About the Role This is the first full-time finance hire at a well-funded, early-stage aerospace and maritime infrastructure company that has just closed its first full-scale build agreement, an eight-figure deal to develop a purpose-built offshore rocket launch platform. The person in this seat owns everything from daily AP/AR and month-end close to board reporting, cash flow management, and the eventual build-out of a complete finance and accounting function. It is a hands-on, build-from-scratch role for someone who wants real ownership and a clear path to becoming the head of finance and, over time, a C-suite leader as the company grows toward Series B and beyond.
The ideal candidate is a hardcore accountant first. Big Four roots, a CPA, and six or more years of progressively responsible experience in controllership or accounting management are the foundation. Equally important is mindset: this person is a builder who is comfortable with a blank page, moves fast without needing a playbook, and genuinely wants to grow with an early-stage company rather than optimize for a steady corporate salary. Startup or capital-intensive industry experience is a plus, but grit, a strong accounting foundation, and the motivation to take on broad responsibility matter more than any single line on a resume.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the full month-end close, working alongside the third-party bookkeeper and eventually taking full control of the accounting function
- Run AP/AR for large, low-volume capital project transactions in close coordination with the operations and engineering team during the first build
- Build and maintain cash flow forecasting, annual budgeting, and budget-vs-actuals tracking for leadership and quarterly board reporting
- Lead the migration to a more mature accounting and ERP stack, integrating it with the vessel-management and operations platform
- Develop internal financial controls, processes, and reporting infrastructure from the ground up
- Hire and onboard a junior AP/AR team member within the first one to two quarters
- Partner directly with the CEO on strategic financial planning and serve as the internal financial voice across the organization
- Engage hands-on with operations and engineering early on to map business workflows to back-office accounting processes
Required Skills & Experience
- 6 to 12 years of experience as a controller, accounting manager, or head of finance; 10 years is the target, though strong candidates with less will be considered
- CPA certification (active or in good standing)
- Big Four public accounting background
- Deep, hands-on operational accounting foundation covering close processes, AP/AR, and financial reporting, not solely FP&A, strategic finance, or consulting
- Experience building or scaling a finance function at an early-stage startup or high-growth company
- Proficiency with ERP systems, accounting software, Excel, and financial modeling tools
- Builder mindset: able to create process, structure, and discipline without needing prior infrastructure in place
- U.S. person status (citizen or equivalent); visa sponsorship is not available for this role
Preferred Skills
- Experience in capital-intensive, heavy-industry, or hardware-adjacent sectors such as aerospace, defense, maritime, offshore energy, construction, or transportation
- Familiarity with Mercury and QuickBooks Online or similar early-stage finance stacks
- Comfort communicating financial results and cash position directly to a CEO and board
- Track record of three to five or more years at early-career roles, demonstrating consistency and commitment
- Understanding of and genuine interest in equity as a component of total compensation