Chief Financial Officer

Kumquat Biosciences is a San Diego biotech company focused on translating breakthrough science into novel therapeutics. Led by pioneers with decades of success in developing cutting-edge cancer therapeutics—including the first to demonstrate that KRAS is druggable—Kumquat has built a diverse pipeline of high-value assets across oncology and immunology/inflammation since its founding in 2019. Partners include Bayer, Takeda, and Eli Lilly.

About the role

As Chief Financial Officer, you will shape the capital strategy, planning discipline, control environment, and investor narrative for a clinical-stage biotech. You will inherit a capable finance and accounting team and oversee all financial and operational functions critical to scaling the company.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute the financing roadmap across private and public markets: equity, structured and non-dilutive capital, and partnership-derived funding. Build relationships with investors and banking partners well ahead of need.
• Own the long-range plan, operating budget, and runway analysis that drive program prioritization. Bring rigor to portfolio trade-offs so decisions rest on defensible numbers.
• Oversee accounting, tax, treasury, and financial reporting under US GAAP. Maintain audit-ready records meeting PCAOB standards and build systems, controls, and documentation for growing reporting obligations.
• Lead, grow, and develop the finance organization. Partner closely with the Controller, hire ahead of need, set clear objectives and standards, and build a team strong finance professionals want to join.
• Serve as a principal voice to institutional investors, research analysts, and banking partners. Prepare and present to the Board and Audit Committee and help evolve governance practices as the company scales.
• Lead financial structuring, diligence, and negotiation support on licensing, collaboration, and acquisition opportunities.
• Provide executive oversight of human resources, information technology, and facilities. Set direction, resource each function properly, hold them to clear standards, and connect their plans to the company’s goals—without day-to-day management.

What success looks like in the first 18 months

• A long-range plan and operating model the executive team and Board actually use when making portfolio decisions.
• A financing strategy with a clear sequence and funded runway through the next set of Phase 1 data readouts.
• A close process, control environment, and audit posture that withstands outside scrutiny.
• A finance team structured for where the company is going, with critical hires made.
• An established operating cadence with HR, IT, and facilities functions, including agreed priorities, approved budgets, and defined performance expectations.
• Investor and banking relationships established ahead of need.

Requirements

• 10+ years across investment banking and the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, including a senior finance leadership role.
• Investment banking experience in a healthcare or life sciences coverage group, with a track record of executed equity and/or debt transactions.
• Operating experience inside a biotechnology company, ideally clinical-stage. You understand drug development costs, timelines, and the frequency of plan changes.
• Demonstrated success leading financings from strategy through close.
• Understanding of US GAAP, the audit process, and SEC reporting requirements.
• Experience building and leading finance and accounting teams.
• Experience overseeing functions outside of finance (e.g., HR, IT, facilities) through capable functional leads.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a related field. MBA and/or CPA preferred.

Also valuable

• Prior participation in an initial public offering, reverse merger, or comparable transaction.
• Prior participation in a successful M&A transaction.
• Experience preparing a private company to meet public company reporting, control, and governance standards, including Sarbanes-Oxley readiness.
• Experience building or running an investor relations function.
• Established relationships with institutional healthcare investors and equity research analysts.
• Familiarity with oncology and/or immunology & inflammation.

How you work

• Collaborative: You work alongside research and clinical teams. Scientists trust your numbers because you take the time to understand their programs.
• Candid: You give the CEO and Board a clear, honest read of the numbers so they always know where things stand and can act early.
• Comfortable with uncertainty: Clinical timelines shift and financing windows open and close. You plan in ranges and scenarios, not single points.
• Hands-on: At our size, the CFO builds the model as well as presents it.

Pay

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $375,000 – $450,000, plus annual bonus and equity. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

Location

This position is based in San Diego, California.