Senior Director, Controller

Position Summary

The Sr. Director, Controller will lead Avalo Therapeutics' accounting operations, with primary responsibility for overseeing the company’s monthly, quarterly and annual close process, including leading research and development accounting, general ledger accounting, &A accounting, and other corporate accounting functions. Reporting to the VP of Finance, this individual will oversee the Accounting Director and broader GL accounting team while ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, effective internal controls, and scalable accounting processes that support the Company's growth.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead core accounting operations, including close process and general ledger functions, enabling complete, accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Lead and manage the GL accounting team, including oversight of both R&D and G&A accounting functions, through direct management of the Accounting Director and broader accounting team.
• Partner with the Accounting Director and FP&A Team to assess, establish, and document accounting treatment for new, complex, and material R&D, clinical, and manufacturing agreements, while enhancing supporting accounting documentation.
• Review significant accounting estimates, accruals, and other judgmental transactions, including those related to CRO, CMC, clinical trial, and other significant R&D contracts, and drive improvement of supporting workbooks to ensure completeness, accuracy, and audit readiness.
• Lead the G&A accounting function, ensuring accurate accounting, strong controls, and efficient processes related to operating expenses, accruals, cash, prepaids, accounts payable, and other general corporate activities.
• Own and continuously improve the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process.
• Manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual close calendar, driving accountability for key deliverables and ensuring timely completion of close activities while improving efficiency and quality.
• Lead the preparation and evolution of the monthly Close Deck, ensuring financial results are complete and accurate while driving greater transparency, consistency, and decision-useful reporting for the VP of Finance and CFO.
• Oversee preparation of management reporting schedules supporting executive leadership and Board reporting.
• Lead initiatives to automate and improve accounting processes, controls, and documentation.
• Partner with FP&A to maintain and enhance ERP configuration, department structures, account coding, approval workflows, and system scalability, while assessing future system and process needs to support the Company's growth.
• Partner with the Financial Reporting team to provide timely, accurate, and audit-ready accounting support, schedules, and analyses necessary for external reporting, SEC filings, and related disclosures.
• Partner closely with Financial Reporting team on SOX initiatives to design, document, and maintain effective internal controls.
• Implement accounting policies, documentation, and control enhancements supporting SOX compliance.
• Ensure accounting processes remain audit-ready and compliant with U.S. GAAP and SEC requirements.
• Serve as the primary accounting contact for external auditors on operational accounting matters, proactively addressing accounting and control matters and facilitating efficient quarterly reviews and annual audits.
• Cover coordination of audit requests across the accounting organization and ensure timely completion.
• Support quarterly reviews and annual financial statement audits.
• Maintain strong accounting documentation supporting significant estimates and judgments.
• Oversee accounts payable approval processes.
• Oversee, review and approve payment runs.
• Provide finance review of payroll processing and related accounting activities.
• Develop and mentor the GL accounting team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the accounting function.
• Lead and delegate accounting special projects based on organizational priorities and team capacity.
• Support additional accounting and finance initiatives as the organization continues to grow.

Required Education And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA required.
• 7-10 years of progressive accounting experience, including public biotechnology or life sciences.
• Strong background in R&D accounting, including CROs, clinical trials, CMC/manufacturing, and complex vendor contracts.
• Extensive experience leading general ledger accounting and the monthly financial close.
• Strong ERP and financial systems experience, with the ability to leverage technology to improve accounting processes, data integrity, reporting, and scalability.
• Experience implementing CRO accrual or close automation software preferred.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and accounting for biotechnology or life science companies.
• Experience implementing and improving accounting processes, internal controls, and operational workflows.
• Experience leading external audits and SOX readiness.
• Excellent collaboration skills with Finance, FP&A, Clinical Operations, R&D Team, and external vendors.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing accounting teams in a growing organization.

Additional Skills, Knowledge, And/or Responsibilities

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, pivot tables, and data analysis.

About Avalo Therapeutics

Avalo Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company fully dedicated to developing therapeutics targeting the IL-1β pathway for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Our lead asset, abdakibart, is an anti-IL-1β monoclonal antibody (mAb). Positive topline data was recently reported for abdakibart in a Phase 2 clinical trial in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). In addition to HS, we’re exploring additional opportunities to make an impact in prevalent indications that have significant remaining unmet needs. We are also advancing AVTX-010, a long-acting next-generation anti-IL-1β mAb designed to extend dosing intervals and build upon the differentiated profile established by abdakibart. For more information about Avalo, please visit www.avalotx.com.