Sr. Manufacturing Accountant

Aston Carter•Sterling, VA

4d•$125,000 - $155,000•Onsite

About The Position

As the first Senior Manufacturing Accountant, this role serves as a financial co-pilot to the Operations and Production teams. The accountant will establish costing, optimize inventory valuation, track Bills of Materials (BOMs), and provide financial insights to support efficient scaling of drone manufacturing. The role supports production strategy and builds the financial infrastructure needed for hardware manufacturing and sustainment. The position is full-time and requires working onsite five days a week in Sterling, Virginia. It is a permanent position. The stated pay range is $125,000–$155,000 per year; individual compensation depends on qualifications, skills, experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other job-related factors.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
At least 5 years of progressive finance or accounting experience, including at least 3 years in cost or manufacturing accounting.
Experience in a high-growth hardware startup or complex manufacturing environment.
Understanding of Bills of Materials (BOMs), routing, labor variances, and hardware supply chain dynamics.
Hands-on experience implementing or managing accounting and project management modules within a major ERP system.
Advanced Excel skills and proficiency with data visualization tools.
Comfort with ambiguity and adaptability in a startup environment.
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain complex financial concepts to non-financial engineers and plant managers.

Nice To Haves

CMA and/or CPIM certification.
Experience with government contracting and DCAA audits.

Responsibilities

Establish and manage month-end close processes, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial reporting.
Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable functions to ensure timely processing.
Ensure compliance with GAAP and internal financial policies.
Assist with external audits and tax filings.
Develop, document, and implement costing methodologies for drone models, components, and sub-assemblies.
Lead the tracking and analysis of manufacturing cost variances and work with production leaders on cost-reduction initiatives.
Work with Operations to establish and oversee inventory management processes.
Ensure accurate valuation of raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods.
Partner with the Director of Manufacturing and Supply Chain to develop annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and operational KPIs.
Analyze and explain manufacturing variances and drive corrective actions with operations teams.
Evaluate capital expenditure requests for new manufacturing equipment and provide ROI and payback analyses.
Model make-versus-buy scenarios for critical drone components to optimize the supply chain.
Help implement and optimize ERP accounting, manufacturing, inventory, and supply chain modules.
Establish internal controls around the production floor, inventory movement, and procurement.
Coordinate across Finance, Engineering, and Production to ensure BOM accuracy and track costs through the New Product Introduction phase.
Educate operational teams on financial performance and the cost impact of engineering and production decisions.
Escalate findings within the management team to ensure timely resolution.