Controller

At Areté, we are on the forefront of developing innovative solutions, with great minds from all backgrounds, to help solve the nation’s most complex security challenges. We strive for an inclusive, collaborative team environment that approaches differences as opportunities for innovation and excellence. As an employee-owned company, we foster an atmosphere that propels diverse career opportunities and professional growth.

Discover your future with us.

We are seeking an experienced and compliance-driven Controller to lead our accounting organization. In this role, you will oversee accounting, financial reporting, payroll/timekeeping and billing, ensuring full compliance with ASC 606 , FAR , DFARS , and DCAA requirements. As a key financial leader in our mid-size, partially ESOP-owned business , you will manage an established accounting team, ensure strict DCAA timekeeping compliance, and navigate the unique accounting, tax structures, and reporting rules associated with shared ESOP and corporate equity ownership. This is an exempt, full-time position that will be based at our Northridge, CA office.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the consolidated month-end and year-end close processes, delivering timely, GAAP-compliant financial packages, partial-ESOP footnote disclosures, and variance analyses to executive leadership.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop a mid-sized accounting team, including Accounting Managers, Accountants, Billing Specialists, Payroll Administrators and AP Specialists.
• Maintain and enhance corporate internal financial control frameworks to mitigate risk and safeguard corporate assets.
• Direct DCAA/DCMA audit readiness (including labor floor checks), manage annual incurred cost submissions, and ensure rigorous corporate compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
• Apply ASC 606 standards to complex, multi-year government contracts, evaluating performance obligations, variable consideration, and over-time revenue recognition (input/output methods).
• Oversee filing of state and Federal income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes and business licenses.
• Oversee the accounting for our partial Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Partner with our Stock Administration team to ensure accurate accounting for stock transactions.
• Oversee the payroll administration process and ensure the timekeeping system meets strict DCAA compliance guidelines (e.g., daily time entry, employee approvals, supervisor approvals, and audit trails for labor allocations).
• Manage the accurate distribution of direct and indirect labor hours to project cost codes and indirect rate pools for accurate billing and incurred cost tracking.
• Drive process improvements, automate accounting workflows, and optimize financial and timekeeping systems to support growing transaction volumes and complex contract structures.
• Ensure robust project and cost accounting frameworks are maintained to enable tracking of labor utilization and margins across multiple funding structures (FFP, CPFF, T&M).
• Manage the preparation of short-term and annual cash flow forecasts. Support the Finance organization in the development and monitoring of indirect rates by providing accurate cost data, actuals analysis, accounting insights, and compliance oversight.

We have an impressive range of benefits, programs, and perks that we offer: Health & Wellness

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Life and Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• Vision Reimbursement
• Fitness Reimbursement

Financial

• Company-funded 5% contribution to your 401(k) retirement plan
• Company-funded 5% contribution to your Employee Stock Ownership Plan
• Continuing Education Funds

Work-Life Balance

• Flexible Scheduling
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Parental and Bereavement Leave

What We Value

• Creativity and innovation in solving challenges
• Integrity and responsibility in all actions
• Collaboration across teams and specialties
• Responsiveness in fast-paced environments
• Passion for national security and excellence

Experiences And Background We Look For (Required Skills)

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration. CPA, CMA, or MBA preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive accounting leadership experience, with at least 4 years explicitly managing accounting functions in a mid-size corporate environment within the GovCon/A&D sector.
• Knowledge of ESOP accounting and preferred.
• Proven expertise in applying ASC 606 within a project-based or percentage-of-completion contract environment.
• Thorough, practical understanding of FAR compliance requirements and DCAA timekeeping rules,
• Advanced proficiency with integrated GovCon ERP and timekeeping platforms (preferably Deltek Costpoint). Strong Microsoft Excel skills required.

The salary range for this role is $200,000 to $240,000; however, Arete considers several factors when extending an offer of employment, including but not limited to: the position and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

Other Considerations Areté is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination, and we believe every person has the right to be treated with fairness, dignity, and equal consideration. Areté is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

U.S. citizenship is required to meet position eligibility.

Successful passage of a criminal background screen is required to meet position eligibility.

Selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Areté will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Successful passage of a Department of Transportation (DOT) drug test is required to meet position eligibility.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website because of your disability. To request an accommodation, please contact Areté Human Resources at 818-885-2200 for assistance.