Director of Finance and Business Operations

Remote anywhere within the continental United States

Part-time employment with the estimation of 20-30 hours per week

About Us:

@Orchard LLC is a WOSB mission-driven professional services firm supporting federal and commercial clients across scientific, environmental, and technical domains. We support our customers while building a lean, entrepreneurial business. We’re looking for a hands-on Finance and Business Operations leader to build & own our finance and operations functions.

About the Role:

The primary mission of this role is to improve cash flow, profitability, compliance, visibility, and operational leverage across the company.

You will serve as the internal owner of the company’s financial management processes, reporting framework, business controls, governance structure, compliance controls, operational systems, and management information. You will partner closely with leadership, program managers, and other stakeholders involved to ensure the company operates with discipline, visibility, efficiency, and control.

Responsibilities:

• Own the company’s finance and business operations functions that include accounting, government contracting, financial reporting, systems and process operating systems.
• Develop forecasts, budgets, cash-flow projections, profitability models, pricing support tools, and decision-support capabilities.
• Improve working-capital management, customer profitability visibility, contract profitability, task-order profitability, pricing support, indirect-rate management, margin performance, and overall financial efficiency.
• Strengthen financial and operational controls supporting FAR compliance, DCAA readiness, labor-category compliance, project accounting, audit readiness, billing support, indirect-rate management, and contract financial management.
• Ensure contract awards are translated into operational and financial structures that meet government compliance.
• Develop management reporting including but not limited to dashboards, performance metrics, and financial visibility to make informed decisions.
• Design and implement approval workflows, financial controls, operating procedures, and governance processes.
• Develop and design strategy to own continuous improvement process for financial systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial efficiency in new and existing processes.
• Coordinate and direct accounting, payroll, tax and CPA providers on quality control, and improvements.
• Establish performance expectations, accountability, and operating standards that ensure these providers support company objectives and reporting requirements.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field—or equivalent demonstrated experience. CPA, CMA, or MBA strongly preferred.
• A minimum of 12 years of progressive finance and accounting experience with a proven track record of owning the financial operations function for a small business.
• Must have hands-on experience developing and leading finance functions with the ability to own the activities.
• Advanced Excel and financial-modeling skills, with proficiency in (or the ability to quickly own) QuickBooks, Harvest, Paylocity, and Smartsheet or equivalent.
• Strong reporting skills with the ability to build complex reconciliations and custom reports outside of standard traditional software.
• Comfortable working in a small, entrepreneurial business where you will own the work, not just manage it.
• Significant experience in government contracting (familiarity with DCAA, FAR/DFARS, LCAT, indirect rate, billing, and compliance).
• Ability to work independently and communicate effectively with the executive leadership. Prior experience reporting directly to the CEO is required.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience as the sole or senior-most finance person at a small or growing government contractor.
• Professional credentials such as CPA, CMA, CDFM (Certified Defense Financial Manager), or CGFM.
• Background in professional services, staffing, recruiting, or other project-based organizations.
• A track record of turning raw data into organized information and management insight that drives better decisions.

Why Join Us?

If you want to own the finance and operations function as an Army of One working directly with the CEO, this will be an exciting role for you.

Compensation: This is a part-time, W-2 employment. The hourly pay is dependent on qualifications and experience. Benefits can be available in accordance with company policy.

The role is expected to be ongoing, with schedule and scope reviewed as the business grows. Work is performed remotely; applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, and certain duties may require U.S. person status given the company’s federal-contract work.

@Orchard LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or other protected characteristics.