Director of Government Accounting

AFB International$120K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
  • 10+ years of experience in government pricing, cost estimating, and financial strategy within aerospace and defense.
  • Deep expertise in government pricing regulations, cost structures, and negotiation dynamics.
  • Proven experience leading pricing strategies for complex government programs.
  • Strong executive communication skills to influence senior leadership decisions.

Responsibilities

  • Own and lead government pricing strategy across various contract types.
  • Develop competitive pricing approaches aligning with customer, market, and margin goals.
  • Direct proposal pricing, cost models, and financial analyses for business pursuits.
  • Partner with Business Development to influence bid strategies and deal structures.
  • Lead development and maintenance of indirect rate structures and financial forecasts.
  • Support pricing negotiations with government customers using data-driven analysis.
  • Oversee cost estimating methodologies ensuring alignment with actual performance.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to shape pricing strategy for mission-critical aerospace and defense systems.
  • Lead a high-performing team in a growth-oriented environment.
  • Collaborate with executive leadership and various functional teams.
  • Engagement with significant government and military customers.
  • Potential for involvement in strategic initiatives like market expansion and mergers.
Full Job Description
This opportunity is located within our Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company business, a global leader of mission-critical hardware and systems solutions including precision energetics systems and innovative explosive solutions.Click here to learn more.

Job Description

Position Summary

The Director of Government Compliance and Pricing leads the company's government pricing strategy and cost competitiveness while ensuring disciplined compliance with applicable acquisition regulations. This role is responsible for developing pricing approaches that balance market competitiveness, risk, and profitability across the company's aerospace and defense portfolio. The Director serves as a strategic partner to executive leadership, business development, finance, and program teams, shaping bid strategies, indirect rate structures, and long-range pricing models that support sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities

Pricing Strategy and Competitive Positioning
  • Own and lead the company's government pricing strategy across cost-type, fixed-price, and incentive-based contracts.
  • Develop pricing approaches that align customer requirements, competitive landscape, risk posture, and corporate margin objectives.
  • Direct the development of proposal pricing, cost models, and financial analyses in support of new business pursuits and recompetes.
  • Partner with Business Development and Executive Leadership to influence bid/no-bid decisions, win strategies, and deal structures.
  • Lead the development and maintenance of indirect rate structures, forward pricing rate proposals, and long-range cost forecasts.
  • Support and lead pricing negotiations with government customers, providing clear rationale, data-driven analysis, and risk trade-offs.

Cost Modeling and Financial Insight
  • Oversee cost estimating methodologies, ensuring consistency, credibility, and alignment with actual cost performance.
  • Analyze program financial data to assess pricing assumptions, margin erosion risks, and opportunities for improved cost competitiveness.
  • Drive continuous improvement in pricing tools, models, and processes to support faster, more informed decision-making.
  • Provide executive-level insight into the financial implications of contract structures, pricing strategies, and regulatory constraints.

Compliance as a Strategic Enabler
  • Ensure pricing strategies and submissions are compliant with FAR, DFARS, CAS, and Truthful Cost or Pricing Data requirements.
  • Serve as the company's lead interface with DCAA and DCMA on pricing, cost, and rate-related matters.
  • Guide internal teams in preparing compliant, defensible pricing positions that withstand audit and negotiation scrutiny.
  • Monitor regulatory changes and assess their impact on pricing strategy, cost recovery, and long-term profitability.

Leadership and Collaboration
  • Act as a trusted advisor to the executive team on pricing risk, margin strategy, and government contracting trends.
  • Collaborate closely with Contracts, Finance, Legal, Program Management, and Engineering to ensure integrated pricing execution.
  • Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing pricing and compliance team capable of supporting complex, competitive pursuits.
  • Support strategic initiatives such as new contract vehicles, market expansion, and mergers or acquisitions through pricing diligence.

Qualifications

Required
  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
  • 10+ years of experience in government pricing, cost estimating, and financial strategy within the aerospace and defense industry.
  • Deep expertise in government pricing regulations, cost structures, and negotiation dynamics.
  • Proven experience leading pricing strategy on complex, competitive government programs.
  • Strong executive communication skills with the ability to influence decisions at the senior leadership level.

Preferred
  • Master's degree (MBA or related field).
  • Experience in a privately held, growth-oriented aerospace and defense company.
  • Demonstrated success supporting major competitive wins and profitable long-term programs.
  • Exposure to international programs or Foreign Military Sales (FMS).

Key Competencies
  • Strategic and analytical thinking
  • Financial and pricing leadership
  • Business acumen and risk assessment
  • Cross-functional influence and collaboration
  • Results-oriented decision-making


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