Associate Director/Director, Accounting
About The Position
Avenzo Therapeutics, Inc. (“Avenzo” or “Company”) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation oncology therapies for patients. The Company was co-founded in 2022 by Drs. Athena Countouriotis and Mohammad Hirmand (former CEO and CMO of Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc., respectively). Our team is passionate about and committed to advancing a pipeline of potential best-in-class targeted oncology programs that make a difference in the lives of people with cancer. The Company is headquartered in San Diego, California. Reporting to the Executive Director, Controller, the Associate Director/ Director, Accounting will lead accounting activities related to clinical trials, research and development expenses, and external clinical vendors. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate financial reporting, timely month-end close activities, SOX compliance, and the development of scalable accounting processes that support the growth of the organization. This individual will provide leadership and partner closely across the organization and help strengthen operational effectiveness. The position requires a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced biotech startup environment and can operate strategically while also managing day-to-day accounting operations.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required, or a related area degree preferred (e.g., MBA)
- 8+ years of progressive accounting experience in the life sciences industry or an equivalent combination of academic and industry experience
- CPA preferred
- Clinical/R&D accounting experience within the biotech or pharmaceutical industry and experience supporting public company reporting requirements
- Proven leadership experience managing and scaling accounting teams in fast-paced, high-growth environments
- Experience in Clinical Trial Accounting, partnering directly with Clinical Operations teams, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), and external vendors
- In-depth knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance requirements
- Hands-on experience with financial systems and implementations, including NetSuite, procure-to-pay (P2P) workflow platforms, and Clinical/R&D accounting systems.
- Strong background in SOX compliance, internal controls, and audit readiness.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a strategic mindset
Nice To Haves
- MBA
- CPA
Responsibilities
- Lead the clinical trial accounting function, partnering with Accounting, Clinical Operations, and external vendors to ensure accurate and timely accounting, reporting, and month-end close
- Develop, implement and maintain robust clinical accrual methodologies using patient enrollment data, vendor activity reports, contract terms, and milestone tracking to ensure complete and accurate expense recognition
- Lead cross-functional meetings with Clinical Operations to review contracts, purchase orders, timelines, and study activity status
- Analyze financial data within clinical study expense trackers to ensure vendor services are recorded in the appropriate accounting period
- Review clinical trial contracts, work orders, amendments and change orders against actual services performed to identify and communicate out-of-scope activities and financial risks to management
- Establish and enhance policies, accrual processes, methodologies, and reporting procedures related to monthly clinical trial accounting activities
- Serve as a key participant in clinical project review meetings to ensure all study activities are captured, accrued, and reported accurately and timely
- Collaborate with Clinical Operations and Contract Research Organizations (CROs) to support monthly data collection and the month-end close process
- Prepare and present quantitative and qualitative financial summaries, highlighting variances, risks, and opportunities
- Own and maintain SOX controls related to Clinical and R&D accrual processes, ensuring compliance, audit readiness and adherence to internal control requirements
- Drive process improvements and system enhancements that increase efficiency, scalability and accuracy across clinical trial accounting operations and financial reporting
- Translate complex accounting and financial information into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership, to support strategic and operational decision-making
- Mentor and develop and provide leadership to accounting staff, fostering team growth and scalability within a rapidly evolving organization
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Basic life and AD&D insurance
- Short-term disability insurance
- Long-term disability insurance
- Flexible spending accounts
- Health savings accounts
- Voluntary insurance programs (voluntary life, AD&D accident, and critical illness)
- 401(k) plan
- 10 hours of paid vacation time accrued every month
- 1 hour of paid sick leave accrued for every 30 hours worked
- 17 paid holidays each calendar year, including a winter closure
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
