{"id":365532,"url":"https://alion.io/job/merlin-labs-director-assistant-controller","title":"Director, Assistant Controller","company":{"id":46278,"name":"Merlin Labs","domain":"merlinlabs.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/merlin-labs","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Lever","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":6,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":44,"computed_at":"2026-10-28T05:59:10Z"}},"role":"Finance","role_family":"Finance","seniority":"head","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Boston, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":220000,"max":290000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":290000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":7,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"EVMS","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-27T01:48:57Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-27","last_verified_at":"2026-10-28T15:15:23Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":93,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":93},"description":"About You:\nThe Assistant Controller plays a critical role in the financial operations of Merlin, supporting the Corporate Controller in managing all aspects of accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance for a publicly traded government defense contractor. This position requires deep expertise in government contract accounting, SEC reporting obligations, and the unique regulatory environment governing defense industry finance. The Assistant Controller will lead a team of accounting professionals and serve as a key liaison between finance, program management, contracts administration, and external auditors.\nResponsibilities:\nFinancial Reporting & SEC Compliance\nAssist in the preparation of quarterly (10-Q) and annual (10-K) reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in compliance with U.S. GAAP and PCAOB standards.\n\nSupport Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Section 404 compliance, including documentation, testing, and remediation of internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR).\n\nCoordinate with external auditors (Big 4 or national firm) during quarterly reviews and annual audits.\n\nPrepare and review financial statements, footnotes, and MD&A disclosures for accuracy and completeness.\n\nGovernment Contract Accounting\nOversee cost accounting practices in compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS).\n\nManage the preparation and submission of government-required financial reports, including DCAA audits, incurred cost submissions (ICS), and forward pricing rate proposals (FPRPs).\n\nMonitor and maintain compliance with contract-specific accounting requirements, including time-and-materials (T&M), cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF), firm-fixed-price (FFP), and other contract types.\n\nSupport the Earned Value Management (EVM) reporting process for applicable government programs.\n\nGeneral Accounting & Close Process\nOversee the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close process, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of all journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial statements.\n\nManage indirect cost pools, allocation methodologies, and overhead rate calculations in compliance with CAS and FAR.\n\nSupervise revenue recognition under ASC 606, including over-time recognition methodology for long-term government contracts.\n\nMaintain and strengthen the company’s chart of accounts and general ledger integrity.\n\nInternal Controls & Process Improvement\nDesign, implement, and monitor effective internal control procedures in accordance with COSO framework and SOX requirements.\n\nIdentify opportunities to streamline accounting processes and improve the efficiency and accuracy of financial operations.\n\nDevelop and maintain accounting policies and procedures documentation.\n\nEquity Administration\nOversee the accounting and administration of the company’s equity compensation programs, including stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).\n\nEnsure accurate recording of stock-based compensation expense in accordance with ASC 718, including fair value determination, vesting schedules, and forfeiture rate assumptions.\n\nCoordinate with the company’s equity plan administrator and transfer agent to maintain accurate cap table records and equity award activity.\n\nPrepare equity-related financial statement disclosures and footnotes for SEC filings, including 10-K and 10-Q reports.\n\nPartner with Legal, HR, and Tax to administer Section 16 reporting obligations, Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, and insider trading policy compliance.\n\nMonitor and account for dilutive securities and ensure accurate earnings per share (EPS) calculations under ASC 260.\n\nPayroll Oversight\nOversee the company’s payroll function, ensuring accurate and timely processing of multi-state payroll for all employees, including salaried, hourly, and contract labor populations.\n\nEnsure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, including proper withholding, remittance, and year-end W-2 and 1099 reporting.\n\nMaintain payroll controls and procedures that satisfy SOX internal control requirements and DCAA labor charging standards.\n\nCoordinate with Human Resources on compensation changes, benefits deductions, leave accruals, and onboarding/offboarding processes to ensure payroll accuracy.\n\nReview and approve payroll journal entries, reconcile payroll liability accounts, and ensure proper allocation of labor costs to government contract cost pools and direct/indirect categories.\n\nManage relationships with third-party payroll service providers and ensure system integrations with the ERP and time-tracking platforms are functioning accurately.\n\nTeam Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration\nSupervise, mentor, and develop a team of accounting professionals including Senior Accountants and Staff Accountants.\n\nPartner with Program Managers, Contracts Administration, Legal, and Finance to ensure accurate project-level financial reporting and forecasting.\n\nSupport the CFO and Corporate Controller in special projects, M&A due diligence, and strategic financial initiatives.\n\nQualifications:\nBachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.\nCPA license required (active and in good standing).\nMinimum 7 years of progressive accounting experience\nDemonstrated experience with FAR, DFARS, CAS, and DCAA audit processes.\nStrong working knowledge of U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting requirements, and SOX compliance.\nExperience with revenue recognition under ASC 606 for long-term contracts.\nProficiency with ERP systems (Deltek Costpoint, SAP, or similar government contracting ERP strongly preferred).\nU.S. citizenship required (per government contract obligations).\nNice to Have:\nMaster’s degree in Accounting or Business Administration (MBA).\nExperience at a Big 4 or national public accounting firm with a defense/government practice.\nExperience in a defense, aerospace, or government contracting environment.\nFamiliarity with Earned Value Management (EVM) and EVMS compliance.\nExperience supporting IPO, secondary offerings, or public company transitions.\nKnowledge of AI/software development project cost accounting and R&D capitalization under ASC 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