Location OxnardEmployment Type Full timeLocation Type HybridDepartment OperationsCompensation $140K – $220K • Offers EquitySwarm Aero is redefining air power, building the largest swarming UAV and the most versatile swarming aircraft network in the world. The company is moving quickly to launch the first aircraft designed specifically for swarming, as well as the Command & Control software to mobilize swarms of thousands of heterogeneous autonomous assets and empower human operators to achieve superhuman results.The team has created and exited multiple startups, negotiated defense deals worth billions of dollars, and designed and built 30+ novel aircraft, with aerospace experience from Scaled Composites, Airbus, Archer Aviation, Blue Origin, and Boom Supersonic.The Opportunity There's a version of an accounting career where the chart of accounts is already built, the close schedule is set, and your job is to run the process. It's stable. Predictable. And for the right person at the right time, exactly what they need.This isn't that role.We're looking for someone ready to build the infrastructure from scratch and grow into the compliance demands of a defense business. As our first dedicated accounting hire, you'll own the close, configure the ERP, and establish the policies that scale with us. And as we win government contracts, a meaningful part of this role becomes tracking costs against contract line items, building job-cost structures, and staying current on what compliance actually requires. We don't expect you to have run a DCAA audit at a prime. We do expect enough familiarity with government contract accounting to build it correctly and learn fast.The strongest candidates have seen both sides: enough contract finance exposure to understand the framework, and enough time at a smaller operation to understand the reasoning behind the practices, not just the practices themselves.What You'll Do Own the full accounting cycle: month-end/year-end close, AP/AR, cash management, and financial reportingManage NetSuite as the core ERP, configuring and maintaining it to support current operations and future manufacturing scaleBuild and maintain accounting policies, internal controls, and scalable processes from the ground upPrepare financial statements, variance analyses, and management reports for leadership and board distributionDesign and implement cost accounting systems for hardware manufacturing, including inventory, WIP, and COGS trackingOwn government contract accounting as we scale: tracking costs to contract line items (CLINs), building job-cost structures, and ensuring compliance with DCAA and FAR/DFARS requirementsManage audit relationships and ensure GAAP and regulatory compliancePartner with operations and supply chain on financial processes tied to manufacturing and procurementWhat We're Looking For Required5+ years of progressive accounting experienceBachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related fieldDirect experience in hardware manufacturing, R&D, or inventory-intensive businessesProven track record managing full-cycle accounting independentlyERP configuration experience, NetSuite strongly preferredStrong GAAP knowledge and understanding of internal controlsStartup mentality: resourceful, adaptable, comfortable with ambiguityStrongly PreferredCPA certification or actively pursuingAerospace, automotive, or defense industry experienceCost accounting, inventory management, and bill-of-materials experienceExposure to government contract accounting, CLIN-based cost tracking, or project/job-cost structuresFamiliarity with DCAA audit expectations or FAR/DFARS cost principlesExperience at a smaller operation where you had to understand the reasoning behind practices, not just execute themN14 try to haveWho You Are Detail-Obsessed: Numbers need to tie out, reconciliations need to balance, and you won't sleep until they doA Builder: Energized by creating systems and processes where none existCurious About the Why: You don't just know the practice, you understand the reasoning behind it and can build something new from that understandingPragmatic: You know when 'good enough for now' beats 'perfect in six months'Self-Directed: You don't wait to be told what needs doing; you identify gaps and fill themWhat We Offer Meaningful equity in a high-growth defense technology companyCompetitive base salary commensurate with experienceMedical, dental, vision, and 401kPTO and paid sick leaveMonthly wellness stipendDaily catered lunch (office)Paid parental leaveDirect impact on a critical national security missionA world-class team of engineers and operators solving genuinely hard problemsCompensation Range: $140K - $220K#J-18808-Ljbffr