Associate Director, Accounting

Associate Director, Accounting

South San Francisco, California, United States

Summary

We are seeking an experienced Associate Director of Accounting to join our Finance team. In this role, you will play a central part in ensuring the accuracy, reliability, and efficiencyof our financial operations. You'll oversee key accounting functions such as payroll and the monthly close process, while helping to deliver timely and accurate financial reporting. This position requires someone who is comfortable operating both strategically and tactically—able to dive into the details while also keeping processes moving and aligned with broader business objectives. You will also serve as a primary owner of the company's internal control environment, collaborating with auditors and cross-functional partners to build, maintain, and enhance scalable controls. The ideal candidate is proactive in identifying risk, improving processes, and driving operational efficiencies without compromising compliance or quality. In addition, you will lead and develop a growing accounting team, fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement. This role reports to the Director of Accounting / Assistant Controller.

Key Responsibilities

Core Accounting & Close

• Manage daily accounting activities, including general ledger operations, payroll, and the month-end close cycle
• Review journal entries, reconciliations, and supporting documentation to ensure accuracy and completeness

Payroll Management

• Partner with People Operations, internal accounting teams, and external payroll vendors to ensure payroll is processed accurately and in compliance with applicable requirements

Internal Controls & SOX Compliance

• Oversee SOX 404 compliance for assigned processes, including documentation, risk assessment, control design, testing, and remediation
• Act as a key point of contact for internal and external auditors

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Lead, mentor, and develop accounting staff, providing coaching, direction, and performance feedback
• Collaborate closely with teams such as FP&A, People Operations, and IT to support business needs

Process Optimization & Systems

• Identify opportunities to enhance processes, improve scalability, and strengthen controls
• Support system governance, including user access reviews and change management
• Maintain up-to-date accounting policies, procedures, and documentation to support growth

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline; CPA strongly preferred
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience
• Demonstrated experience managing payroll and overseeing the month-end close process
• Prior leadership experience with direct reports
• Strong background in SOX 404 and internal controls within a public company setting
• Deep understanding of U.S. GAAP and public company reporting requirements
• Experience working with external auditors and supporting audit processes
• Ability to work on-site 2–3 days per week

Technical Skills

• Experience with NetSuite and ADP required; familiarity with Coupa is a plus

Preferred Background

• Big 4 public accounting experience
• Experience in biotech or pre-revenue R&D organizations