About the company
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Associate Director, FP&A based in the United States. As Associate Director, FP&A, you will lead financial planning, forecasting, and analysis to support critical investment decisions across clinical development programs. You'll own financial models that guide budgeting, cash management, resource allocation, and long-term business planning. Working closely with Clinical Operations, R&D, Accounting, HR, and executive leadership, you'll translate complex financial data into actionable business insights. This is a hands-on leadership role in a small, fully remote biopharmaceutical environment.
Responsibilities
- Own the annual budgeting process, quarterly reforecasts, and long-range financial planning, including consolidated operating expense, headcount, and cash flow models.
- Develop and maintain cash runway and burn rate forecasts, incorporating scenario and sensitivity analyses linked to clinical development timelines and funding requirements.
- Partner with Clinical Operations to translate enrollment assumptions, site activation plans, CRO contracts, and contract changes into clinical program expense forecasts and cash flow projections.
- Support headcount and personnel cost planning, including stock-based compensation assumptions, in collaboration with HR and Accounting.
- Serve as the primary FP&A partner to clinical program teams and functional leaders, integrating financial insights into operational planning and day-to-day decision-making.
- Evaluate strategic opportunities, investment trade-offs, and resource allocation priorities, challenging assumptions and supporting financially disciplined decisions.
- Identify emerging financial risks and opportunities, communicate them proactively, and recommend practical solutions.
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting packages for the CFO, senior leadership, and Board of Directors, including budget-to-actual variance analysis and explanations of key financial drivers.
- Support the accounting close process, working with Accounting on clinical trial accruals and other research and development expenses.
- Prepare financial analyses and supporting schedules for external reporting, including quarterly and annual SEC filings and earnings materials, in coordination with Accounting, Legal, and Investor Relations.
- Maintain accuracy and consistency across financial models, source systems, forecasts, and reporting deliverables.
- Improve financial planning systems, reporting capabilities, and analytics, evaluating planning platforms and clinical trial financial management tools where appropriate.
- Promote the use of AI and automation to streamline recurring FP&A activities, reduce manual work, and increase capacity for strategic analysis.
- Document and enhance financial planning and reporting processes to support future clinical milestones, potential regulatory submissions, and commercial launch preparation.
- Communicate financial findings and recommendations clearly to stakeholders with varying levels of financial expertise.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
- At least 10 years of progressive experience in FP&A or corporate finance, including a minimum of 5 years supporting biotechnology or pharmaceutical research and development.
- Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills, with demonstrated ownership of operating expense and cash forecasting models from initial development through executive and Board-level presentations.
- Working knowledge of US GAAP, financial forecasting methodologies, clinical program accruals, and R&D expense recognition.
- Experience supporting public company reporting cycles, including quarterly close processes, SEC filing inputs, and Board reporting.
- Proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders, build effective business partnerships, and communicate financial insights to senior executives.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate complex financial scenarios, identify risks, and recommend resource allocation decisions.
- Ability to work independently, navigate ambiguity, and build effective financial processes in a small, fully remote organization with limited infrastructure.
- Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to maintaining reliable financial data and reporting accuracy.
- An MBA, CPA, or CFA designation is preferred.
- Experience with NetSuite or a comparable ERP system and financial planning platforms such as Workday Adaptive Planning, Vena, Planful, or Anaplan is an advantage.
- Familiarity with clinical trial financial management tools, such as Condor or Auxilius, and clinical source systems such as CTMS, EDC, or IRT is desirable.
- Experience applying AI and automation tools to financial analysis, reporting, and business decision-making is beneficial.
- Experience supporting a company through a Phase 3 clinical readout, New Drug Application (NDA) submission, or commercial launch preparation is a plus.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Willingness to travel less than 10% for leadership meetings, Board meetings, and industry conferences.
Conditions
- Annual base salary of $165,000–$195,000.
- Fully remote work within the United States.
- Opportunities to influence strategic financial decisions in a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical environment.