Leads financial oversight for clinical studies from planning through closeout. Responsibilities include preparing clinical trial accruals, forecasting study costs, managing CRO and vendor finances, overseeing budgets and commitments, analyzing variances, and supporting portfolio planning and executive decision-making. Partners closely with Clinical Operations, Accounting, CROs, and leadership to ensure accurate expense recognition and actionable financial insights.
Job Title: Director / Associate Director, Clinical Finance & Accounting
Location: San Francisco, CA
Position Description:
The Director / Associate Director, Clinical Finance & Accounting will report directly to the Senior Director of Finance and serve as the finance lead supporting the Company's clinical development organization. This role owns the financial oversight of clinical studies from planning through closeout, with primary accountability for clinical accrual preparation, study forecasting, and CRO financial management.
Working directly with Clinical Operations, Accounting, and external CRO partners, this individual will ensure timely and supportable recognition of clinical trial expenses; develop reliable forecasts for current and future studies; and provide actionable financial insights to guide resource allocation and strategic decision-making.
Position Responsibilities:
- Lead the preparation and review of monthly and quarterly clinical trial accruals.
- Serve as the primary Finance partner to CROs and other clinical vendors.
- Develop and maintain forecasts for ongoing clinical studies and future development programs.
- Partner with Clinical Operations to translate study execution assumptions into financial projections.
- Manage study budgets, vendor commitments, and clinical development spending.
- Provide financial analysis, variance reporting, and portfolio planning support to executive leadership.
Experience and Required Skills:
- Requires a strong financial background with a bachelor's degree in business, accounting or finance and CPA certification.
- Minimum of 8+ years of experience in an accounting/finance role working in fast growing life sciences organizations.
- Experience supporting outsourced clinical development programs and working directly with CROs.
- Experience with clinical trial budgeting, forecasting, and accruals across multiple studies.
- Experience with ERP and financial planning systems (e.g., NetSuite, Adaptive).
- Self-starter with good analytical skills, builds strong relationships, has a proven track record of client/vendor management, and possesses excellent business communications skills including writing and presentation capabilities.
- Ability to communicate (orally and in writing) professionally when dealing with company leadership, employees and vendors.
Similar Jobs
Fintech • Legal Tech • Software • Financial Services • Cybersecurity • Data Privacy
Leads a global Windows infrastructure engineering team supporting on-premises and Azure compute environments. Responsibilities include people leadership, project and incident delegation, change governance, escalation management, vulnerability remediation, roadmap development, technical debt reduction, licensing management, and operational SLA oversight. The role also requires hands-on expertise with Windows Server, Azure or AWS, infrastructure automation, PowerShell, Active Directory, MECM/SCCM, virtualization, hybrid cloud architecture, and technical documentation.
Top Skills:
Active DirectoryAmazon AwsAnsibleAzure DevopsGitGroup PolicyItilKubernetesMecm/SccmAzureMicrosoft Windows ServerNutanix AhvPowershellPowershell UniversalPythonRed Hat OpenshiftServicenowYaml
Big Data • Cloud • Software • Database
Sources candidates for niche and business-critical roles by developing targeted search strategies, researching talent markets, engaging passive candidates, nurturing relationships, qualifying prospects, and presenting documented talent pipelines to recruiters and hiring managers. Maintains CRM and ATS data quality while sharing market intelligence and using AI and sourcing tools to improve research and outreach.
Top Skills:
AtsCRMGemGitLinkedin RecruiterSeekoutX-Ray Search
Cloud • Computer Vision • Information Technology • Sales • Security • Cybersecurity
Supports CrowdStrike’s Insider Risk Program through workflow automation, scripting, dashboard and reporting development, integration testing, documentation, training improvements, and counterintelligence briefings. The intern analyzes synthetic cases, handles sensitive information using privacy and need-to-know principles, collaborates with security and business teams, and presents project impact to leadership.
Top Skills:
Ai TechnologiesAPIsData Visualization ToolsOsint ToolsPowershellPython
What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene
Los Angeles is a global leader in entertainment, so it’s no surprise that many of the biggest players in streaming, digital media and game development call the city home. But the city boasts plenty of non-entertainment innovation as well, with tech companies spanning verticals like AI, fintech, e-commerce and biotech. With major universities like Caltech, UCLA, USC and the nearby UC Irvine, the city has a steady supply of top-flight tech and engineering talent — not counting the graduates flocking to Los Angeles from across the world to enjoy its beaches, culture and year-round temperate climate.
Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
- Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering
