Controller

Heliae Development LLC; Gilbert (AZ); On-site; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Heliae Development LLC, through PhycoTerra, is seeking a hands-on Controller to own day-to-day accounting and finance operations and help build scalable financial systems as the company grows. You’ll move quickly, reprioritize on short notice, and operate with limited finance support.

Reporting to the Chief Financial and Strategy Officer, you will manage the close processes, cost accounting, internal controls, budgeting, and investor materials while ensuring US GAAP compliance in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, startup or biotech environment preferred.
• Requires US work authorization.
• CPA preferred or working toward CPA.
• Experience owning a full close process with limited oversight.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, including reconciliations and journal entries.
• Lead cost accounting: inventory valuation, standard costing, and variance analysis.
• Build internal controls and scalable accounting policies.
• Manage cash flow forecasting and burn rate tracking.
• Oversee accounts payable/receivable, payroll, and vendor management.
• Prepare investor and board materials, and assist with budgeting and forecasting.

Skills

Close process ownership

Cost accounting

Financial forecasting

ERP software experience

Team leadership

US GAAP

CPA preferred

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

CPA preferred

Tools

ERP software

Excel modeling

Budgeting tools

Job description

Controller

Title: Controller

Salary: $135,000 – $150,000/year (DOE) plus bonus and benefits

Position Type: Full-Time

Department: Administrative

Work Location: Gilbert, AZ

Updated: 09/4/2026

Company Description

PhycoTerra® is redefining how agriculture approaches soil health - delivering science-backed, microalgae-based solutions that help growers drive consistency, resilience, and return on every acre. Built for real-world conditions, PhycoTerra products enhance microbial activity, improve nutrient and water efficiency, and support stronger plant performance - without adding complexity to the operation.

At its core, PhycoTerra is about enabling regenerative practices that work at scale, helping farmers improve soil structure, increase yields, and build long-term sustainability season after season. It’s a practical path forward: better outcomes, healthier soils, and a system designed to last.

This commitment is grounded in our mission - Farm Forever - ensuring that every product we develop and every partnership we build is focused on keeping land productive, profitable, and resilient for generations to come.

Powered by Heliae®, a leader in microalgae innovation, PhycoTerra is part of a broader mission to harness nature’s most powerful organisms to solve agriculture’s biggest challenges.

Basic Function

We're looking for a hands-on, adaptable Controller to own our day-to-day accounting and finance operations while helping build the financial systems that will scale with us. This isn't a role for someone who wants a fully mapped-out playbook — you'll be creating a lot of it yourself. You'll need to move quickly, reprioritize on short notice, and be comfortable operating without a large finance team around you.

Reports to: Chief Financial and Strategy Officer

Primary Responsibilities

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, including reconciliations, journal entries, and financial statement preparation
• Lead all cost accounting functions, including inventory valuation, standard costing, variance analysis, product costing, and cost allocation methodologies.
• Own the monthly rhythm of comparing actuals to plan. Spot variances early, get to the "why" fast, and keep leadership ahead of surprises instead of reacting to them.
• Build and maintain internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures appropriate for a scaling startup
• Manage cash flow forecasting and burn rate tracking — critical in a capital-intensive, R&D-heavy business
• Oversee accounts payable/receivable, payroll accounting and vendor management
• Track and account for R&D expenditures, capital equipment (bioreactors, lab equipment), and grant or government funding, if applicable
• Partner with leadership on budgeting, financial modeling, and scenario planning as the company grows and pivots
• Prepare materials for investors and board meetings
• Ensure compliance with US GAAP, tax filings, and relevant regulatory requirements
• Lead the annual audit and coordinate with external auditors, tax advisors
• Evaluate and implement ERP and other accounting software and tools that can scale with the company
• Contribute to ad hoc projects outside of "traditional" accounting — inventory costing for biomass production, unit economics for a new product line, due diligence support, etc.
• This role operates in a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift with little notice. Collaboration with department leads is essential to the role, requiring flexibility and early involvement in planning discussions.
• The Controller will also oversee a team of accounting staff members, providing guidance, reviewing work, and supporting their development as the finance function grows alongside the company.

Qualifications

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States
• Bachelor's degree or above in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 7+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, ideally including startup, biotech, agtech, or manufacturing environments
• Public accounting experience and/or CPA preferred
• Experience owning a full close process with minimal oversight
• Comfortability with inventory and cost accounting
• Strong Excel/modeling skills; experience with ERP and accounting software
• A track record of building or improving financial processes
• Excellent judgment and the ability to prioritize under shifting demands
• High integrity and discretion, especially with sensitive information

Website: www.phycoterra.com

Heliae is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. If you need assistance or accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it will be made available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized because of such a request.