CEO and CFO; flag risks and opportunities early and support contract negotiations with financial modeling on payment structures and working capital impact.