Controller

Korn Ferry; North Carolina; On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Korn Ferry is working with a privately held, late-stage biopharmaceutical company seeking a Corporate Controller to serve as a foundational finance leader. The role ensures accounting integrity, timely financial reporting, and infrastructure to support growth.

The Controller will oversee the general ledger, close process, technical accounting, and external audits, and will partner with Commercial, Regulatory, Legal, and finance advisory resources to prepare for commercial launch readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance, active CPA license ideally.
• Public accounting background preferred.
• 8-12+ years of progressive accounting experience, including public accounting (Big 4 or national firm) and industry accounting leadership experience.
• Biopharmaceutical, life sciences, or healthcare industry experience strongly preferred;
• Experience supporting a commercial launch environment is a significant differentiator.
• Demonstrated experience managing external audits, technical accounting research, and internal controls design at a private, growth-stage company.
• Direct experience with NetSuite ERP administration and revenue recognition/gross-to net accounting is highly preferred.
• Experience building accounting infrastructure and controls to support a company's transition from pre-commercial to commercial stage.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the full scope of day-to-day accounting activities, including the general ledger and close process.
• Manage external audits, technical accounting research, and internal controls design.
• Strengthen processes, controls, and financial operating discipline as the company transitions to a commercial stage.
• Partner with leaders across Commercial, Regulatory, CMC, Legal, and external accounting resources.
• Report to the SVP Finance and support the organization through growth.

Skills

Public accounting

Financial reporting

External audits

NetSuite ERP

Internal controls

GAAP

Revenue recognition

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting/Finance

CPA license

Tools

NetSuite ERP

Job description

Our client is a privately held, late-stage biopharmaceutical company preparing for commercialization. The company is seeking a Corporate Controller to serve as a foundational finance leader, responsible for ensuring the integrity of the accounting function, delivering timely and accurate financial reporting, and building the infrastructure required to support the organization through its next phase of growth.

This leader will oversee the full scope of day-to-day accounting activities, including the general ledger, close process, technical accounting, and external audit. The Corporate Controller will also be charged with strengthening processes, controls, and financial operating discipline as the company transitions from a pre-commercial environment to a commercial-stage enterprise.

Reporting to the SVP Finance, the Corporate Controller will partner closely with leaders across Commercial, Regulatory, CMC, Legal, and external accounting and finance advisory resources on matters critical to the company’s operational and financial readiness.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance, active CPA license ideally.
• Public accounting background preferred.
• 8-12+ years of progressive accounting experience, including public accounting (Big 4 or national firm) and industry accounting leadership experience.
• Biopharmaceutical, life sciences, or healthcare industry experience strongly preferred;
• Experience supporting a commercial launch environment is a significant differentiator.
• Demonstrated experience managing external audits, technical accounting research, and internal controls design at a private, growth-stage company.
• Direct experience with NetSuite ERP administration and revenue recognition/gross-to net accounting is highly preferred.
• Experience building accounting infrastructure and controls to support a company's transition from pre-commercial to commercial stage.