Assistant Controller (Accounting & Financial Planning)

Northern Light•Somerville, MA

2d•$110,000 - $130,000

About The Position

Northern Light is looking for a talented accounting professional who is ready for something a little different. This role is designed for someone who has built a strong foundation in SaaS accounting — with solid experience in revenue recognition, deferred commissions, and SaaS cost of goods sold — and who is genuinely excited about expanding their skillset into financial planning and analysis. Whether you have come up through audit at a public accounting firm or spent your career inside a corporate accounting department, if you love closing the books but also want to understand the bigger financial picture, we think you will find this role to be a compelling next step. This position will own the core Assistant Controller responsibilities — month-end close, financial statements, reporting packages — while also partnering directly with the CFO on forecasting, modeling, and strategic analysis. The ideal candidate is someone who sees FP&A not as a departure from their accounting roots, but as a natural and exciting extension of them. The long-term vision is to invest in a finance professional who wants to keep growing.

Requirements

Public Accounting: 3–5 years in audit at a mid-size firm, or
Corporate Accounting: 5–7 years as a Staff Accountant within a corporate accounting department
Strong understanding of GAAP fundamentals and financial statement mechanics
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
Deep, hands-on SaaS accounting experience — specifically revenue recognition (ASC 606), deferred commissions, and understanding of SaaS COGS
Direct ownership of month-end close and preparation of monthly financial statements and reporting packages
A genuine interest in developing FP&A skills — forecasting, financial modeling, and scenario analysis. This does not need to be prior experience; it does need to be a real and demonstrated career aspiration

Nice To Haves

CPA or CPA-track are bonus points, but not required
Intellectual curiosity — a drive to understand the “why” behind the numbers, not just the mechanics
Strong analytical mindset with the ability to connect numbers to business outcomes
Comfort working in a lean, dynamic environment where you can make a real impact
Clear communicator who can explain financial concepts to non-finance partners
Career ambition to grow into senior finance leadership over time
Exposure to QuickBooks Online, Brex and any other relevant platforms

Responsibilities

Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and consistency
Maintain and apply a strong understanding of U.S. GAAP across all financial reporting, including proper revenue recognition, deferred compensation, and other appropriate accounting fundamentals
Prepare and review journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial statements
Manage the A/P and A/R activity as needed
Support audits and act as a primary liaison with external auditors
Continuously improve accounting processes, controls, and documentation
Maintain the 13-week cash flow model on a weekly basis to ensure Northern Light is allocating resources appropriately
Partner directly with the CFO on budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis
Assist in building and maintaining financial models for planning and decision-making, including ARR and other relevant SaaS metric models
Translate financial results into clear, actionable insights for non-financial stakeholders
Support long-range planning and scenario analysis as the business evolves
Develop an understanding of key business drivers and unit economics