Senior Accountant

Fate Therapeutics is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented professional to join our Finance and Accounting team, supporting general ledger accounting, month-end and quarter-end closing processes, financial reporting, and technical accounting activities.

About the role

This position will focus on clinical trial accruals, vendor and other operating accruals, equity activity, lease accounting, and financial analysis. The Senior Accountant will also support audit and internal control activities in a collaborative, deadline-driven biotech environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee assigned general ledger accounting activities and perform month-end close responsibilities, including preparing and posting journal entries and completing account reconciliations.
• Prepare recurring and non-recurring journal entries, with emphasis on month-end and quarter-end vendor accruals, clinical trial accruals, equity activity, and lease accounting.
• Review clinical agreements, including clinical site contracts, clinical trial protocols, CRO contracts, consultant agreements, investigator-sponsored clinical trial agreements, laboratory service provider contracts, and supporting technology platform agreements.
• Prepare accruals for clinical trial activities, including tracking actual costs against budgets, reconciling variances across clinical sites, and providing reporting and analysis to internal stakeholders as needed.
• Review accounts payable invoice batches to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established policies.
• Manage the review and documentation of new vendors to facilitate accurate Form 1099 preparation and subsequent filings.
• Perform in-depth analysis of financial data to identify trends, investigate variances, and recommend process improvements.
• Assist with SEC reporting activities by preparing supporting schedules and documentation for quarterly and annual filings, including related footnote disclosures.
• Support internal and external auditors during internal control testing and financial statement audits.
• Assist in conducting technical accounting research and preparation of quarterly accounting memoranda, with a focus on investment fair value assessments and impairment analyses.
• Ensure compliance with accounting policies, procedures, and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• CPA designation or active pursuit of CPA licensure preferred.
• 3+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance requirements.
• Experience in a public company, biotech/pharmaceutical company, and/or public accounting experience preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, with advanced skills in Excel and Word.
• Track record of consistently meeting deadlines while producing high-quality work.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Highly organized and capable of performing effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with individuals across all levels of the organization.
• Experience with NetSuite, Great Plains, Fraxion, and PairSoft PaperSave is highly desirable.

Working Conditions

• 4+ days onsite work at company’s headquarters in San Diego.
• Subject to extended periods of sitting and standing, vision to monitor, and moderate noise levels.

Pay

The anticipated salary range for this role is $90,000 - $105,000.

Benefits

Fate offers a competitive employment package that includes an annual bonus, equity, and a generous benefits package.