Director/Senior Director Finance

About the role

We are seeking a hands-on, detail-oriented Director/Senior Director Finance with strong financial planning and analysis capabilities to own the accounting and finance function.

Reporting to the CFO, you will be the finance lead responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and scalability of the company's financial operations, going beyond the close to own budgeting, forecasting, and cash runway planning until the organization is large enough to separate those functions.

This is an individual contributor role best suited to someone who has thrived in early-stage environments, is comfortable being resourceful without a large team behind them, and finds genuine satisfaction in doing meaningful work across a range of financial disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end monthly close process, ensuring GAAP compliance and timely, accurate reporting in alignment.
• Manage core accounting functions including general ledger, accounts payable, vendor payments, payroll, equity administration, and treasury.
• Track and reconcile monthly expenses, maintaining clean and current visibility into spend by department, program, and vendor.
• Identify transactions requiring specialized accounting treatment, including clinical trial accruals, collaboration revenue, equity compensation, and complex financing structures, and implement appropriate accounting, engaging external advisors as needed.
• Develop, implement, and maintain accounting policies and procedures that reflect the company's current stage while building toward public company readiness.
• Build and maintain the annual operating budget, working closely with functional leads to translate scientific and operational plans into financial models.
• Own cash runway forecasting, maintaining current, scenario-based projections that give leadership and investors clear visibility into financial position and decision-making horizon.
• Produce clear, accurate monthly financial reports for the leadership team and Board, translating accounting outputs into meaningful business insights and variance commentary.
• Support rolling forecasts, program-level spend tracking, and ad hoc financial analyses that inform key decisions.
• Support CFO in developing long-range financial plans and scenario analyses for financing decisions.
• Partner with scientific leadership to translate research plans into resource and cash requirements.
• Evaluate hiring plans, capital investments, and external collaborations from a financial perspective.
• Support fundraising activities, including investor diligence materials and financial modeling.
• Build KPI dashboards for management and Boards.
• Evaluate hiring plans, capital investments, and external collaborations from a financial perspective.
• Design and implement an internal controls framework with a clear path for evolution as the organizations grow.
• Lead the annual audit processes end to end, serving as the primary point of contact for independent auditors, valuation firms, and tax advisors.
• Oversee treasury and tax-related activities, including cash management, banking relationships, risk management, insurance programs, and tax compliance filings.
• Evaluate, implement, and own the financial systems and technology infrastructure, including ERP platforms, procurement tools, and reporting solutions.
• Manage the financial dimensions of leases, vendor contracts, consulting arrangements, and debt financing commitments.
• Support major company milestones including financing rounds, and any integration or restructuring activities.
• Scale the finance function as the company grows, adding staff, outsourced support, or systems capacity as volume and complexity increase.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required; CPA strongly preferred.
• Seven to twelve years of progressive finance experience with meaningful time in a controller, finance director, or head of finance role.
• Prior experience as the sole or lead finance hire at an early-stage, venture-backed biotech or life sciences company is a strong differentiator; comfort operating without a large team and building from scratch is essential.
• Demonstrated ability to own both the accounting close and financial planning functions simultaneously.
• Deep U.S. GAAP expertise with hands-on experience in technical areas relevant to biotech: clinical trial accruals, R&D expense accounting, equity compensation under ASC 718, lease accounting under ASC 842, and collaboration arrangement accounting.
• Prior experience in a biotech or life sciences company is strongly preferred; Big 4 or national firm audit experience is a meaningful complement.
• Proficiency with NetSuite or comparable ERP systems; comfort with multi-entity accounting structures.

What We Are Looking For

• You are as comfortable building a budget model or cash runway forecast as you are closing the books, and the breadth of this role energizes rather than overwhelms you.
• You have operated without a large team and know how to get high-quality work done resourcefully and efficiently.
• You move fluidly between strategic thinking and detailed execution, equally comfortable presenting to a Board and posting a journal entry.
• You adapt your communication and approach to the unique needs of each team you support, building trust across different company cultures and leadership styles.
• You communicate with clarity and confidence, translating complex financial matters for scientific and executive audiences without losing precision.
• You have the agility to wear many hats across the finance function, moving between accounting, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and systems work as priorities shift.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required; CPA strongly preferred.
• Seven to twelve years of progressive finance experience with meaningful time in a controller, finance director, or head of finance role.
• Prior experience as the sole or lead finance hire at an early-stage, venture-backed biotech or life sciences company is a strong differentiator; comfort operating without a large team and building from scratch is essential.
• Demonstrated ability to own both the accounting close and financial planning functions simultaneously.
• Deep U.S. GAAP expertise with hands-on experience in technical areas relevant to biotech: clinical trial accruals, R&D expense accounting, equity compensation under ASC 718, lease accounting under ASC 842, and collaboration arrangement accounting.
• Prior experience in a biotech or life sciences company is strongly preferred; Big 4 or national firm audit experience is a meaningful complement.
• Proficiency with NetSuite or comparable ERP systems; comfort with multi-entity accounting structures.