Controller

Company Description

Our client is an established aerospace manufacturing company and part of a global engineering organization with operations across 13 countries. The business designs and manufactures highly engineered components and systems for the aerospace, defense, and other mission-critical industries.

The Burbank operation is a vertically integrated manufacturing environment with significant production capabilities and a large employee base. The company is entering an exciting period of continued investment and operational growth while maintaining the stability and resources of a global parent organization.

About the Opportunity

This is a highly hands-on Controller role with broad responsibility across Accounting, Cost Accounting, Operations Finance, and FP&A. The Controller will lead the accounting team while serving as a key financial partner to the operational leadership team.

The role is roughly divided across three core areas:

• Accounting & Close: Lead the month-end close, financial reporting, reconciliations, controls, and accounting team.
• Cost Accounting / Operations Finance: Partner closely with Operations and the General Manager on job costing, manufacturing KPIs, inventory, standard costing, and operational performance.
• FP&A: Own budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, capital budgeting, and reporting to the international parent company.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who enjoys being in the weeds with the business , rather than operating solely as a corporate accounting leader.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Finance & Accounting team and oversee day-to-day accounting operations.
• Own the month-end close process and ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Prepare and analyze financial results, forecasts, budgets, and business performance.
• Partner with Operations and business leadership on job costing, operational KPIs, and financial performance .
• Lead annual budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Analyze budget-to-actual and operational variances and communicate key drivers to leadership.
• Oversee inventory accounting and lead the annual physical inventory process.
• Ensure proper accounting for fixed assets, including capitalization, valuation, and depreciation.
• Manage the company's capital budget for PP&E.
• Maintain strong internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures.
• Oversee balance sheet reconciliations and ensure timely resolution of variances.
• Provide financial reporting and analysis to the company's international corporate parent.
• Prepare required regulatory and corporate reporting, including sales & use tax and other financial attestations.
• Support audit readiness and ensure accounting practices comply with applicable GAAP/IFRS requirements.

Must Haves

• Aerospace and/or manufacturing experience is required.
• Strong cost accounting background, including inventory and standard costing.
• Experience leading or owning a month-end close.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Ability to partner directly with Operations and senior business leaders on KPIs and financial performance.
• Strong GAAP/IFRS knowledge.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Approximately 8+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience .
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization.

Nice to Haves

• Aerospace or defense industry experience.
• Experience in a highly engineered or vertically integrated manufacturing environment.
• Experience reporting to an international parent company.
• Experience with Infor or another manufacturing ERP.
• Experience managing accounting teams in a plant/manufacturing environment.

Systems

Infor – the company is currently operating on an older version and is planning an upgrade to a newer version.

Team Structure

The Controller will manage an Accounting Manager and oversee a total Finance & Accounting team of approximately six, including accounting, job costing, AP, payroll, and temporary support.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Broad Controller-level ownership across Accounting, Cost Accounting, FP&A, and Operations Finance.
• Significant visibility with both the local leadership team and international corporate organization.
• Opportunity to work directly with Operations and influence manufacturing performance.
• Stable, established aerospace business backed by a global organization.
• Flexible start/end times despite the 5-day onsite schedule.
• Strong opportunity for someone who enjoys a hands-on, operationally focused Controller role .