FP&A Manager

Vera Therapeutics is a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on transforming medicine in autoimmune disease, starting with the kidney. Our flagship commercial product is TRUTAKNA™ (atacicept-vymj), a B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) inhibitor. We are evaluating multiple diseases where reducing autoantibodies through inhibition of BAFF and APRIL may prove clinically meaningful. Founded in 2016 and based in Brisbane, California, Vera Therapeutics is built on values that guide how we work together: leading with empathy, acting with an owner’s mindset, demanding clarity, working without fences, and executing with urgency because patients are counting on us.

About the role

The FP&A Manager will report to the Sr. Director, FP&A, and will be responsible for the successful execution of FP&A activities including budgeting, budget vs. actual (BVA), forecasting, reporting, and decision support. This role partners with cross-functional teams across R&D, finance, accounting, and other business functions. It requires a strategic thinker with strong analytical skills, a deep understanding of clinical finance, and the ability to translate complex financial and operational analysis into clear, audience-appropriate messaging. This is a highly visible role providing financial insights critical to executive decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the dedicated finance business partner to functional leaders, leading budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning, and variance analysis.
• Communicate financial analysis in a clear, operationally grounded way, tailoring the message to the audience.
• Own and maintain clinical trial financial models incorporating protocol design, CRO budgets, investigator grants, enrollment assumptions, site activation schedules, and visit-based cost drivers to support forecasting and scenario planning.
• Analyze clinical trial expense variances against study operational metrics (e.g., enrollment rates, site activations, protocol amendments, vendor activity) to identify drivers of variances.
• Prepare study-level financial summaries that reflect operational dynamics and present insights in a clear, thoughtful manner.
• Review and validate clinical trial forecasts generated within Auxilius, ensuring operational assumptions are accurate and financial outputs reflect study execution.
• Build multi-year trackers to monitor preclinical/discovery spend, including milestone-based investment tracking.
• Review purchase requisitions and purchase orders to ensure financial accuracy and support standardized procure-to-pay processes.
• Partner with Accounting on month-end close, accruals, and procedures to ensure consistent account and department coding.
• Support automation initiatives that improve forecasting accuracy, reporting efficiency, and data quality across FP&A processes.
• Develop trusted relationships with functional leaders to provide financial recommendations that support operational decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a field related to drug development.
• 5-7+ years of experience in the biopharma or life science industries.
• Demonstrated experience building clinical trial cost forecasting and financial models (e.g., CRO budget grids, site activation and enrollment-driven cost projections, investigator grant models) within a biopharma or life sciences setting.
• Highly collaborative with exceptional consulting, project management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills with keen attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proactive and passionate about building processes and tools in a growing biotech environment.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including experience developing sophisticated financial models and scenario analyses.
• Experience with NetSuite, Adaptive Planning, and purchase-to-pay systems or similar platforms.
• Strong presentation development skills using Microsoft PowerPoint.
• Ability to operate in alignment with Vera’s core values.

Skills

• Exceptional interpersonal skills with excellent oral and written communication.
• Experience with Auxilius or similar clinical trial financial management/accrual automation platforms (nice to have).
• Experience automating workflows and building dashboards (nice to have).

Pay

The anticipated base pay range for this role is $120,000 - $140,000 USD, depending on various factors including geography, qualifications, skills, and experience.

Benefits

• Annual performance incentive bonus.
• New hire equity and ongoing performance-based equity.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401k match.
• Flexible time off and paid holidays.