EnsignBickford Aerospace & Defense Co

Controller

Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting required; Finance degree is acceptable with extensive accounting experience.
  • 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, with leadership responsibility.
  • Experience leading accounting operations and month-end close, preferably in manufacturing or project-based settings.
  • CPA and/or CMA designation preferred.
  • Strong knowledge of US GAAP and internal controls.

Responsibilities

  • Create an inclusive environment for team performance.
  • Hire, develop, and retain top talent; manage performance issues directly.
  • Drive continuous operational improvement with a Kaizen mindset.
  • Lead the accounting function overseeing various accounting areas including AP, AR, payroll, and fixed assets.
  • Ensure timely and accurate financial results through ownership of the monthly close process.
  • Maintain robust accounting controls, policies, and procedures.
  • Support acquisition readiness and integration activities, aligning various departments for successful transitions.

Benefits

  • Leadership development opportunities within a scaling organization.
  • Inclusive workplace culture that fosters best performance.
  • Engagement in continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Strong emphasis on communication and collaboration across departments.
  • Involvement in significant accounting functions and integration processes.
Full Job Description

Job Description

EBAD seeks an accomplished professional for the position of Controller, reporting to the VP of Finance. This leader will oversee the core accounting function, ensure strong financial controls and close discipline, develop talent, and help build a scalable accounting organization to support the continued growth of the business. The Controller will lead day-to-day accounting operations while also driving continuous improvement in processes, systems, and team capability. This role aligns with the future-state accounting organization in which the Controller serves as the senior accounting leader in 2026, with longer-term role growth tied to business scale and complexity.

Key Responsibilities:

People Leader Talent Expectations

  • Creating a safe, inclusive environment where people can do their best work
  • Hiring, developing, and retaining strong talent, and addressing performance issues directly
  • Coaching through regular 1:1s and clear feedback
  • Setting expectations, aligning goals, and delivering strong performance management

People Leader EBOS Expectations

  • Operating with a Kaizen mindset and a bias for action
  • Driving a consistent operating cadence with clear accountability
  • Using data, visual management, and problem solving to close gaps (SAGS: Standard, Actual, Gap, Scope)
  • Leading and sustaining continuous improvement that delivers measurable results

Accounting Leadership and Close

  • Lead the accounting function across general accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash application, payroll accounting, fixed assets, leases, inventory accounting support, and other controlled balances.
  • Own the monthly close process to ensure accurate, complete, and timely financial results.
  • Review and approve journal entries, account reconciliations, balance sheet reviews, and close deliverables with strong attention to quality, evidence, and control.
  • Provide clear accounting guidance on complex or judgmental items, including revenue recognition, reserves, accruals, capitalization, intercompany activity, and other US GAAP matters.
  • Partner with the VP of Finance, segment finance leaders, and business leaders to ensure accounting results are understood, issues are escalated quickly, and corrective actions are closed.

Controls, Compliance, and Audit

  • Maintain and strengthen accounting controls, policies, procedures, and standard work across the function.
  • Identify control gaps and process risks, and implement practical countermeasures to improve compliance, accuracy, and efficiency.
  • Lead external audit support, including schedules, PBC coordination, issue resolution, management responses, and follow-up actions.
  • Ensure taxes, filings, and other compliance-related accounting activities are completed accurately and on time, as applicable.
  • Maintain disciplined controls over cash, banking, fixed assets, inventory-related accounting, and other high-risk balance sheet areas.

Acquisition Readiness and Integration

  • Support potential acquisitions by partnering with Finance, Corporate, Legal, Tax, Treasury, HR, IT, and operating leaders on accounting due diligence, quality of earnings inputs, working capital review, opening balance sheet readiness, and integration planning.
  • Lead or coordinate post-close accounting integration activities, including close calendar alignment, chart of accounts mapping, accounting policy harmonization, control implementation, reporting requirements, bank and cash controls, and audit support.
  • Coordinate technical accounting support for purchase accounting, including working with external advisors where needed on opening balance sheet, valuation, intangible assets, goodwill, inventory step-up, deferred taxes, and related documentation.
  • Build scalable acquisition integration playbooks and standard work so acquired businesses can be brought into EBAD accounting cadence without sacrificing control, speed, or financial statement quality.

Cash, Working Capital, and Transactional Oversight

  • Review and approve cash disbursements, wires, and related banking activity in line with authorization controls.
  • Oversee payables, and cash application processes with a focus on accuracy, timeliness, and working capital discipline.
  • Support working capital monitoring and reporting, including visibility into AR, AP, and cash conversion drivers.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting required; Finance degree considered with strong accounting experience.
  • 7+ years of progressive accounting and/or finance experience, including leadership responsibility.
  • Prior experience leading accounting operations and month-end close in a manufacturing or project-based environment is strongly preferred.
  • CPA and/or CMA preferred.

Skills

  • Strong knowledge of US GAAP, internal controls, and core accounting processes.
  • Demonstrated experience leading, developing, and improving the performance of others.
  • Proven ability to drive process improvement and strengthen operating discipline.
  • Experience supporting ERP implementations, upgrades, or finance systems improvements preferred.
  • Strong Excel and accounting systems capability.
  • Strong problem-solving, organizational, and follow-through skills.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively across all levels of the organization.
  • High attention to detail, accuracy, and ownership.
  • Self-starter who can work independently, make sound decisions, and manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.

About EnsignBickford Aerospace & Defense Co

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBA&D) is a leading supplier of energetic materials, non-lethal products, and weapon systems to the aerospace and defense industry. The company was founded in 1836 and is headquartered in Simsbury, Connecticut. EBA&D's products are used in a wide range of applications including missile systems, aircraft ejection seats, and space launch vehicles. The company has a long history of innovation and has been awarded numerous patents for its technologies. EBA&D is a subsidiary of Ensign-Bickford Industries, a privately held company that also operates in the mining and petrochemical industries.
Learn more about EnsignBickford Aerospace & Defense Co
Size
1,000 employees
Industry

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