Senior Cost and Project Accountant

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Based at Rocket Lab’s Solar Manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Senior Cost and Project Accountant will be responsible for contract revenue, cost of sales and inventory. This position requires the ability to maintain accurate revenue and cost of sales for significant Rocket Lab customer contracts. The Senior Cost & Project Accountant will report to the Program Accounting Manager and work closely with the accounting team and partner with various team members throughout the organization.

• Responsible for project revenue & cost recognition
• Update and reconcile customer contract backlog and customer contract asset & liability
• Track and reconcile inventory
• Support EAC cycle for project estimates and revenue recognition
• Review and interpret new contracts using the 5 step 606 accounting revenue standards
• Set up programs and charge codes in the accounting system
• Initiate process improvement projects
• Investigate and provide feedback on accounting irregularities
• Other duties as assigned
• Month End
  
  Activities:
  • Book journal entries to recognize OT and PIT revenue and cost of sales
  • Book journal entries and reconcile contract asset & liability
  • Book journal entries to adjust and reconcile inventory as needed
  • Document revenue and cost of sales processes - SOX control requirements
  • Prepare monthly and quarterly reporting requests as needed
  • Develop project cost processes as required

• 5+ years of experience and a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent years of work experience (HS Diploma and 9+ years of work experience)
• Strong cost accounting experience in a complex manufacturing environment
• Strong ERP systems knowledge and experience
• Proven experience in providing financial decision support

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with the ability to explain project cost information to others
• Advanced Excel and analytical skills desirable

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
• Regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, operate computer keyboard and controls, and communicate verbally and in writing.
• Must be physically able to commute to buildings.
• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes, and moderate levels of noise.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable.

Learn more about ITAR here.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.

For more information on these Regulations,  ITAR Regulations.