Technical Accounting Manager

Description

Impulse Space is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Technical Accounting Manager to join our Finance team. This role will serve as a key resource for technical accounting matters, with a primary focus on evaluating customer contracts and ensuring appropriate accounting treatment under U.S. GAAP, particularly revenue recognition under ASC 606. The position will play an integral role in assessing contractual terms related to revenue recognition, billing milestones, and associated accounts receivable timing within a complex Aerospace & Defense environment.

In addition to technical accounting responsibilities, this individual will support general ledger accounting activities, assist with the monthly close process, and collaborate cross-functionally with Program Management, Contracts, Operations, and Finance to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting.

Responsibilities

Technical Accounting & Revenue Recognition

• Review and evaluate customer contracts to determine appropriate accounting treatment in accordance with U.S. GAAP, with an emphasis on revenue recognition (ASC 606).
• Analyze contractual terms related to performance obligations, transaction price, billing milestones, acceptance criteria, contract modifications, and variable consideration.
• Evaluate the timing of revenue recognition, including over-time versus point-in-time recognition and appropriate measures of progress, where applicable.
• Assess the accounting implications of milestone-based billing arrangements and ensure alignment between revenue recognition, billing events, and accounts receivable.
• Partner with Contracts, Program Management, and Legal teams to review new contracts and contract amendments prior to execution, identifying accounting implications and providing recommendations where appropriate.
• Prepare and maintain technical accounting memorandums supporting key accounting conclusions.
• Research and interpret accounting guidance related to complex or non-routine transactions including technical accounting matters beyond revenue recognition, as needed.

Billing, Accounts Receivable & Contract Accounting

• Monitor contractual billing milestones to ensure timely invoicing and accurate recording of accounts receivable.
• Partner with Billing and Program teams to resolve discrepancies between contractual terms, revenue recognition, and customer invoicing.
• Assist in analyzing contract assets, contract liabilities, unbilled receivables, and deferred revenue balances.
• Support reconciliations related to customer contracts and milestone billing activities.

General Accounting & Financial Close

• Assist with monthly, quarterly, and annual close activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial statement support.
• Maintain general ledger accounts related to assigned areas of responsibility.
• Review balance sheet accounts for accuracy and completeness.
• Support internal and external audit requests by preparing schedules and documentation.
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.

Process Improvement & Cross-Functional Support

• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, contract review procedures, and month-end close efficiency.
• Assist in implementing process improvements and strengthening internal controls over financial reporting.
• Provide technical accounting guidance and training to internal stakeholders as needed.
• Participate in ERP or financial systems enhancements affecting contract accounting, billing, or financial reporting.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
• 6+ years of demonstrated progressive accounting experience
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, with demonstrated experience applying ASC 606 Revenue Recognition to complex customer contracts.
• Experience reviewing customer contracts and interpreting contractual language for accounting purposes.
• Experience evaluating performance obligations, variable consideration, contract modifications, and over-time versus point-in-time revenue recognition.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical accounting concepts to non-finance stakeholders.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• CPA license or active progress toward CPA
• Public Accounting foundation
• Aerospace & Defense industry experience or exposure
• Experience with complex or long-term customer contracts, including milestone-based arrangements and over-time revenue recognition.

Additional Information:

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Impulse Space, the in-space transportation company founded by Tom Mueller, is opening access beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with its fleet of in-space transportation vehicles. The high-energy Helios vehicle unlocks orbits beyond LEO with its powerful Deneb engine, dropping off payloads in MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. The flight-proven Mira vehicle uses a nontoxic, high-impulse chemical propulsion system to offer orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry services to customers throughout LEO. Led by a team that delivered the most reliable rockets in history, Impulse provides economical and efficient in-space transportation by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go.