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.

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.

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.

• 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…