Controller

Red Cell Partners is an incubation firm building and investing in rapidly scalable technology-led companies that are bringing revolutionary advancements to market in three distinct practice areas: healthcare, cyber, and national security. United by a shared sense of duty and deep belief in the power of innovation, Red Cell is developing powerful tools and solutions to address our Nation’s most pressing problems.

About the Role

We are seeking a Controller to own accounting, financial close, compliance, and reporting for a fast-growing defense technology company supporting Department of War and commercial customers.

This role will operate in a hybrid capacity from our McLean, Virginia office, with at least one day per week in the office, or more as business needs require. Some work may need to be performed in a cleared facility.

You will serve as the CFO's right hand on the books, ensuring an accurate monthly close, audit-ready financials, and a government contract accounting environment that stands up to DCAA and DCMA review.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You will build scalable accounting processes, strengthen internal controls, and lead a small accounting team as DEFCON AI grows across defense and commercial markets.

Key Responsibilities

Own Accounting and Financial Close

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and year-end close under U.S. GAAP.
• Prepare financial statements, account reconciliations, and management reporting for the CFO, CEO, and Board of Directors.
• Manage revenue recognition under ASC 606 across firm-fixed-price, time-and-materials, cost-reimbursable, and commercial contracts.
• Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, fixed assets, and equity and stock compensation accounting.

Lead Government Contract Accounting and Compliance

• Maintain a DCAA-compliant accounting system, timekeeping process, and job-cost structure.
• Develop and manage indirect rate structures, including fringe, overhead, and general and administrative rates, as well as provisional billing rates.
• Prepare incurred cost submissions, forward pricing support, and pricing inputs for proposals.
• Ensure compliance with FAR Part 31 cost principles, Cost Accounting Standards where applicable, and DFARS business system requirements.
• Serve as the primary contact for DCAA and DCMA audits and reviews.
• Support SBIR Phase III and other contract vehicles, including appropriate segregation of unallowable costs.

Manage Audit, Tax, and Internal Controls

• Lead the annual external financial statement audit from planning through final sign-off, including PBC requests and supporting schedules.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for external auditors throughout the year.
• Act as the company’s technical accounting lead by researching complex transactions and preparing position memos related to ASC 606, ASC 718, ASC 842, debt, and equity financings.
• Coordinate with external tax advisors on federal and state filings.
• Design and maintain internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures appropriate for a growing company.

Support Planning, Systems, and Business Operations

• Partner with FP&A on budgets, forecasts, cash flow planning, and contract profitability analysis.
• Own the accounting and ERP systems and drive process automation as the company scales.
• Work closely with Contracts, Program Management, Human Resources, and Security teams to support business operations and compliance.

Build and Lead the Accounting Team

• Hire, develop, and manage the accounting team.
• Establish clear ownership, operating rhythms, and quality standards across the accounting function.

Required Qualifications

• Active CPA license.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including ownership of the financial close and management of an accounting team.
• Experience with or strong knowledge of U.S. government contracting requirements, including FAR, DFARS, DCAA audits, indirect rates, and incurred cost submissions.
• Strong technical accounting skills and command of U.S. GAAP, including ASC 606.
• Experience leading annual audits and working directly with external auditors.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a closely related field.
• Active U.S. security clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain one
• U.S. citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Accounting, including an MAcc or MSA.
• Public accounting experience, ideally with audit or government contracting advisory exposure.
• Experience in a venture-backed or high-growth defense technology company.
• Hands-on experience with government contracting ERP systems such as Deltek Costpoint, Unanet, or Procas.
• Experience supporting both government and commercial revenue streams.

What Success Looks Like

• The monthly close is accurate, timely, and increasingly scalable.
• Financial reporting is audit-ready and provides clear, reliable information to company leadership and the Board.
• Government contract accounting practices are well-documented and prepared for DCAA and DCMA review.
• Accounting systems, controls, and team capabilities mature in step with company growth.
• The CFO has a trusted partner who can independently lead the accounting function and surface risks early.

What We Offer

• A flexible, results-based work environment.
• Competitive salary, bonus, and equity package.
• 100% employer-paid comprehensive health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Unlimited PTO, with your manager’s approval.
• Flexibility to manage your workday while meeting business and team needs.
• 14 weeks of fully paid parental leave.

Salary Range

$170,000-$220,000. This represents the typical base salary range for this position based on experience, skills, and other factors. This role is also eligible for an annual bonus and equity.

Our Red Cell Partners Benefits (may differ for each incubation):

For full-time roles

• Career track opportunity with potential for rapid advancement with strong performance as the firm grows 
• 100% employer paid, comprehensive health care including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.
• Paid maternity and paternity for 14 weeks at employees' normal pay.
• Unlimited PTO, with management approval.
• Opportunities for professional development and continued learning.
• Optional 401K, FSA, and equity incentives available.
• Mental health benefits are available through Tara Mind. 
  
• Cost effective GLP-1 solutions available through Crux. 

We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer: You’ll receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability.

Applicant Data Disclosure   

By submitting an application, you acknowledge that Red Cell Partners, LLC ("Red Cell") uses third-party service providers to facilitate its recruitment and hiring processes. These providers include applicant tracking systems, candidate verification platforms, and fraud detection tools (collectively, "Hiring Platforms"). Your application materials, including your résumé, cover letter, work samples, responses to application questions, and any other information you submit, may be transmitted to and processed by these Hiring Platforms for the following purposes:  

• Managing and administering your application throughout the hiring process; 

• Verifying the accuracy and authenticity of application materials, including by cross-referencing information you provide against publicly available sources and proprietary databases; 
• Identifying indicators of potentially fraudulent, fabricated, or materially misleading application content, including but not limited to discrepancies between submitted materials and publicly available professional profiles, geographic anomalies, and fabricated work histories. 

Applications that are flagged through this process as containing indicators of fraud or material misrepresentation may be declined from further consideration. If you have questions about the status of your application or the evaluation process, please contact talent@redcellpartners.com.  

Red Cell requires its Hiring Platform providers to process your information solely for the purposes described above and in accordance with applicable law. Your information will be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill these purposes and any applicable legal obligations, after which it will be deleted in accordance with Red Cell's data retention policies.

For more information about how your data is used, please refer to our Privacy Policy and Applicant Privacy Notice.