Sr. Director of Finance

Overview

This clinical-stage biotech organization is seeking a hands-on Senior Director of Finance to own day-to-day finance operations and serve as the primary finance partner to R&D, product operations, clinical, and business operations leaders. The role reports to the CFO and interacts with the executive team.

Key focus areas include improving and, when needed, establishing scalable finance processes, systems, and controls as the organization grows from Series A through later-stage financing and toward public-company readiness.

Responsibilities

Financial planning and reporting

• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-range operating planning with all business functions, partnering with the executive team to meet established targets.
• Drive the process for rationalizing department investments (headcount, OPEX spend, and CAPEX) within established frameworks; maintain visibility into cash runway and other financial goals.
• Prepare board and investor reporting packages, KPIs, and management dashboards.
• Support financing and business development activities, including diligence, data rooms, and grant or non-dilutive funding reporting.

Business partnering

• Serve as the finance business partner to R&D, CMC and product operations, clinical, and G&A leaders.
• Provide and review quarterly budget/forecast-vs-actual analyses with each function; understand key business drivers and deliver clear, timely insight into trends and variances.
• Model program costs, clinical trial budgets, and headcount plans to support portfolio and resourcing decisions.
• Review and support major contracts (CROs, CDMOs, licensing, facilities) for financial terms and business impact, including operational efficiency and cost-savings opportunities.

Accounting operations

• Oversee all accounting operations, including financial close, procure-to-pay, payroll, financial reporting, and equity administration; ensure management reports and financial statements are prepared timely and in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
• Manage cash, treasury, and banking relationships; produce rolling cash and runway forecasts.
• Oversee R&D and clinical trial accruals in partnership with clinical operations and CRO/CDMO partners.
• Build and document internal controls appropriate for a growing private company, with a path to SOX readiness.
• Coordinate 409A valuations, tax compliance, corporate insurance programs, and future external audits with outside advisors.

Team and systems

• Build, lead, and develop a lean finance and accounting team, using outsourced partners where appropriate.
• Own the finance technology stack (ERP, AP automation, expense, spend management) and integrations with HRIS and payroll.
• Establish and improve finance policies, processes, and spend controls to support organizational growth and increasing complexity.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
• 12+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including 4+ years in a senior leadership role.
• Experience in venture-backed biotech or life sciences, including clinical trial accruals and R&D cost accounting.
• Solid foundation in U.S. GAAP, close management, and internal controls.
• Proven business partnering record, including budgets, forecasts, and variance analysis for leaders.
• Hands-on experience with ERP and spend tools, and advanced Excel modeling.
• Experience managing audits and outside advisors.

Preferred

• CPA (active or inactive).
• Experience scaling finance through Series A/B+ financings or IPO readiness.
• Exposure to grant accounting, licensing deals, or CDMO/CRO contract structures.

Compensation & Benefits

• $205,000 - $275,000 a year

Location

• Remote, with a preference for candidates based in the Seattle area

What Success Looks Like in Year One

• First 90 days: Monthly close runs on a documented calendar; cash runway and operating forecast refreshed monthly and trusted by leadership.
• 6 months: Every budget owner gets a periodic budget-vs-actual review; insight and roadmap to implement more robust financial systems and processes.
• 12 months: The annual budget is built bottoms-up with functional leaders; earn trust of executive team and board; provide clear line of sight into long range planning resource requirements.