Assistant Controller

About Merlin:

Merlin is a venture backed aerospace startup building a non-human pilot to enable both reduced crew and uncrewed flight. Backed by some of the world’s leading investors, Merlin is scaling alongside our customers to begin leveraging autonomy today to solve some of aviation’s biggest challenges.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Oversee the company’s payroll function, ensuring accurate and timely processing of multi‑state payroll for all employees,…