Confidential Biotech | Stealth Mode | On-site in MA
We are seeking a Controller to build and lead the financial infrastructure that will support the company's next stage of growth. The successful candidate is a seasoned finance leader who brings the operating discipline, technical depth, and cross-functional fluency required in a high-accountability life sciences environment. The ideal candidate will pair enterprise-grade controllership with the judgment needed to support a mission-driven organization advancing transformative science.
As the company scales its development platform, the Controller will play a central role in ensuring financial integrity, compliance readiness, and decision-quality reporting across the business. This position requires a leader who can establish robust processes, elevate controls, and partner seamlessly with scientific, operational, and executive stakeholders in support of a company building for long-term clinical and organizational success.
Responsibilities
- Own day-to-day controllership activities, including general ledger integrity, account reconciliation oversight, and close management.
- Lead the preparation and review of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, management reporting packages, and supporting schedules with a focus on precision, timeliness, and audit readiness.
- Design and strengthen internal controls, accounting policies, and SOPs to support a development-stage life sciences organization operating in a regulated, capital-sensitive environment.
- Design and establish public-company-level internal controls, accounting policies, SOPs, and financial reporting processes.
- Play a key role with external audits, technical accounting matters, and compliance processes, coordinating effectively with auditors, tax advisors, and other third-party partners.
- Evaluate accounting treatment for research collaborations, vendor arrangements, equity activity, and other transactions common to biotechnology companies, applying sound judgment and consistent controls.
- Build scalable financial processes and systems that support organizational growth, strengthen governance, and prepare the company for future financing and operational milestones.
- Partner with scientific, clinical, operational, and executive leaders to translate complex business activity into clear financial visibility, budget accountability, and actionable insights.
- Oversee cash forecasting, expense analysis, accrual management, and budget-to-actual reporting to support disciplined resource allocation across R&D and corporate functions.
- Provide leadership, coaching, and performance feedback to team members; participate in hiring, development planning, and year-end review processes.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required; CPA preferred and advanced degree a plus.
- Minimum of 8-10 years of progressively responsible accounting and controllership experience, with direct experience in biotechnology, life sciences, or similarly complex industries.
- Deep knowledge of GAAP, internal controls, financial reporting, and audit coordination, with demonstrated ability to operate in a high-growth environment.
- Strong skills in accounting systems, general ledger management, financial analysis, and reporting; experience supporting ERP implementation or process optimization is highly valued.
- Experience with SEC reporting frameworks and GAAP compliance for public entities is highly desirable.
- Working knowledge of life sciences business models, including R&D expense management, accruals, clinical and preclinical spend, vendor oversight, and development-stage planning.
- Excellent judgment and decision-making skills, with the ability to apply critical thinking, problem-solving, and information ordering to complex and time-sensitive issues.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to present financial information clearly to scientific and executive stakeholders.
- Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally and operate with integrity, discretion, and accountability in a mission-driven environment.