Senior Accountant

About the role

About Electra At Electra, we’re building the EL9 — a nine-passenger, hybrid-electric aircraft that takes off and lands in 150 feet. Our Ultra Short technology unlocks thousands of new operating locations and enables what we call Direct Aviation: quiet, point-to-point regional travel that gets people from where they are to where they want to go, without the congestion of major airports or the noise of conventional aviation. A global company, headquartered in Manassas, VA, Electra is backed by Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, and Safran, has filed for FAA Part 23 type certification, and carries 2,000+ intent to purchase from operators worldwide. We’re a team of ~100 people moving fast toward first EL9 test flights in 2027 and certification by late 2029 or 2030. Every hire matters at this stage — and this role is no exception. The Role Electra.aero is seeking a Senior Accountant to help scale a high-performing accounting function in a fast-paced aerospace environment. This role owns core month-end close activities and is the primary owner of payroll accounting — ensuring accurate labor cost capture, timesheet compliance, and payroll journal entry integrity across a multi-state, multi-entity workforce that includes domestic employees and Switzerland-based staff. Beyond payroll, the Senior Accountant supports operational accounting across payables, employee expenses, invoicing, and reconciliations — helping ensure accurate financial data, strong internal controls, and audit-ready documentation. This role partners closely with People Operations, program teams, and the broader Finance function as the company scales toward certification and commercial operations. What You'll Do Payroll Accounting — Primary Ownership Own payroll accounting end-to-end: review payroll registers, prepare and post payroll journal entries, and reconcile payroll-related balance sheet accounts (accrued wages, payroll tax liabilities, benefits payable, PTO liability) Ensure timesheet compliance, accurate allocation of labor costs across cost centers, government contracts, and indirect pools in compliance with FAR/DCAA labor charging requirements Reconcile timesheet data to payroll runs and resolve discrepancies between hours worked, and direct and indirect project charging. Coordinate with People Operations on payroll changes, new hires, terminations, and equity-related payroll events (stock vesting) Support international payroll coordination for Switzerland-based employees, including intercompany recharge entries and foreign currency considerations Maintain payroll-related audit documentation and support DCAA labor floor checks and incurred cost submissions Drive and facilitate the payroll application transition planned for 2027 Month-End Close & General Accounting Prepare and post journal entries for month-end close accurate and timely: accruals, prepaids, depreciation, and adjustments Perform monthly balance sheet reconciliations and resolve variances and reconciling items Lead accounts payable operations including invoice coding, matching, vendor maintenance, and payment preparation and posting Reconcile corporate card activity and employee expense reports. Review expense report. Perform invoicing, receipts posting and accounts receivable reconciliation for commercial and government contracts Maintain audit-ready support for transactions, reconciliations, and compliance needs Help improve accounting processes, documentation, increase application of AI into the process, and internal controls as the company scales Participate in ERP transition planned for 2027 Other duties as assigned What You Bring Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field 8+ years of accounting experience with month-end close ownership Direct experience processing or accounting for multi-state payroll in a complex environment Strong knowledge of payroll accounting mechanics: accruals, tax liabilities, benefits, PTO, and stock options Experience supporting audits or operating in a highly controlled environment Strong knowledge of accounting fundamentals and US GAAP Strong attention to detail with ability to prioritize and meet deadlines Proficient in Excel and comfortable in accounting systems, AI and ERP tools Strong communication skills and ability to partner cross-functionally with People Operations, program managers, and Finance leadership Candidates must have permanent work authorization in the United States. This role does not support F-1 OPT/CPT, H-1B sponsorship, or any other employment visa sponsorship now or in the future. Bonus Points Experience in aerospace, manufacturing, hardware, or project-based environments Familiarity with government contracting concepts: compliant labor charging, cost segregation, FAR/DCAA audit expectations, and incurred cost submissions Experience with payroll systems such as ADP, Paylocity, or Rippling and reconciling to an ERP Exposure to international payroll coordination and intercompany entries for foreign subsidiaries CPA license or active progress toward CPA Experience with Unanet, Costpoint, NetSuite, or similar government contracting ERP This range reflects the anticipated hiring range across all eligible locations; actual compensation is determined based on your relevant experience, skills, and geographic location. Total compensation includes performance bonus and comprehensive benefits. Compensation Range $100,000 - $130,000 USD What We Offer Competitive salary and equity Medical, dental, and vision insurance; STD, LTD, and life insurance Generous PTO, sick leave, and company holidays Paid winter break 401(k) with immediate vesting Free catered lunches, coffee, snacks, and drinks at our Manassas headquarters Free on-site parking Electra is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This position may be subject to ITAR requirements.