Assistant Controller Jobs in Wakefield, MA (NOW HIRING)

Position Overview:

The Director, Assistant Corporate Controller will play a critical leadership role within the accounting and finance organization, supporting and overseeing our accounting, financial reporting, and internal control environments. This position is responsible for ensuring compliance with U.S. GAAP, SEC regulations, and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements (SOX), while driving operational excellence across accounting processes.

The Assistant Corporate Controller will report to the Corporate Controller while managing the company's accounting operations, financial reporting, and internal control environment. We are a rapidly growing biopharmaceutical organization, and this role will combine technical accounting expertise, operational execution, and team leadership with a hands-on approach.

This is a newly created role, and we are seeking a candidate who is a highly organized and proactive individual with strong attention to detail, a sound understanding of accounting, financial reporting and internal controls, prioritization skills and a focus on client service. The Assistant Corporate Controller will work across functions and teams at Ocular as a trusted partner to facilitate efficient communication to support the Company's financial processes. The individual should enjoy working in a fast-paced and rapidly growing environment.

This position is hybrid and will require regular attendance at our Bedford, MA office.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting & SEC Compliance

• Lead, supervise and mentor a high-performing accounting team to ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly and annual financial close process.
• Drive talent development, succession planning, and organizational scalability.
• Review monthly close deliverables including journal entries, reconciliations, and supporting schedules to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Ensure timely and accurate production of internal and external financial statements.
• Maintain compliance with U.S. GAAP and monitor emerging accounting standards (FASB, SEC guidance).
• Preparation and review of SEC filings (10-K, 10-Q, 8-K), ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with disclosure requirements.
• Serve as primary liaison with external auditors during quarterly reviews and the annual audit process.
• Collaborate with cross-functional business and technical teams to support accounting initiatives and operational alignment.
• Partner with the financial planning and analysis team to analyze financial performance and ensure consistency between reporting and forecasting.

Technical Accounting and Policy

• Serve as primary resource for technical accounting guidance, with a focus on revenue recognition for product sales and collaboration agreements, research and development expense accounting, inventory and valuation and debt and equity arrangements.  
• Draft, implement and maintain accounting policies and support related accounting position via white papers, as required.
• Lead implementation of new accounting standards and coordinate cross-functional impact assessments.

Annual Audit, Internal Controls & SOX Compliance

• Serve as a key contact for external auditors, preparing schedules and supporting documentation.
• Assist with annual financial statement audits and quarterly reviews.
• Support the maintenance of an effective internal control environment in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance financial reporting processes and optimize the company's financial systems.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting; CPA certification preferred.
• 15+ years of prior related experience.
• Previous experience in public accounting as well as mid-sized public biotech and or pharmaceutical company preferred.
• Strong knowledge and ability to interpret and apply U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements and relevant accounting and financial concepts for publicly traded companies.
• Relevant accounting experience: general month close operation accruals and reconciliations.
• In-depth knowledge of SOX and demonstrated ability to implement and maintain financial controls and accounting policies and procedures.
• Ability to apply judgment with strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to combine attention to detail with an understanding of broader strategic context.
• Strong project management skills and experience; ability to prioritize multiple initiatives concurrently with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Collaborative and consultative team player who can thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.