Robotics, Industrial Automation, Cybersecurity, Manufacturing

VP, Accounting

Philadelphia, PAHybridFull TimeVice President$170,000–$240,000 /yrPosted 11 hours agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

CPA
U.S. GAAP
SEC reporting
public company
IPO
de-SPAC
external reporting
revenue recognition
stock-based compensation
close

Nice to have

SPAC business combination experience
transaction accounting
post-merger reporting
corporate accounting leadership
Robotics
industrial automation

Role summary

FORT is seeking a Vice President, Accounting to lead its accounting and external reporting functions during its transition from a private robotics company to a public entity via a SPAC business combination. Reporting to the CFO, this role involves building a scalable, public-company-ready accounting organization, ensuring financial statement integrity, and managing SEC reporting and technical accounting. The VP will also advise on complex accounting matters and maintain a hands-on approach to critical tasks. Key responsibilities include leading and developing the accounting team, establishing accounting policies, overseeing SEC filings, managing the monthly close and consolidation process, owning technical accounting conclusions, managing external audits, partnering on internal controls, leading purchase accounting for M&A, and upgrading financial systems. The ideal candidate has 12+ years of progressive accounting experience, including significant leadership, public company experience or IPO/de-SPAC transition leadership, deep U.S. GAAP and technical accounting expertise, and a proven track record in financial reporting and team leadership. A CPA is required.

In today's dynamic worksites, seamless collaboration between people and machines is essential. FORT's platform ensures safe, secure, and dynamic control that surpasses legacy systems and next-generation AI capabilities.

While autonomous machines offer significant advantages, they also introduce new safety challenges. FORT addresses these concerns by providing solutions such as the Wireless E-Stop, which allows operators to instantly stop any machine from a safe distance, enhancing safety during emergencies.

Additionally, FORT's Safe Remote Control enables operators to manage heavy machinery remotely, reducing the risk of accidents and improving visibility.

By ensuring communications integrity across any network, FORT empowers customers to protect their most valuable assets—people, data, and machines—ensuring they remain safe and secure.

We're looking for a Vice President, Accounting to lead FORT's accounting and external reporting functions as we move from a privately held robotics company to a public company through a SPAC business combination. You'll report to our CFO, where you will build a scalable, public-company-ready accounting organization, protect the integrity of our financial statements, and lead SEC reporting and technical accounting through the transaction and after it. You'll also advise the CFO and executive team on complex accounting matters. This role suits an accounting executive who has done this before and still gets hands-on with the critical work.

What you'll own

Accounting leadership. Lead, mentor, and develop the Head of SEC Reporting and Accounting Manager, establishing clear accountability, performance expectations, and professional development opportunities. Build a team that scales with the company. Set accounting policies and practices that follow U.S. GAAP and SEC requirements. Advise the CFO and leadership team on significant transactions.

SEC reporting and public-company readiness. Lead accounting and reporting readiness for the SPAC business combination, including historical financial statements, pro forma information, and transaction analyses, in partnership with Legal, external auditors, bankers, and advisors. Oversee the 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, registration statements, and related disclosures on public-company timelines.

Close and consolidation. Oversee an accurate, on-time monthly, quarterly, and annual close and consolidation. Improve close speed, reconciliation quality, and reporting processes.

Technical accounting. Own policy and documented, audit-ready conclusions for complex and judgmental areas, including de-SPAC accounting (equity classification, warrants, earnouts), revenue recognition under ASC 606 (hardware-plus-software and multi-element contracts), inventory, standard costing, and reserves, capitalized software and R&D, stock-based compensation, and business combinations, leases, and impairments.

Audit management. Serve as the primary accounting contact for external auditors through PCAOB-standard quarterly reviews and the annual audit. Resolve inquiries and proposed adjustments on time.

Controls partnership. Partner with the Internal Controls and Internal Audit functions. Make sure the accounting team carries out and documents its controls, and lead remediation of findings within accounting.

M&A and corporate development. Lead purchase accounting and bring acquired entities into FORT's close and reporting. Support financing transactions.

Systems and scale. Lead upgrades to FORT's ERP, close, and reporting systems. Use automation and AI where they cut manual work.

Board and cross-functional partnership. Prepare accounting materials for the Audit Committee and Board. Work with FP&A so actual results line up with budgets and forecasts, and with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, Legal, and Tax on accounting for our robotics business.

What you bring

Required

12+ years of progressive accounting and financial reporting experience, including significant leadership responsibility.

Experience at a U.S. public company, or leading a company through an IPO, de-SPAC, or similar public-company transition.

Hands-on ownership of SEC filings and public-company external reporting.

Deep U.S. GAAP and technical accounting expertise, including revenue recognition and stock-based compensation.

Track record leading close, consolidation, and external reporting.

Experience leading accounting managers and directors.

Proven experience working with external auditors and senior finance leadership.

Experience building scalable accounting processes in a high-growth or fast-changing organization.

Strong executive communication skills, and the ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on work.

CPA (active).

Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.

Nice to have

SPAC business combination experience, including transaction accounting and post-merger reporting.

Big 4 public accounting background combined with corporate accounting leadership.

Robotics, industrial automation, manufacturing, or hardware technology experience, including inventory costing and hardware-plus-software revenue.

Purchase accounting and integration experience from acquisitions.

International entity consolidation and multi-currency reporting.

NetSuite or similar ERP implementation experience.

Experience supporting Audit Committee and Board-level reporting.

Experience in a venture-backed or private equity-backed company.

Base salary range: $170,000-$240,000

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; unlimited PTO; stock options; 3% 401(k) match, paid holidays, and parental leave.

Application window: Applications accepted through the end of December 2026. This date will be updated if the window is extended.

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