Accounting and Finance Principal

About Varda Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.  Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses. From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.   Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.   Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.  Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem. About This Role *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-(--header-height)" data-turn-id="1a1b1b25-e8b2-441c-bfe9-670f99d403de" data-testid="conversation-turn-1" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="user"> *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" data-turn-id="request-WEB:26ccafc4-b743-4996-a8c8-ea359d56054b-0" data-testid="conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> This role sits at the intersection of finance, engineering, and operations, driving data-informed decision-making across a fast-growing manufacturing environment. As an Accounting and Finance Principal, you will partner closely with cross-functional teams to develop financial insights, optimize resource allocation, and establish scalable processes that support production and inventory management. The position plays a key role in tracking performance, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring financial accuracy as the business expands. This is a great opportunity for a strategic and hands-on leader. This position is based in El Segundo, CA (Los Angeles area), and requires being onsite full-time Responsibilities Align with Engineering to implement processes for accurate labor cost allocation in manufactured parts. Identify resource requirements for business entities, including headcount, capital, vehicle refurbishment/build costs, and operating expenses. Collaborate with production and engineering teams to define production and operational KPIs, analyzing performance against productivity targets. Partner with business leaders to prepare financial analyses that inform optimal operational decision-making. Work closely with supply chain to ensure financial obligations are tracked and committed as we scale for rapid growth. Support financial close analysis and group-level reporting; identify process improvements and automation opportunities, implementing changes to streamline processes. Provide insights on spending variances and department-level reporting to business partners. Coordinate capital expenditure tracking and related cash forecasts for the business. Deliver financial analysis and support to propel business initiatives forward. Develop scalability plans for inventory management processes to align with business growth, including infrastructure, staffing, and technology upgrades. Monitor KPIs for inventory management, such as inventory turnover rate, accuracy rate, and carrying costs, to measure performance and identify areas for improvement. Utilize software solutions that offer real-time tracking, automated reordering, and comprehensive analytics to enhance inventory accuracy and visibility. Basic Qualifications Bachelor’s degree 10+ years of experience in finance or operations Preferred Skills Master’s degree in business administration Experience working in finance organizations of fast-moving manufacturing or technology companies Experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) databases and structured query language (SQL) programming Advanced Excel financial modelling skills Experience with presenting analytical results in both verbal and written form across a multi-disciplinary organization Willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed Pay Range Salary range: $145,000 - 175,000/per year Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance This role is on-site   in El Segundo, CA Benefits Varda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well‑being, and a high‑quality workplace experience. Below is an overview of what full‑time employees receive (at this time, interns receive a subset of benefits):   Health & Wellness   Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays   100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance   $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses   12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)   Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic   Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents   Financial & Retirement   Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up   401(k) retirement plan with