Assistant Controller/Controller

Forma Life Sciences•Irvine, CA

23h•$130,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

Forma Life Sciences is seeking an Assistant Controller or Controller to own and lead the company’s finance and accounting function as Forma continues to scale as a next-generation CDMO. This is a rare opportunity for a hands-on finance leader to build, strengthen, and lead the financial infrastructure of a growing life sciences organization while gaining direct exposure to executive leadership, the Board, investors/shareholders, auditors, and cross-functional business leaders. This role is ideal for someone who wants more than a traditional accounting seat. The Assistant Controller or Controller will have meaningful ownership over financial reporting, accounting operations, internal controls, cash forecasting, budgeting, audit readiness, business decision support, and the development of a high-performing accounting team. The person in this role will be expected to operate as a trusted finance partner to the C-suite and help bring visibility, discipline, and strategic insight to the business. For the right candidate, this role provides significant breadth and visibility across the full finance function, including the opportunity to lead core accounting operations, influence business decisions, partner with senior leadership, support Board-level and shareholder reporting, and help build the systems, processes, and team needed for Forma’s next stage of growth. It is a strong opportunity for an ambitious finance leader who wants to gain the type of broad operational, technical, leadership, and executive-facing experience that can serve as a meaningful step toward future senior finance leadership, including a potential CFO path. The final title will be determined based on the candidate’s relevant experience, technical accounting depth, leadership capability, independence, internal equity, and business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
6+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience for Assistant Controller level, or 8+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience for Controller level.
Experience with financial reporting, month-end close, budgeting/forecasting, cash management, accounts receivable, accounts payable, reconciliations, variance analysis, and internal controls.
Strong working knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting requirements.
Experience reviewing journal entries, reconciliations, variance analyses, financial schedules, and management reporting packages.
Experience with cost accounting, revenue recognition, lease accounting, inventory/manufacturing accounting, or pass-through billing.
Experience leading, supervising, mentoring, or functionally guiding accounting team members and managing cross-functional finance priorities.
Hands-on ERP experience, such as NetSuite or a comparable accounting system.
Strong Excel skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including PowerPoint for management reporting.
Ability to work independently, prioritize competing deadlines, exercise sound judgment, and operate with a high degree of ownership in a fast-paced, evolving business environment.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, communication, accuracy, confidentiality, and attention-to-detail skills.

Nice To Haves

CPA, CMA, or MBA is not required, but is a huge plus.
Big 4 public accounting or audit experience is extremely preferred; public accounting or national/regional firm experience is also preferred.
Pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences, manufacturing, CDMO, or project-based service industry experience is not required, but is a plus.
Prior experience supervising, mentoring, or reviewing the work of accounting staff.

Responsibilities

Own and lead Forma’s finance and accounting function, including day-to-day accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, cash management, budgeting, forecasting, and audit readiness.
Serve as a key finance leader and trusted partner to the President, executive leadership team, department leaders, and, as appropriate, Board members, shareholders, auditors, banks, tax advisors, and other external partners.
Lead, develop, and mentor the accounting team, including providing direction, reviewing work product, building accountability, strengthening processes, and supporting the team’s continued growth and performance.
Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, including close calendars, journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, financial statement preparation, and executive-level reporting.
Own the preparation, review, and analysis of financial statements, balance sheet reconciliations, income statement flux/variance analyses, supporting schedules, management reports, and key financial metrics.
Build and continuously improve scalable accounting processes, workflows, documentation, approval structures, reporting cadence, and internal controls to support accuracy, compliance, audit readiness, and business growth.
Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Supply Chain, HR, Project Management, and department leaders on budgeting, forecasting, cash planning, margin analysis, customer/project economics, and business decision support.
Prepare and present financial insights, reporting packages, cash forecasts, variance explanations, and other analyses that help leadership make informed business decisions.
Provide oversight and guidance for accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash application, credit card activity, expense reimbursements, project/customer billing, pass-through billing, and other accounting operations.
Serve as a finance contact for external auditors, tax advisors, banks, insurance partners, lender/shareholder requests, and other finance-related third parties or compliance inquiries as appropriate.
Support insurance renewals, business reporting requests, and finance-related due diligence or investor/shareholder requests as needed.
Review accounting transactions for accuracy, policy compliance, appropriate approvals, and proper supporting documentation.
Supervise, coach, mentor, and provide functional leadership to accounting team members, including reviewing work product, supporting employee development, and helping build a strong, accountable finance culture.
Maintain confidentiality of financial, client, vendor, employee, and company information.
Perform other finance and accounting leadership duties as assigned.