Controller

Trimaren Human Capital Partners; Watertown (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Biotech, an on-site stealth-mode company in Massachusetts, seeks a seasoned Controller to build and lead the financial infrastructure to support its next growth phase.

You will own close processes, controls, and reporting, partnering with scientific and executive teams to translate complex activity into clear financial visibility and disciplined resource allocation for R&D and corporate functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA preferred.
• Minimum 8–10 years of controllership experience in biotech or complex life sciences.
• Deep knowledge of GAAP, internal controls, and financial reporting.
• Experience with SEC reporting and external audits is desirable.
• Strong command of accounting systems, GL, and analytics.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day controllership activities including general ledger integrity and close management.
• Lead preparation and review of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and reports.
• Design and strengthen internal controls, policies, and SOPs for a development-stage life sciences company.
• Coordinate with external auditors, tax advisors, and partners on audits and compliance.
• Evaluate accounting treatment for collaborations, vendor arrangements, and equity activity.
• Build scalable processes and systems to support growth and future financing.
• Partner with scientists and executives to translate activity into clear financial visibility and budgets.
• Oversee cash forecasting, expense analysis, accruals, and budget-to-actual reporting.
• Provide leadership and coaching to team members; participate in hiring and development.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Internal controls

Financial reporting

Cross-functional collaboration

Audits coordination

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting or Finance

CPA preferred

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

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.