Vice President of Finance

Own the Finance Function Own financial planning, treasury, accounting oversight, management reporting, and financial controls. Establish clear responsibilities, deadlines, and accountability across business managers, internal finance staff, outsourced accounting providers, independent auditors, tax advisors, and specialist consultants.

Lead a timely monthly close and reliable GAAP financial statements, balance sheet reconciliations, budget-to-actual analysis, and actionable reporting to the CEO and board. Maintain a rolling 13-week cash forecast, longer-term liquidity forecasts, and a weekly view of runway, funding requirements, payment priorities, customer collections, and commitments.

Establish purchasing and payment approvals, banking controls, spending authority, and a commitments register covering equipment, facilities, suppliers, and other obligations. Coordinate payroll, benefits funding, tax filings, insurance renewals, and multistate compliance with HR, counsel, and external advisors. Maintain finance records supporting corporate governance and equity administration.

Build the Operating Model and Capital Plan Own an integrated financial model linking the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow to engineering milestones, production capacity, vehicle sales, launch services, hiring, facilities, and capital expenditures. Maintain documented assumptions and version control. Separate contracted backlog from unfunded contract ceilings, letters of support, and sales pipeline.

Work with commercial and program teams to validate conversion timing, customer deposits, delivery milestones, revenue recognition, and cash collection assumptions. Develop base, downside, and upside cases for customer conversion, development and launch delays, production ramp, cost overruns, and financing timing. Identify the cash required and management actions under each case.

Translate expansion plans into phased sources and uses, facility-level budgets, supplier deposits, working capital needs, contingency, and milestone-based investment decisions. Track program and product economics, bills of materials, labor, overhead, inventory and work in process, development versus production costs, and manufacturing variances.

Support pricing, make-or-buy decisions, and capacity planning. Lead the selection and implementation of an inventory tracking and valuation system with manufacturing, operations, and accounting, targeting deployment in the first quarter of 2027. Lead Financing Execution and Stakeholder Reporting Partner with the CEO on equity and debt financing, including government financing programs, grants, incentives, and equipment financing.

Own financial diligence, lender and investor materials, the finance data room, and reconciliation of figures across models and presentations. Model financing alternatives, equity contribution timing, debt draws, interest, capitalized interest, reserve requirements, repayment schedules, debt service coverage, covenant headroom, and cash sweeps.

Assess dilution and warrant economics with leadership and advisors. Manage banking and lender relationships, funding requests, covenant reporting, collateral records, and equipment-financing obligations. Evaluate facility leases and incentive opportunities with counsel and operating leaders. Deliver concise board and investor reporting that explains performance, liquidity, financing status, commercial assumptions, risks, and decisions requiring approval.

Build Government Contract Accounting and Audit Readiness Own the finance framework for government contracts, including project cost tracking, timekeeping, allowable and unallowable costs, indirect cost pools and allocation bases, billing, and appropriate revenue recognition. Apply FAR, DFARS, and Cost Accounting Standards requirements as applicable to LEAP’s contracts.

Coordinate DCAA and DCMA readiness, reviews, and audits with contracts leadership and qualified specialists. Oversee indirect rate development and monitoring, proposal cost support, and required submissions, including incurred cost and forward pricing materials when applicable. Own improvements to finance systems, accounting workflows, and related controls as LEAP scales.

What Success Looks Like First 30 days: complete the transition of finance responsibilities, validate inherited records and models, confirm banking and system access, establish the cash forecast, and review reconciliations, filing calendars, open issues, financing obligations, and immediate control gaps. First 60 days: establish a dependable close and reporting cadence; validate backlog and pipeline assumptions; reconcile the operating model, capital plan, and financing materials; recommend staffing and systems priorities.

First 90 days: deliver a leadership-approved budget and integrated forecast with downside cases, a financing execution plan, program cost reporting, and a prioritized government-contract accounting readiness plan. Ongoing: provide timely, accurate financial information; anticipate funding gaps; execute agreed financing and compliance deliverables; and build a finance function capable of supporting LEAP’s anticipated growth.

What You Bring Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field and 10 or more years of progressive finance experience, including leadership of a finance function or substantial ownership of finance operations. Minimum 5 years of experience within a defense contractor, aerospace manufacturer, or government contracting environment, including development programs, production economics, project accounting, inventory, and working capital.

Strong knowledge of FAR/DFARS/CAS; government contract types and vehicles (FFP, CPFF, T&M, IDIQ, OTAs, SBIR/STTR) and revenue recognition; percentage-of-completion and project accounting methodologies; and manufacturing cost accounting, including standard costing, work-in-process (WIP) inventory valuation, and production variance analysis.

Demonstrated ability to build and operate integrated financial models, cash forecasts, budgets, and management reporting in a company scaling its operations. Strong command of accounting, financial controls, and close processes, with the ability to lead internal and outsourced accounting resources and resolve issues directly.

Meaningful experience supporting or leading debt or equity financing, lender or investor diligence, and board-level financial communication. Practical government-contract accounting experience, including cost allocation, indirect rates, timekeeping, and audit readiness. Ability to determine applicable requirements and manage specialist support.

Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills; experience improving ERP and accounting workflows; sound judgment, clear communication, and willingness to perform detailed work in a lean team. Knowledge of and proficiency in Unanet is a plus. Preferred experience includes CPA or MBA credentials; direct DCAA or DCMA audit leadership; venture-backed company growth; equipment or project financing; and progression toward a CFO role.

Security-clearance eligibility may be required for specific assignments, subject to applicable program requirements. Work Environment Broomfield, Colorado, with regular onsite collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, operations, and executive leadership. Any hybrid schedule will be agreed with the CEO and must support the responsibilities of the role.

Occasional travel may be required.

Compensation

$185,000 – $220,000 The estimated salary range for this role reflects various compensation factors. The final offer depends on factors such as work experience, education, training, key skills, and business needs. In addition, LEAP provides a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, which includes: Equity Program: Equity plan participation is available to all employees following an initial 90-day employment period and is performance-based.

Equity allocations are determined on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed. Managers may make recommendations based on individual and team performance. All equity grants are subject to executive review and approval in accordance with the Company’s equity plan. Retirement Planning: Save for the future with a 401(k) plan that includes competitive company matching.

Growth Opportunities: Take advantage of a professional development stipend to advance your skills and expertise. Flexible Time Off: Enjoy PTO as needed and holiday breaks to help you balance work and life, including two week long company winter breaks and paid leave to support a family member, bond with a new child, or manage your own health needs Health Benefits: LEAP provides comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage at minimal to no cost for employees.

Coverage for dependents and HSA are also available. Insurance Coverage: We cover basic life and long-term disability insurance, with options to add extra coverage to ensure peace of mind for you and your family. LEAP is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace in Colorado.

Our team brings together exceptionally talented and diverse individuals who are pushing the boundaries of space access and logistics. We welcome all qualified applicants and provide equal consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law.

This includes individuals with a criminal history, in compliance with applicable regulations. We actively encourage applications from minorities, women, Veterans, and people with disabilities. At LEAP, we strive to create a supportive and welcoming environment throughout the hiring process. If you’re excited about making a real-world impact in space technology, we want to hear from you!

This description outlines the principal responsibilities of the role. Related responsibilities may evolve with LEAP’s business needs. Salary $185,000 - $220,000 per year