Assistant Controller/Controller

About Forma Life Sciences 

Forma Life Sciences is a next-generation CDMO headquartered in Irvine, California, where molecules become medicine. Forma supports oral solid dosage programs from early clinical development through commercial manufacturing, with deep formulation expertise and cGMP manufacturing capabilities supporting pharmaceutical partners and the patients they serve. 

Position Summary 

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. 

Why This Role Is Unique 

This is a high-impact finance leadership opportunity with unusual breadth, visibility, and ownership. The person in this role will not be limited to narrow accounting responsibilities; they will help lead the full finance function, build scalable infrastructure, guide the accounting team, and partner directly with senior leadership on decisions that shape the business. 

This role offers exposure to the full lifecycle of finance leadership in a growing company, including technical accounting, financial reporting, cash planning, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, team leadership, executive communication, Board and shareholder reporting support, audit readiness, and cross-functional business partnership. For a candidate who is looking to grow into broader finance leadership over time, this is a strong opportunity to gain the kind of well-rounded, hands-on experience that is difficult to get in a more siloed corporate environment. 

Essential Duties & 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. 

Required Qualifications

• 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. 
• The ideal candidate is a highly accountable, hands-on finance leader who enjoys building, improving, and owning processes; can operate comfortably in both the details and the big picture; communicates effectively with executives and cross-functional partners; and is excited by the opportunity to help shape the finance function of a growing life sciences company. 

Preferred Qualifications

• 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. 

Compensation & Benefits 

The expected base salary range for this exempt position is $130,000 to $200,000 per year, based on experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and business needs. Final title and compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s experience level, technical accounting depth, leadership capability, and overall alignment with the role.  

Forma offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support employee health, well-being, financial security, and overall quality of life. Benefits may include ACA-compliant medical, vision, and dental coverage; Medical FSA and Dependent Care FSA options, generous paid time off, paid sick leave, company holidays, 401(k) retirement plan, voluntary life insurance, disability insurance, critical illness, hospital, and accident insurance, legal and identity protection services, company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance, an aggressive bonus structure, monthly company events, and other company-sponsored programs, subject to plan terms and eligibility requirements. 

Work Environment & Physical Requirements 

This role is primarily performed in an office environment at Forma’s Irvine facility, with onsite presence required based on business needs. The employee is regularly required to use a computer, communicate with others, review financial data, and attend meetings. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role. 

Equal Employment Opportunity & Reasonable Accommodation 

Forma Life Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, reproductive health decision-making, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship status, protected hairstyle or hair texture, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. 

Forma provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, as required by law. Applicants or employees who need accommodation to participate in the hiring process or perform essential job functions should contact Human Resources. 

Agency/Search Firm Notice 

Forma Life Sciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies or search firms for this position unless a valid written agreement is in place. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to Forma or its employees will be considered property of Forma, and no fee will be paid if the candidate is hired as a result of an unsolicited referral. 

Additional Information 

• This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. 

• Forma Life Sciences may modify job duties or responsibilities at any time, with or without notice, consistent with applicable law. 

• Employment is at-will unless otherwise provided in a written agreement signed by an authorized company representative.