Controller

Nth Cycle; Burlington (MA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity participation

Medical, dental, vision, 401(k)

Job summary

Nth Cycle, based in Burlington, MA, seeks an experienced Controller to anchor the accounting and financial reporting function as the company scales toward a public listing. You will own the close process for US and international entities, coordinate SEC reporting, and establish robust ICFR and SOX controls.

The role requires CPA, 10+ years in accounting, and deep GAAP/SEC knowledge, with a track record in multi-entity, multi-currency environments and cross-border tax coordination.

Qualifications

• CPA (active) with public company experience and strong US GAAP/SEC knowledge.
• Proven ability to lead SOX/ICFR programs and audit coordination.
• Experience consolidating non-US subsidiaries and multi-currency reporting.
• History building and leading high-performing accounting teams.

Responsibilities

• Own monthly, quarterly, and annual close across US and international entities, including intercompany eliminations and FX translation.
• Lead end-to-end SEC reporting (10-Q/10-K/8-K, S-4), XBRL tagging, and EDGAR filings.
• Maintain accounting policy library and memos on ASC topics (606, 842, 718, 480/815, 805).
• Manage auditor relationships and resolve technical positions with questions from external auditors.

Skills

US GAAP & SEC reporting

SOX & ICFR

Multi-currency consolidation

People leadership

Education

CPA (active)

Tools

NetSuite

FloQast

BlackLine

OneStream

Workiva

Job description

About Nth Cycle

Nth Cycle is a critical minerals refining company commercializing a proprietary electroextraction technology (Oyster™) that recovers nickel, cobalt, and manganese from battery black mass and other secondary feedstocks. We produce mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) and lithium carbonate for the EV, energy storage, and stainless steel supply chains, and have a binding 10-year offtake agreement with Trafigura. The company is pursuing a public listing via business combination with a SPAC, targeting close in 2026, and is scaling its first commercial facility while building a multi-site, multi-jurisdictional operating footprint.

The Opportunity

The Controller role is being built to anchor the accounting and financial reporting function as the company transitions from private to public and from single-site to international operations.

What You'll Do

Close, Consolidation & Reporting:

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close on a consolidated basis across US and international entities, including intercompany eliminations, FX remeasurement and translation, and consolidation in a multi-currency environment.
• Lead SEC reporting end-to-end: 10-Q, 10-K, 8-K, proxy/S-4 financial sections, and Section 16 coordination. Manage XBRL tagging, EDGAR filing logistics, and disclosure controls.
• Maintain the technical accounting memo library and write or review memos on revenue recognition (ASC 606, including offtake and tolling structures), leases (ASC 842), share-based compensation (ASC 718), warrants and complex equity instruments (ASC 480/815), business combinations (ASC 805), impairment, and inventory costing.
• Manage the relationship with PCAOB auditor, including planning, PBC fulfillment, interim and year-end fieldwork, and resolution of technical positions.

Internal Controls & SOX:

• Design, document, and operate the internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) environment. Lead SOX readiness in year one and SOX compliance thereafter, coordinating with internal audit (co-source or in-house) and external auditor.
• Maintain entity-level controls, IT general controls in partnership with IT/Systems, and process-level controls across revenue, procure-to-pay, inventory and cost accounting, treasury, payroll, and financial close.
• Own the company's accounting policy manual, delegation of authority, and segregation of duties framework as the organization scales.

International Operations:

• Build and operate accounting for non-US entities as the company expands (current presence in US and Netherlands), including statutory reporting, local GAAP-to-US GAAP reconciliations, and coordination with local accountants, auditors, and tax advisors in each jurisdiction.
• Establish and maintain transfer pricing documentation, intercompany agreements, and intercompany settlement processes in partnership with Tax and Legal.
• Manage FX exposure measurement and reporting in coordination with Treasury; implement hedge accounting (ASC 815) if and when the company adopts a hedging program.
• Stand up VAT/GST, withholding tax, and indirect tax compliance processes for international operations, and oversee local payroll accounting and benefits accruals.
• Evaluate and implement entity structures, banking, and ERP/sub-ledger configurations for new countries of operation; lead the accounting workstream for cross-border M&A or JV transactions as they arise.

Operational & Cost Accounting:

• Own cost accounting for a refining/manufacturing environment: standard costs, variance analysis, capitalization of plant costs, inventory valuation (raw black mass, WIP, MHP, lithium carbonate, byproducts), and reconciliation to physical inventory and metal accounts.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain on costing models for tolling vs. purchase arrangements, yield and recovery accounting, and margin reporting by product and customer.
• Account for the Trafigura offtake and other commercial arrangements, including price adjustments, quotational period mechanics, provisional and final pricing, and any embedded derivative considerations.

Systems & Process:

• Own the financial systems roadmap in partnership with the CFO and IT: NetSuite, consolidation and reporting tools, equity administration, expense management, AP automation, and tax/transfer pricing tools.
• Continue the NetSuite chart of accounts remediation and class/department/location structure build-out to support segment reporting and international consolidation.
• Drive automation of the close calendar with a target of a 5-business-day public-company close.

Equity, Treasury & Tax Partnership:

• Maintain the equity roll-forward, cap table reconciliation to our equity management system, share-based compensation accounting and expense, and EPS calculations for SEC reporting.
• Partner with Treasury on cash forecasting, bank reconciliation, debt and warrant accounting, covenant compliance, and investor reporting.
• Partner with Tax (in-house or external) on ASC 740 provision, R&D credits, IRA-related credits (45X and related), uncertain tax positions, and global tax structure.

Team & Stakeholders:

• Build and lead the global accounting team. Hire and develop senior accounting managers, SEC reporting lead, technical accounting, and international controllership talent.
• Be the accounting voice in cross-functional decisions on commercial contracts, financing, capital projects, and corporate development.
• Present accounting and reporting topics to the Audit Committee and support the CFO with Board materials.

What We're Looking For:

Required:

• CPA (active) with 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including a foundation in public accounting (Big 4 or strong national firm preferred) and meaningful industry experience.
• Prior Controller or Assistant Controller experience at a US public company, OR Controller experience at a late-stage private company that completed an IPO or deSPAC in the last 5 years.
• Deep working knowledge of US GAAP and SEC reporting requirements; demonstrated ability to author and defend technical accounting positions with auditors.
• Experience operating a SOX 404 environment, including ICFR design, documentation, and remediation.
• Direct experience consolidating non-US subsidiaries, including multi-currency consolidation, intercompany, and statutory-to-GAAP reconciliation.
• Experience in a manufacturing, refining, mining/metals, chemicals, or other physical-goods environment with meaningful cost accounting and inventory complexity.
• Track record of hiring, developing, and retaining strong accounting teams.

Strongly Preferred:

• Experience with a deSPAC, traditional IPO, or direct listing, including S-1/S-4 financial sections, comfort letters, and Super 8-K mechanics.
• Familiarity with critical minerals, battery materials, recycling, EV supply chain, or metals trading, including offtake and tolling contract accounting.
• Experience standing up accounting and controls for new international entities (Europe, Asia, or Africa) from a US parent.
• NetSuite power-user experience and exposure to common consolidation tools (e.g., FloQast, BlackLine, OneStream, Workiva).
• Experience with IRA Section 45X, R&D tax credits, and the accounting treatment of government grants and DOE loans/awards.

How You Work:

• You are comfortable being hands-on with the details and zooming out to build the system. You don't wait for the team to be in place before getting the work done.
• You treat auditors and outside advisors as partners. You bring well-reasoned positions, you welcome challenge, and you elevate early when something is ambiguous.
• You communicate clearly with non-accountants. You can explain a technical position to an operator, a board member, or a banker without losing precision.
• You operate with integrity under pressure, including during quarter-end, audit, and transaction cycles that compete for attention.

Location & Logistics:

• Based in our Burlington, MA office. Hybrid schedule with regular in-person presence expected. Periodic travel to commercial sites and, over time, to international operations.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Equity participation, with structure designed for a pre-public to public transition.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and other standard benefits.
• Salary Range - $180K - $200K.

Nth Cycle is an equal opportunity employer. We hire and promote on the basis of merit, qualifications, and the company’s needs, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.