The Assistant Controller leads monthly, quarterly, and annual close activities, with end-to-end ownership of inventory accounting, reconciliations, reserves, costing, and variance analysis. The role oversees shared-service accounting deliverables, supports revenue recognition and technical accounting, improves ERP and reconciliation processes, and coordinates audits. It also manages and develops accounting staff while partnering with Supply Chain, FP&A, Revenue Operations, Internal Audit, and external auditors.
Key Responsibilities
Close Process & Operations
- Drive a disciplined, well-controlled monthly, quarterly, and annual close; identify and eliminate bottlenecks.
- Own inventory accounting end-to-end: standard costing, valuation, reserves (excess & obsolete, shrink), and period-end reconciliations.
- Partner with Supply Chain, Operations, and FP&A on cycle counts, physical inventory, and inventory variance analysis.
- Work closely with the Shared Service Center (SSC) to coordinate close deliverables, review SSC-prepared reconciliations and journal entries, and ensure consistent accounting treatment between corporate and SSC-managed processes.
- Review and approve inventory-related journal entries and account reconciliations, along with other key balance sheet reconciliations owned by the role.
- Monitor and analyze inventory trends, identifying risk areas (obsolescence, cost variances, slow-moving stock) and driving resolution.
- Standardize recurring reconciliations and reporting packages so they're repeatable rather than ad hoc.
- Identify and implement process and systems improvements (ERP configuration, automation, reconciliation tooling) to reduce manual, error-prone work.
- Serve as a subject matter resource to peers on revenue recognition (ASC 606), including SSP methodology and deferred revenue, and on financial reporting matters more broadly, helping the team work through complex or judgmental accounting questions and, as needed, drafting or reviewing technical accounting memos.
- Support external audit requests related to inventory and, where relevant, other technical accounting areas.
People & Cross-Functional Leadership
- Manage, mentor, and develop accounting staff; build technical bench strength on the team.
- Partner cross-functionally with Supply Chain, FP&A, Revenue Operations, the SSC, and Internal Audit to embed good controls upstream.
- Act as a resource for external auditors on areas of ownership and technical accounting questions.
Required Qualifications
- CPA required (active license).
- Big 4 public accounting experience required.
- Minimum 7–10 years of progressive accounting experience, including significant time in a public company (SEC registrant) environment.
- Strong technical accounting knowledge across inventory accounting (costing, valuation, reserves), revenue recognition (ASC 606) including SSP methodology and deferred revenue, and general financial reporting under US GAAP.
- Demonstrated ability to work at the transaction/data level — reconciling GL to subledgers and source systems, and identifying root causes of variances.
- Experience working with or overseeing a Shared Service Center (SSC) or similar outsourced/offshore accounting operation.
- Strong ERP systems experience (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O, Oracle, NetSuite, SAP, or similar); comfort working with large datasets in Excel and ideally SQL or similar tools.
- Proven ability to operate independently, drive projects to closure, and communicate clearly with finance leadership, peers, and external auditors.
- Excellent written communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with an ERP or system migration (e.g., legacy system to D365, Oracle, or similar).
- Experience with revenue recognition tools (e.g., Zuora Revenue, RevPro, NetSuite ARM).
- Manufacturing, hardware, or distribution industry experience relevant to inventory accounting.
- Experience managing a team through a period of process change.
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Similar Jobs
Professional Services • Social Impact • Consulting
Manage month-end close, reconciliations, journal entries, reporting, grants, audits, budgets, and financial analysis for a portfolio of nonprofit clients. Serve as the primary finance contact, explain financial results to leadership, oversee outsourced bookkeeping teams, coordinate onboarding and deadlines, identify risks, and improve finance processes. The role requires strong nonprofit accounting knowledge, sound judgment, accurate delivery, and effective client communication.
Top Skills:
Ai-Enabled ToolsBill.ComQuickbooks OnlineRampSpreadsheetsXero
Healthtech
Assistant Controller leading close management, GAAP-compliant reporting, technical accounting, SEC reporting support, SOX controls, audit readiness, ERP transformation, treasury operations, process automation, and development of a remote accounting team. The role requires extensive public accounting and public company experience, strong internal controls expertise, and leadership across finance, audit, IT, and executive stakeholders.
Top Skills:
ErpMicrosoft DynamicsSox 404U.S. GaapWorkday Financials
Agency • HR Tech • On-Demand • Professional Services
Oversee accounting operations, including revenue review, expense management, month-end close, reconciliations, financial statements, staff accountant supervision, audits, tax compliance, 1099 filings, and process improvements. Support FP&A with reporting and help implement new financial software while maintaining accurate and efficient financial processes.
Top Skills:
ExcelNetSuiteTripactions
What you need to know about the Boston Tech Scene
Boston is a powerhouse for technology innovation thanks to world-class research universities like MIT and Harvard and a robust pipeline of venture capital investment. Host to the first telephone call and one of the first general-purpose computers ever put into use, Boston is now a hub for biotechnology, robotics and artificial intelligence — though it’s also home to several B2B software giants. So it’s no surprise that the city consistently ranks among the greatest startup ecosystems in the world.
Key Facts About Boston Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 269,000; 9.4% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Toast, Klaviyo, HubSpot, DraftKings
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, software, aerospace
- Funding Landscape: $15.7 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Summit Partners, Volition Capital, Bain Capital Ventures, MassVentures, Highland Capital Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: MIT, Harvard University, Boston College, Tufts University, Boston University, Northeastern University, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, National Bureau of Economic Research, Broad Institute, Lowell Center for Space Science & Technology, National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories
