Financial Controller Jobs in Detroit, MI (NOW HIRING)

Job Description

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., is a leading defense technology company focused on uncrewed systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, training, and combat systems. Our customers include the U.S. federal government, foreign governments, commercial enterprises, and state and local government agencies. At Kratos, we prioritize affordability as a cornerstone of our technology. We leverage proven, cutting-edge methodologies and technology to minimize costs, streamline schedules, and mitigate risks, ensuring timely delivery of cost-effective solutions to market.

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

The Financial Controller serves as the senior financial authority and control owner for Technical Directions Inc., responsible for full-spectrum financial governance across Programs, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing.

This role owns financial integrity, compliance, reporting accuracy, internal controls, margin protection, cash discipline, and enterprise financial risk management. The Financial Controller ensures that all financial activity within TDI is accurate, compliant, controlled, and strategically aligned to revenue, EBIT, and long-term growth objectives.

Reporting directly to the GM / SVP, the Financial Controller provides independent financial leadership and enterprise-level governance, while maintaining a strong dotted-line integration with the Lead PMO to ensure disciplined program cost control and execution visibility.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Enterprise Financial Governance & Control

• Serve as the financial authority for TDI
• Own internal controls, financial governance, and policy enforcement
• Establish financial standards across all functional areas
• Protect margin, cash flow, and capital efficiency
• Identify enterprise-level financial risk and mitigation strategies

Financial Reporting & Close Management

• Own monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting
• Oversee revenue recognition and cost allocation accuracy
• Validate labor rates, overhead rates, burden application, and cost pools
• Ensure financial statements are audit-ready and GAAP compliant
• Lead financial close cadence and reporting discipline

Program & Operational Financial Control

• Govern Estimate-at-Completion (EAC) and margin tracking
• Approve program cost baselines and financial assumptions
• Validate financial impact of ECR/ECO and scope changes
• Partner with Operations on throughput, scrap, OEE, labor efficiency
• Validate cost rollups, BOM cost accuracy, and routing cost integrity

Budgeting, Forecasting & Capital Governance

• Own Annual Operating Plan (AOP) financial structure
• Lead rolling forecast discipline and variance governance
• Approve capital expenditure requests and ROI analysis
• Monitor working capital, cash flow, and inventory exposure

ERP & Financial Systems Ownership

• Own financial integrity within Costpoint (ERP)
• Ensure system controls prevent unauthorized or misaligned financial entries
• Validate integration across ERP, PLM, MES, QMS, and dashboards
• Maintain segregation of duties and compliance discipline

Audit, Compliance & Regulatory Controls

• Lead internal and external financial audits
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, corporate finance policy, ITAR, DFARS, and contract clauses
• Oversee financial data governance and access controls
• Serve as audit liaison for corporate and government stakeholders

Executive Advisory & Strategic Finance

• Provide financial insight to GM / SVP on strategic decisions
• Support pricing, make-buy analysis, supplier financial risk review
• Provide margin improvement recommendations
• Support enterprise growth and investment decisions

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• May supervise financial support staff (future state)
• Owns financial authority across TDI
• Exercises approval authority over financial controls, structures, and reporting

Experience and Skills

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Required

• Strong expertise in cost accounting, financial control, and governance
• Deep understanding of manufacturing and engineering cost structures
• ERP expertise (Costpoint strongly preferred)
• GAAP and internal controls knowledge
• Ability to operate independently as enterprise financial authority
• Strong executive communication capability
• Demonstrated ability to learn new regulatory frameworks through self-directed research (regulations, agency guidance, peer benchmarking) with limited formal mentorship

Preferred

• EVMS familiarity
• CPA or CMA preferred

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related discipline
• 8+ years of progressive financial responsibility
• Demonstrated experience leading financial control in a manufacturing environment
• Experience with long-cycle program-based EAC/ETC forecasting
• Experience preparing or directly supporting an Incurred Cost Submission
• Familiarity with CAS Disclosure Statement requirements and indirect rate structures

Preferred

• Experience in high-mix, low-volume production environments
• Experience supporting DCMA audits and government programs
• Aerospace / Defense experience
• Experience operating as a divisional/subsidiary controller reporting financials to a publicly traded parent, including SOX-aligned controls and consolidated close requirements

WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Office-based with extensive cross-functional engagement across operations
• Frequent interaction with Program, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment
• Ability to sit, stand, and work at a computer for extended periods
• Occasional presence on production floor to validate financial alignment with operations

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Minimal to moderate (0-20%) depending on program reviews, audits, or corporate engagement

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THE ABOVE STATEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO DESCRIBE THE GENERAL NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK BEING PERFORMED BY INDIVIDUALS ASSIGNED TO THIS CLASSIFICATION. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE CONSTRUED AS AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL RESPONSIBILITIES, DUTIES AND SKILLS REQUIRED OF PERSONNEL SO CLASSIFIED.

A REVIEW OF THIS CLASSIFICATION HAS EXCLUDED THE MARGINAL FUNCTIONS OF THE CLASSIFICATION THAT ARE INCIDENTAL TO THE PERFORMANCE OF FUNDAMENTAL JOB JUTIES. ALL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS AND ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO PERFORM THIS JOB PROFICIENTLY. THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE THE MINIMUM LEVELS OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS OR ABILITIES.

EEO/M/F/D/V

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