Senior Manager of Financial Accounting Services & Systems

Opportunity to join a privately held aerospace and defense manufacturer specialized in the design and production of advanced aircraft systems, surveillance platforms, and integrated radar technologies for military and commercial applications worldwide. We are currently seeking an experienced Financial Accounting and Systems Manager to join our clients team in the greater San Diego, CA area. 

This position reports to a division controller and is responsible for multiple accounting teams. This senior leader is responsible for managing other managers and inspiring changes across the broader team. This role is critical in driving strategic initiatives, motivating large teams, and ensuring operational excellence.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide strategic leadership over Financial Accounting Services and Systems, including contract accounting, accounts payable, cash, fixed assets, and travel & expense accounting.
• Lead and develop multiple managers and teams, fostering a high-performance, compliance-focused, and engagement-driven culture.
• Support accurate and timely financial reporting, including month-end close, consolidation, reconciliations, balance sheet, P&L, and consolidated financial statements.
• Proactively engage on the front end and throughout the capture/award process to ensure desired revenue recognition results and awareness.
• Ensure compliance with ASC 606 revenue recognition standards, specifically tailored to the unique requirements of government contracting, including long-term contracts and performance obligations.
• Manage and monitor financial performance and variance analysis and liaison with Financial Planning & Analysis.
• Oversee cash management and forecasting, including inventory, receivables, payables, and borrowings, in partnership with Treasury, FP&A, Supply Chain, Contracts, and Program Finance leadership
• Oversee working capital models within accounting and liaison with Financial Planning & Analysis to short, medium, and long-term forecast models.
• Develop, implement, and enforce accounting procedures and practices in compliance with US GAAP and applicable regulatory standards.
• Ensure compliance with company financial policies, accounting practices, and internal controls.
• Provide leadership and counsel to resolve financial or operational challenges impacting contract accounting.
• Establish and monitor access controls and segregation-of-duties frameworks to maintain strong internal controls and audit readiness.
• Drive process improvement, automation, and change management initiatives to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of accounting operations.
• Review contracts and proposals to ensure appropriate accounting treatment, auditable financial data, risk assessment, and cash-flow analysis.
• Resolve complex accounting and financial issues, recommend solutions, and manage corrective actions for controls, corrective actions, deficiencies or discrepancies.
• More responsibility for proactive internal controls, support internal and external audits, and support Risk & Control Assurance (RCA) Team as needed.
• Establish and track strategic and operational KPIs to support continuous improvement and informed decision-making.
• Ensure strict confidentiality of sensitive financial and business information.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelors degree in accounting, finance, or related discipline and thirteen or more years of progressively complex experience in finance/accounting. Must have experience in a commercial or government contractor environment. Equivalent experience may be substituted in lieu of education.
• Must have experience in a commercial and government contractor environment.
• Equivalent experience may be substituted in lieu of education.
• An MBA in accounting or finance, CPA or CMA certification, major accounting firm experience, and/or experience negotiating accounting issues with government agencies is highly desirable.
• A basic understanding of Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) methods and principles is desirable.
• Must demonstrate detailed and extensive application of industry and government finance/accounting management principles and practices (strong understanding of CAS and FAR)
• Must have comprehensive finance/accounting management and leadership skills including organizing, planning, scheduling, and coordinating workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones.
• Must be able to resolve complex management and finance/accounting problems; serve as spokesperson on projects and/or programs; and be an expert in one or more finance/accounting management areas.
• Knowledge/experience with ERP business systems is desired (SAP preferable).
• Strong communication, leadership, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required.
• Must be able to work on a self-initiated basis and in a team environment, and able to work extended hours and travel as required.

This is an onsite/hybrid role and relocation assistance is available.