About This Role:

The 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.

Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting & SEC Compliance

• Assist 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.
• Support Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Section 404 compliance, including documentation, testing, and remediation of internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR).
• Coordinate with external auditors (Big 4 or national firm) during quarterly reviews and annual audits.
• Prepare and review financial statements, footnotes, and MD&A disclosures for accuracy and completeness.

Government Contract Accounting

• Oversee cost accounting practices in compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS).
• Manage the preparation and submission of government-required financial reports, including DCAA audits, incurred cost submissions (ICS), and forward pricing rate proposals (FPRPs).
• Monitor 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.
• Support the Earned Value Management (EVM) reporting process for applicable government programs.

General Accounting & Close Process

• Oversee the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close process, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of all journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial statements.
• Manage indirect cost pools, allocation methodologies, and overhead rate calculations in compliance with CAS and FAR.
• Supervise revenue recognition under ASC 606, including over-time recognition methodology for long-term government contracts.
• Maintain and strengthen the company's chart of accounts and general ledger integrity.

Internal Controls & Process Improvement

• Design, implement, and monitor effective internal control procedures in accordance with COSO framework and SOX requirements.
• Identify opportunities to streamline accounting processes and improve the efficiency and accuracy of financial operations.
• Develop and maintain accounting policies and procedures documentation.

Equity Administration

• Oversee 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).
• Ensure accurate recording of stock-based compensation expense in accordance with ASC 718, including fair value determination, vesting schedules, and forfeiture rate assumptions.
• Coordinate with the company's equity plan administrator and transfer agent to maintain accurate cap table records and equity award activity.
• Prepare equity-related financial statement disclosures and footnotes for SEC filings, including 10-K and 10-Q reports.
• Partner with Legal, HR, and Tax to administer Section 16 reporting obligations, Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, and insider trading policy compliance.
• Monitor and account for dilutive securities and ensure accurate earnings per share (EPS) calculations under ASC 260.

Payroll Oversight

• Oversee the company's payroll function, ensuring accurate and timely processing of multi-state payroll for all employees, including salaried, hourly, and contract labor populations.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, including proper withholding, remittance, and year-end W-2 and 1099 reporting.
• Maintain payroll controls and procedures that satisfy SOX internal control requirements and DCAA labor charging standards.
• Coordinate with Human Resources on compensation changes, benefits deductions, leave accruals, and onboarding/offboarding processes to ensure payroll accuracy.
• Review 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.
• Manage relationships with third-party payroll service providers and ensure system integrations with the ERP and time-tracking platforms are functioning accurately.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of accounting professionals including Senior Accountants and Staff Accountants.
• Partner with Program Managers, Contracts Administration, Legal, and Finance to ensure accurate project-level financial reporting and forecasting.
• Support the CFO and Corporate Controller in special projects, M&A due diligence, and strategic financial initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CPA license required (active and in good standing).
• Minimum 7 years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 3 years in a defense, aerospace, or government contracting environment.
• Demonstrated experience with FAR, DFARS, CAS, and DCAA audit processes.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting requirements, and SOX compliance.
• Experience with revenue recognition under ASC 606 for long-term contracts.
• Proficiency with ERP systems (Deltek Costpoint, SAP, or similar government contracting ERP strongly preferred).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance (Secret or above); current clearance strongly preferred.
• U.S. citizenship required (per government contract obligations).

Nice to Haves:

• Master's degree in Accounting or Business Administration (MBA).
• Experience at a Big 4 or national public accounting firm with a defense/government practice.
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management (EVM) and EVMS compliance.
• Experience supporting IPO, secondary offerings, or public company transitions.
• Knowledge of AI/software development project cost accounting and R&D capitalization under ASC 350-40.

This position is based on-site at Merlin HQ in Boston, MA.

Once you're here, you'll enjoy a variety of on-site perks designed to make your workday enjoyable and convenient. These include catered lunches featuring a rotating menu of delicious options, an assortment of snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day, and a selection of beverages, including coffee, tea, and other drinks, to keep you refreshed.

Our goal is to create an environment where you can thrive both professionally and personally

Merlin Labs offers an innovative, entrepreneurial, and team-focused startup environment. We also offer a top-notch benefits package (health, dental, life, unlimited vacation, and 401k with match) and work/life integration. Being part of the Merlin team allows you to become part of a small team that supports professional development while working together to achieve our mission.