Job Details

Company Overview

Programmable Medicine is a pre-revenue, clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing innovative therapies for patients with serious diseases. The company operates across multiple legal entities and partners with external CROs, CMOs, and research institutions globally. Backed by leading venture capital investors, Programmable Medicine is building a scalable finance function to support rapid growth and pipeline advancement.

The Controller will be a key member of the finance leadership team, responsible for building and overseeing the company's accounting operations, financial reporting, and internal controls. This role requires deep technical accounting expertise, hands-on execution, and experience supporting venture-backed, pre-commercial life sciences companies with complex entity structures.

The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment, can operate both strategically and tactically, and has experience partnering closely with FP&A, Legal, Tax, and external auditors. Must be able to work on-site a minimum of 4 days per week.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting & Close

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes across multiple legal entities
• Ensure accurate and timely preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP
• Develop and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and documentation
• Oversee general ledger activity, account reconciliations, and journal entries

Technical Accounting

• Manage complex accounting areas including:
• Equity and share-based compensation (ASC 718)
• Collaboration and licensing arrangements
• R&D expense accruals and clinical trial accounting
• Intercompany revenue, eliminations and consolidation
• Manage technical accounting for complex capital structures, including debt, warrants, embedded derivatives, and related valuation considerations.
• Leases (ASC 842)
• Prepare technical accounting memos and support conclusions with appropriate documentation

Audit, Tax & Compliance

• Serve as primary point of contact for external auditors and advisors
• Manage annual financial statement audits
• Coordinate income tax provision support and entity-level compliance and tax returns with external tax firms
• Ensure compliance with statutory reporting requirements across domestic and international entities

Systems & Controls

• Implement and optimize accounting systems, processes, and internal controls as the company scales
• Support SOX-readiness and control framework development (as applicable)
• Partner with FP&A to ensure alignment between actuals, forecasts, and budgets

Team & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Build, mentor, and manage a growing accounting team
• Collaborate closely with Legal on entity management, contracts, and equity matters
• Support due diligence activities related to financings, partnerships, and potential transactions
• Act as a trusted business partner to R&D, Operations, and Executive Leadership

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance (CPA strongly preferred)
• A minimum of 12 years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 3 years of biotech or life sciences
• Experience in a pre-revenue or clinical-stage company with multiple entities
• Exposure to international subsidiaries and intercompany accounting
• Strong U.S. GAAP knowledge and technical accounting skills
• Hands-on experience leading audits and working with external advisors
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with accounting systems

Preferred

• Big Four or national public accounting firm background
• Experience supporting venture-backed or high-growth companies
• Prior experience building accounting infrastructure from an early stage

What We Can Offer You

This is a unique opportunity to join a team focused on a new class of precision medicines that selectively treat diseased cells in regions of inflammation. By making precision medicine even more precise, our nanomedicine technology has the potential to change the standard of care across ophthalmology, neurology, inflammatory diseases and neuro-oncology.

We have a comprehensive total compensation package including fully paid medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family. We want all of our employees to have the opportunity to become shareholders and offer new hire stock options. The Company also offers participation in the annual bonus program. The salary range for this position is $220,000 - $275,000 annually. We consider various factors when determining the base compensation, including market survey data, experience, qualifications, and geographic location, which means that the actual compensation may vary