Sr Director, FP&A (R&D)

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals • Irvine, CA

3h • $226,500 - $317,100 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director of R&D FP&A will build Tarsus’s decision-support capability to enable efficient operations and effective capital allocation across Research & Development and Operations. The role also contributes to the Company’s financial and corporate strategy for these functions and serves as their Finance lead. Core work includes preparing the annual budget and short-range forecasts, contributing to the long-range plan for programs, and providing monthly and quarterly close analysis and reporting.

The position partners with R&D and Operations stakeholders, including Program Team Leads, to guide financial planning and decisions. It supports clinical trial accruals and contract analysis, presents strategic insights to the Executive Team, and improves planning, analysis, and reporting processes. The role hires, coaches, and mentors team members and promotes collaboration, engagement, and continuous improvement.

The position is based in Tarsus’s Irvine office, with a hybrid work environment and remote work as an option. Some travel may be required, up to 25%. The position reports directly to the VP, Finance. The expected base salary range is $226,500–$317,100, plus bonus, stock equity, and comprehensive benefits.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting.
• 12+ years of progressive financial planning and analysis experience, including significant experience within publicly traded life sciences companies.
• Hands-on experience with clinical trial forecasting and modeling, and R&D forecasting and accruals, including late-stage (Phase 3) programs.
• In-house experience owning budgeting and forecasting processes and partnering directly with the business.
• Demonstrated collaboration, stakeholder relationship management, and ability to influence decision-makers, including confidence advising and challenging VP- and C-level leaders.
• Well-developed analytical skills and ability to turn data into analysis and insight.
• Strong financial modeling skills and proficiency in Excel.
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, including the ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights for non-financial audiences and explain financial concepts to stakeholders with varying levels of financial experience.
• Self-motivated, with a strong work ethic, urgency, ownership, and accountability in a rapidly growing biotech environment.
• Process-oriented approach and experience in process design, implementation, and improvement.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to build cross-functional partnerships.
• Leadership capabilities including empowering others, developing talent, fostering trust and psychological safety, navigating interpersonal dynamics, and building organizational capacity.
• Business acumen to anticipate market dynamics and use financial and strategic insight to guide investments, manage risk, and align priorities with long-term organizational value.
• Innovative mindset, including championing ideas and translating innovation into sustainable growth and organizational resilience.

Nice To Haves

• CPA or MBA.
• 15+ years of FP&A experience.
• Pharmaceutical industry experience, especially late-stage clinical trial experience.
• Working knowledge of GAAP.
• Experience with Adaptive Insights / Adaptive Planning (Workday) or a comparable planning tool such as Anaplan or Hyperion, and with NetSuite.
• Experience scaling finance processes within a rapidly growing biotech company.
• Global or international exposure.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain cross-functional business partnerships, embedding Finance in decision-making to budget, forecast, and track activities.
• Lead annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting for R&D and Operations, working particularly with Program Team Leads.
• Prepare monthly internal financial management reporting packages; analyze actual-versus-budget variances, investigate major discrepancies, and explain key business drivers.
• Drive R&D and Operations strategic planning for the annual long-range plan to support investment decisions across internal programs and opportunities.
• Provide stakeholders with proactive financial recommendations supported by robust analysis and clear delivery.
• Support clinical trial accruals, including review of Contract Research Organization reports, patient costs, and site payments.
• Review clinical and supply chain contracts and amendments to assess financial impacts.
• Perform ad hoc analyses and special projects, providing timely and accurate financial insights for organizational initiatives.
• Improve processes and efficiencies in financial planning, analysis, and reporting-package production.
• Hire, coach, and mentor direct reports and adjacent team members, fostering engagement, performance, collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Present analysis and strategic insights to the Executive Team to support financial decision-making.

Benefits

• Health insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and personal days.
• Bonus.
• Stock equity.
• Onsite gym, pool, snacks, drinks, and occasional catered meals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior