Corporate R&D Chef Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

We need a high-potential operator with a strong foundation in finance and broad business curiosity-someone excited to help build the operating backbone of a company on track to grow from 15 to more than 300 employees.

Reporting directly to the CEO, and working in partnership with our external accounting firm and advisors, you will own forward-looking financial planning and accounting operations, as well as critical workflows in HR, contract administration, and compliance. As you learn the business, you will replace ad hoc processes with durable systems: SOPs, dashboards, approval workflows, and software-enabled automation. Over time, you may grow into an operations leadership role responsible for the business systems, processes, and organizational infrastructure that support the company's long-term scale.

Underwater, the wireless transfer of a single picture used to take an hour. We brought to market wireless modems that transfer data 100 to 1000 times faster. Legacy modems were basically status/command links; our modems can control undersea drones with live video feedback - a game changer for exploring the underwater world. Because radio waves attenuate quickly underwater, our modems use sound waves to communicate.

The company is profitable and has strong traction with customers. Your work will help lay the foundation for it to grow from its R&D-focused beginnings into a mature operational business.

• Strategic Finance: Partner with the CEO on pricing, gross margin, working capital, resource allocation, and other decisions that drive profitable growth. Build and maintain the company's financial projections and operating model. 
• Accounting Operations: Serve as the bridge between our team, finance systems, and external accounting firm. You will prepare payroll inputs, enforce expense policy, follow up on AR, review AP, and help maintain clean accounting workflows. Over time, you will improve the controls, reporting, and approval processes behind them.
• People & HR Administration: Own onboarding, offboarding, benefits administration, employee records, and performance-review logistics. Help make these workflows consistent, professional, and scalable as the company grows.
• Contracts & Compliance: Generate NDAs and other standard company forms, review outside forms, flag unusual terms for leadership or counsel, and help maintain and improve our processes for compliance with FAR/DFARS, DCAA, export controls, and related requirements.
• Process Architecture: Don't just complete the checklist-improve the system. You will write SOPs, build trackers and dashboards, automate repetitive workflows, and deploy software solutions to help the business scale from 15 to 300+ employees.

Requirements

• Education: You have completed a bachelor's or master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Management Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Finance Experience: You have meaningful hands-on experience in accounting, audit, or finance through full-time work, internships, or co-ops, and the judgement to recognize when an accounting treatment or financial result warrants further review.
• Systems-Thinker: You naturally look for ways to automate repetitive tasks, improve workflows, and connect data between different software platforms.
• Polite but Firm: You have excellent emotional intelligence but are totally unflappable when it comes to enforcing company policies, following up with colleagues, and maintaining operational discipline without creating unnecessary friction.
• Highly Trustworthy: You will be handling sensitive compensation, personnel, financial, and contract information. Discretion and high integrity are essential.
• U.S. citizenship: You are expected to serve as the company's Facility Security Officer. An active clearance is not required at hire, but U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a personnel security clearance are required.

• Two to five years of full-time professional experience in accounting, audit, corporate finance, finance operations, business operations, or internal systems.
• Experience with QuickBooks or similar accounting systems.
• Experience in a startup, small manufacturer, government contractor, or other regulated, technical, or hands-on operating environment.
• Interest in helping evaluate and eventually transition the company from QuickBooks to a mid-market ERP system such as Acumatica, NetSuite, or Odoo.

Benefits

• Paid vacation starting at 20 days per year, increasing with tenure
• Paid sick leave with carryover
• Flexible schedule with core hours
• Direct access to the CEO and experienced external advisors
• Incentive stock options

The pay range for this position is $100,000 - $125,000 per year. Actual pay will depend on the candidate's experience and skills demonstrated during interviews and other evaluations.

OceanComm is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vet.