Assistant Director, Finance - Global Product Strategy & Operations (GPSO)

Ionis-Pharmaceuticals; Carlsbad (CA); Hybrid; USD 112,000 - 156,000; Full time

Job summary

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Carlsbad, California, is seeking an Assistant Director, Finance to serve as the primary finance partner to Medical Affairs, Insights & Analytics, and New Product Planning within GPSO. The role leads financial planning, forecasting, close support, and management reporting, translating complex financial data into actionable business recommendations.

The Assistant Director will build executive-ready presentations and collaborate across senior leadership,

Qualifications

• BS degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or related discipline with 8+ years of experience, or MBA with 6+ years.
• At least 5+ years in Finance, FP&A, Accounting, or Finance Business Partner roles.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders and delivering data-driven recommendations.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning, and management reporting.
• Ability to develop executive-level presentations.
• Life sciences/biotech industry experience preferred and GAAP knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead finance partner for Medical Affairs, Insights & Analytics and New Product Planning with guidance and decision support.
• Build trusted relationships and advise on investment decisions and resource allocation.
• Lead annual budget, quarterly forecasts, long-range planning, and monthly reviews.
• Deliver executive-ready analyses and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Prepare presentations and communicate key drivers, risks, and opportunities.
• Evaluate spending trends and ensure alignment with priorities.
• Identify risks/opportunities and provide actionable recommendations.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance financial models, tools, and reporting.
• Improve efficiency and scalability of planning and reporting processes.
• Partner with Accounting on close activities and policy compliance.
• Support special projects and ad hoc analyses.

Skills

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

Excel

PowerPoint

Forecasting

Budgeting

Financial modeling

GAAP knowledge

Education

BS in Finance/Accounting/Business/Economics or related

MBA

Tools

SAP

OneStream

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

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Assistant Director, Finance - Global Product Strategy & Operations (GPSO)

• Posted on November 4, 2026

Locations

Showing 1 location

Hybrid - CA
Carlsbad, CA, USA

+1 more locations

• General & Administrative - Ionis
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: IONIS004163

Description

Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and Dublin, Ireland, Ionis has been at work for more than three decades discovering medical breakthroughs that have redefined life for people with serious diseases. We’re pioneers in RNA-targeted medicines, and our platform continues to revolutionize drug discovery and transform lives for patients with unmet needs. With multiple marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in neurology, cardiology and select areas of high patient needs, we continue to drive innovation in RNA therapies in addition to advancing new approaches in gene editing to provide greater value to patients and are well positioned financially to deliver on our strategic goals.

At Ionis, we pride ourselves on cultivating a challenging, motivating and rewarding environment that fosters innovation and scientific excellence. We know that our success is a direct result of the exceptional talents and dedication of our employees.

With an unprecedented opportunity to change the course of human health, we look to add diverse individuals, skill sets and perspectives to our exceptional team. We continue to invest time, money and energy into making our onsite, hybrid and remote work environments a place where solid and lasting relationships are built and where our culture and employees can thrive.

We’re building on our rich history, and we believe our greatest achievements are ahead of us. If you’re passionate about the opportunity to have meaningful impact on patients in need, we invite you to apply and join us. Experience and contribute to our unique culture while you develop and expand your career!

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, FINANCE - GLOBAL PRODUCT STRATEGY & OPERATIONS (GPSO)

SUMMARY:

We are seeking an Assistant Director, Finance, to serve as the primary finance business partner to the Medical Affairs, Insights & Analytics (I&A), and New Product Planning functions, within the Global Product Strategy & Operations Organization (GPSO). This role is responsible for leading financial planning, forecasting, accounting close support, management reporting, and business partnering activities.

The Assistant Director will partner closely with business leaders to provide financial insights, support resource allocation decisions, identify risks and opportunities, and promote financial accountability across the organization. This individual will help inform decision-making through thoughtful analysis, proactive business partnership, and clear communication of financial performance and key business drivers.

The position requires strong financial planning and analytical capabilities, attention to detail, and the ability to build trusted partnerships with business leaders across Medical Affairs, Insights & Analytics, and New Product Planning. The successful candidate will have exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to develop executive-ready presentations and clearly communicate financial performance, risks, opportunities, and key business drivers to senior leadership. This individual must be comfortable navigating ambiguity, managing competing priorities, partnering closely with accounting on close and reporting activities, and translating complex financial and operational information into actionable business recommendations.

About Global Product Strategy & Operations (GPSO)

Global Product Strategy & Operations (GPSO) is responsible for helping shape the success of both Ionis' marketed products and future pipeline assets. By supporting Medical Affairs, Insights & Analytics, and New Product Planning, this position offers broad exposure to product strategy, market insights, lifecycle management, medical affairs operations, and commercialization planning across multiple therapeutic areas. The role provides a unique opportunity to partner closely with teams that influence both current business performance and the future growth of the organization, making it an excellent opportunity for finance professionals seeking broader exposure across the product lifecycle and commercial organization.

WORK LOCATION: onsite/hybrid - Carlsbad, CA

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the lead finance business partner for Medical Affairs, Insights & Analytics (I&A), and New Product Planning, providing financial guidance, business insights, and decision support to functional leadership.
• Build trusted relationships with business leaders and provide financial guidance on investment decisions, resource allocation, and operational initiatives.
• Lead the annual budget, quarterly forecasts, long-range planning, and monthly financial review processes for supported organizations.
• Develop and communicate financial performance updates, underlying business drivers, risks, opportunities, and recommendations to functional and senior leadership.
• Prepare and deliver executive-ready analyses, presentations, and recommendations that support decision-making by functional and senior leadership.
• Partner with business leaders to evaluate spending trends, investment opportunities, and resource requirements, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.
• Proactively identify financial risks and opportunities and provide actionable recommendations to support achievement of business objectives.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance financial models, forecasting tools, and management reporting to improve visibility and decision support.
• Drive continuous improvement of financial planning, forecasting, and reporting processes to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability across supported functions.
• Partner closely with Accounting to support monthly and quarterly close activities, including accrual preparation, variance analysis, financial reporting, and compliance with company policies.
• Support special projects, ad hoc analyses, and evolving business needs as required.

REQUIREMENTS:

• BS degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or related discipline and at least 8 years of related experience, or an MBA degree with at least 6 years of related experience.
• At least 5+ years of progressive experience in Finance, FP&A, Accounting, or Finance Business Partner roles demonstrating increased responsibility and business partnership experience.
• Demonstrated success partnering with senior business leaders and influencing decisions through financial insights and data-driven recommendations.
• Strong experience supporting annual budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning, and management reporting processes.
• Proven ability to develop executive-level presentations and communicate complex financial information to senior leadership audiences.
• Experience identifying business risks and opportunities and translating financial analyses into actionable recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and drive alignment within a matrixed organization.
• Experience supporting month-end and quarter-end close processes in partnership with Accounting.
• Strong financial modeling, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills required; SAP and OneStream experience strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of GAAP and financial accounting principles.
• Proven ability to operate independently and effectively in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
• Life sciences, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical industry experience preferred.

The pay scale for this position is $ 112,267 to $156,122

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. PRINCIPALS ONLY.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and all its subsidiaries are proud to be EEO employers.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.