Controller Jobs in Virginia
Controller jobs in Virginia are in strong demand, with active hiring concentrated in government contracting, financial services, healthcare, and defense-adjacent industries, and opportunities at every level from assistant controller to VP of Finance. Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Virginia Beach anchor most of the hiring, with well-established employers like Booz Allen Hamilton, Dominion Energy, and Inova Health System among those with consistent controller-level openings. The most sought-after specialties in Virginia are government contract accounting, GAAP compliance for regulated industries, and consolidation reporting for multi-entity organizations. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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- Lead the monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial close processes to ensure timely and accurate reporting in accordance with GAAP.
- Prepare, review, and analyze balance sheet reconciliations, journal entries, and financial statements.
- Oversee daily accounting functions, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, and Fixed Assets.
- Ensure proper revenue recognition aligned with government contract types (Cost-Plus, Time & Materials, Firm-Fixed-Price).
- Working knowledge and understanding of Cost Pools.
- Maintain and enforce strong internal controls to safeguard organizational assets and maintain financial audit readiness.
- Monitor compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), and Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) requirements.
- Support internal and external audits, including DCAA, DCMA, OMB single audit, and annual financial statement audits.
- Manage the preparation of the annual Incurred Cost Submission
- Ensure payroll tax, sales tax, property tax compliance.
- Prepare and submit workers comp audits and DBA audits and review discrepancies
- Assist with the preparation of annual 990 tax return, related schedules and supporting documentation
- Directly supervise and mentor corporate accounting staff, fostering professional development and team performance.
- Partner with FP&A and Contracts teams to maintain accurate project costing and overhead allocation models.
- Collaborate with HR on payroll related items.
- Drive continuous process improvements in financial systems, workflows, and automation to streamline corporate accounting operations.
- Support executive leadership and the Corporate Controller with ad-hoc reporting, financial analysis, and special projects.
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship is strictly required.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
- Experience: 12+ years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 4+ years in a supervisory or management role within government contracting or defense research.
- Technical Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of US GAAP, FAR, CAS, and DCAA compliance requirements.
- Systems: Experience with ERP systems tailored for government contractors (e.g., Deltek Costpoint, Unanet, or similar).
- Intermediate to advance experience with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams.
- Hands-on experience with Deltek Costpoint modules (General Ledger, Pools, AP, AR, Billing, Time & Expense).
- Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential.
- Advanced degree (Master of Accountancy or MBA).
- Background in non-profit accounting (ASC 958) or federal research & development environments.
- Working knowledge of manufacturing accounting
- Experience with multi-company integration and accounting.
Global Comp: $155,000- $185,000 This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location and other factors. Closing Statement: Riverside Research Institute is a not-for-profit, technology-oriented defense company, where service to our customers and support of our staff is our overall mission. Riverside is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring. Riverside offers comprehensive compensation and benefit packages to our employees. Riverside bases its employment decisions solely on technical experience, qualifications and other job-related criteria related to our organizational purpose as a not-for-profit company, and without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran’s status or any other status legally protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.
See All 88 Controller Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Controller JobsController Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Controller Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Staffing & Recruiting
- Electronics & Hardware
- Government & Public Sector
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in controller jobs across Virginia.
- CPA license issued or recognized by the Virginia Board of Accountancy preferred
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field required
- Seven or more years of progressive accounting experience including supervisory responsibility
- Deep knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting for multi-entity or government-contract environments
- Proficiency with ERP systems such as Deltek, Oracle, or SAP commonly required
- Experience with FAR compliance and cost accounting standards for defense or federal contractors
Controller Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a controller in Virginia?
Most controllers in Virginia hold a CPA license issued or recognized by the Virginia Board of Accountancy, which requires passing the Uniform CPA Exam and meeting Virginia's education and experience requirements. A bachelor's degree in accounting or finance is the baseline. From there, candidates typically advance through senior accountant and accounting manager roles before reaching the controller level, often adding a CMA designation to strengthen their candidacy in cost-intensive industries like defense contracting or healthcare.
Which companies hire controllers in Virginia?
Employers hiring controllers in Virginia right now include Jobot, Brown Edwards, and CACI International, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Virginia's concentration of federal contractors, large health systems, and utility companies means controller demand is consistent year-round rather than seasonal.
Which Virginia cities have the most controller jobs?
Richmond, Norfolk, and Arlington have the most controller openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia dominates because of the dense cluster of federal contractors and technology firms headquartered there, while Richmond draws demand from financial services, insurance, and state government, and Virginia Beach reflects the military and healthcare presence in Hampton Roads.
Are there remote controller jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than many finance roles, because controllers whose work centers on reporting, consolidation, and analysis can perform most duties remotely. About 42% of controller openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of November 2026. The portions of the role most compatible with remote work are financial close, consolidation, and board reporting, while hands-on audit prep and team mentoring typically require some on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a controller in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is landing a staff or senior accountant role at a Virginia employer that promotes internally, then moving into an accounting manager position before pursuing controller titles. Large Virginia employers in the defense contracting space, such as those clustered in Tysons Corner and Reston, often run structured development programs for early-career accountants. Pursuing a CPA license through the Virginia Board of Accountancy while working in those roles significantly accelerates advancement, and exposure to Deltek or government cost accounting standards is a concrete differentiator.
Where can I find and apply to controller jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to controller jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings updated regularly. Search the listings for roles that match your experience level and industry background, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 88 Controller Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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