Controller

This role is with a direct client of Aprio Talent Solutions.

Role Title: Controller

Location: Dallas, TX (Grand Prairie) - ***Hybrid***

Employment Type: Full-Time / Permanent

Client Industry: Defense Manufacturing

Compensation: $170- $215k bonus equity

Summary:

Our client is a defense manufacturer that is experience exponential growth is opening and scaling production at its U.S. manufacturing facility, and is hiring its first U.S. finance and accounting leader. This Controller will own cost accounting, inventory, program financials, and internal controls for the plant, reporting to the Corporate Controller based internationally. This is a hands-on build role: the Controller operates as an individual contributor through the initial production ramp and hires a team as the facility scales.

Why It's Worth Your Time

• First finance and accounting hire in the U.S. — build the function, the cost structure, and the controls from the ground up.
• Own product costing for a program where unit cost is central to the company's commercial strategy.
• Direct exposure to Operations, Program Management, Supply Chain, Engineering, and executive leadership.
• Report to the Corporate Controller with visibility across international affiliates.
• No proposal, RFP, or bid support — a dedicated business development team owns that work, so this role stays focused on operational finance.
• Join a venture-backed defense manufacturer at the production scale-up stage, with a path to building and leading a U.S. accounting team.

What You'll Own

• Lead all accounting and financial operations for the U.S. manufacturing facility.
• Build and maintain manufacturing cost accounting, including labor, overhead, material costing, and inventory valuation.
• Oversee inventory accounting, cycle count programs, physical inventories, and reconciliations.
• Partner with Program Managers on program budgets, cost-to-complete estimates, and contract profitability.
• Manage intercompany accounting and transfer pricing, including cross-border reconciliations and settlements with international affiliates.
• Develop annual operating budgets, forecasts, and monthly variance analysis.
• Establish internal controls across accounting, inventory, purchasing, and manufacturing operations.
• Support DCAA, customer, external, and internal audits.
• Build financial reporting and KPIs for manufacturing, inventory, supply chain, and program performance.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Production to drive inventory accuracy and working capital efficiency.
• Hire, lead, and develop the U.S. accounting team as production scales.

Must-Haves

• 8 years of progressive accounting or finance experience, including time as a Controller or Senior Finance Manager in a manufacturing environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA highly preferred, CMA or equivalent certification considered.
• Hands-on ownership of manufacturing cost accounting and inventory accounting, including product costing, labor and overhead analysis, and inventory valuation.
• Deep transactional experience in a major ERP with the ability to learn a new system quickly; NetSuite preferred.
• U.S. Person status required due to export control regulations; must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
• Willingness to operate as a hands-on individual contributor daily through the production ramp before building a team.

Nice to Have

• Defense, aerospace, or government contracting manufacturing experience — required.
• Direct FAR/DFARS and DCAA compliance ownership, including incurred cost submissions and provisional billing rates.
• Experience with greenfield facility stand-up, high-rate manufacturing, or production scale-up.
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management and defense acquisition program finance.
• Prior finance leadership at a high-growth manufacturer or startup.
• MBA or Master's in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration.