Controller / Director of Finance, Pre IPO Company, Consulting → Full-Time (90–120 Days)

ABOUT DRONAZON Dronazon is an early-stage dual-use autonomous air and sea logistics company building the first scheduled autonomous cargo carrier in the Americas. We deploy FAA-certified fixed-wing unmanned aircraft on scheduled island-to-island cargo routes in the Caribbean, with a parallel defense track serving U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and SOCOM resupply missions. Our commercial certification strategy is the structural competitive moat: FAA Part 135 operating authority on the same airframes that serve the defense market. We are building on an “as if publicly traded” basis from Day 1, targeting a public market listing within 12 months. Every system, process, and hire reflects that standard. THE ROLE Reporting directly to the CFO, this role builds and owns the financial infrastructure of a dual-revenue-stream autonomous airline — one that generates cargo revenue on scheduled routes and defense contract revenue on the same operating assets. The right candidate thinks in route economics, load factors, and cycle costs — not just general ledger. You will lead accounting operations, financial modeling, budgeting, and audit readiness for a company entering scheduled commercial service while simultaneously pursuing U.S. government contracts. This is a build role: you are constructing the function, not inheriting it. This engagement is structured to begin on a consulting basis, with a full-time offer expected within 90-120 days. The consulting period allows both parties to establish working rhythm and confirm fit before transitioning to a permanent seat on the leadership team. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES • Own the monthly close process, chart of accounts, and general ledger; establish clean, audit-ready books from the ground up • Build and maintain route-level P&L reporting — cost per flight, cost per pound-mile, and contribution margin by route and customer segment • Develop and maintain the full-burden unit economics model: direct operating costs, maintenance reserves, insurance, regulatory overhead, depreciation, and fleet availability assumptions • Model revenue recognition across multiple contract types: scheduled cargo contracts, take-or-pay freight agreements, government cost-plus and fixed-price contracts, and medical/pharma premium lanes • Lead annual budget and quarterly reforecast processes; build a 3-to-5-year financial model suitable for institutional investor due diligence • Prepare and own financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, and footnotes) in accordance with U.S. GAAP, PCAOB audit-ready standards • Coordinate with outside auditors on the annual audit process; prepare and own financial statements and footnotes for inclusion in the S-1 registration statement • Support SEC filing coordination: working capital analysis, MD&A drafting, and financial disclosure review in partnership with outside securities counsel • Support U.S. government contract financial reporting: DCAA-compliant cost accounting, incurred cost submissions, and contract-level margin tracking • Help build financial infrastructure and systems (ERP, expense management, equity administration, etc.) • Partner with the CFO on investor materials, board financial reporting, and capital raise preparation WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR Required: • 5+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, with at least 2 years at the Controller or Director of Finance level • Commercial cargo modeling is a strong preference. Deep familiarity with cargo, freight, or aviation unit economics: load factors, cost-per-mile models, fleet utilization analysis, and route-level profitability • Experience at an air cargo operator, scheduled freight carrier, logistics company, or autonomous systems company strongly preferred • CPA required for the Controller title; not required for Director of Finance • Demonstrated ability to build financial infrastructure at an early-stage or high-growth company • Exceptionally organized, detail-oriented, and accurate under ambiguity • “Roll up sleeves” mentality: this role builds the function before managing it • U.S. Work Authorization Preferred: • Public company experience: SEC reporting, PCAOB audit coordination, or S-1 preparation • U.S. government or Department of Defense contract accounting experience (cost-plus, fixed-price, DCAA compliance) • Experience with multi-revenue-stream businesses where the same asset generates both commercial and government-contract revenue • Familiarity with FAA regulatory cost structures and aviation insurance accounting COMPENSATION Salary range, equity, and benefits to be discussed during the interview process.