Associate Director, SEC Reporting & Technical Accounting

Vaco by Highspring; San Mateo (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonuses

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking an Associate Director of SEC Reporting & Technical Accounting to lead external filings, support complex accounting matters, and scale reporting within a growing life sciences company.

The role combines hands-on execution with cross-functional collaboration, mentoring, and process improvements in a hybrid San Mateo office with CPA preferred and 10+ years of experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance required.
• CPA strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and external reporting requirements.
• Experience preparing public company filings and disclosures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and review of quarterly and annual external filings and disclosures.
• Prepare and review financial statements, footnotes, and schedules in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
• Coordinate reporting with Accounting, FP&A, Legal, external auditors, and stakeholders.
• Research and document technical accounting issues for complex transactions.
• Draft technical memoranda and communicate conclusions to management.
• Support accounting for leases and other complex areas.
• Mentor and develop team members.
• Drive process improvements in reporting, compliance, and internal controls.

Skills

U.S. GAAP

Technical accounting

External financial reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA

Job description

Associate Director, SEC Reporting & Technical Accounting

Our client, a publicly traded life sciences company, is seeking an Associate Director of SEC Reporting & Technical Accounting to play a key role in its financial reporting and technical accounting organization.

Location:

San Mateo, CA. This role is hybrid with in-office expectations 3 days/week.

Job Description:

This highly visible position will lead external reporting processes, support complex accounting matters, and help scale reporting capabilities within a growing organization. The ideal candidate is a technically strong accounting professional who enjoys hands-on execution, cross-functional collaboration, and process improvement in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the preparation and review of quarterly and annual external financial filings and related disclosures.
• Prepare and review financial statements, footnotes, and supporting schedules in accordance with U.S. GAAP and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Coordinate reporting activities with Accounting, FP&A, Legal, external auditors, and other key stakeholders.
• Research, analyze, and document technical accounting issues related to complex transactions and new accounting guidance.
• Draft technical accounting memoranda and communicate conclusions to management and business partners.
• Support accounting for lease arrangements and other complex accounting areas.
• Manage and mentor team members, providing guidance, oversight, and professional development support.
• Drive process improvements and help enhance reporting, compliance, and internal control frameworks.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including public accounting and/or public company reporting experience.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, technical accounting, and external financial reporting requirements.
• Experience preparing and reviewing public company filings and financial disclosures.
• Proven ability to research and document complex accounting issues and communicate recommendations effectively.
• Experience managing or mentoring team members preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, growth‑oriented environment.

Compensation

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors, including but not limited to:

• The individual's skill sets, experience, and training;
• Licensure and certifications;
• Office location and other geographic considerations;
• Other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco by Highspring notes that the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan.

• discretionary bonuses
• medical, dental, and vision benefits
• company's 401(k) retirement plan

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (\"we,\" \"our,\" or \"Vaco by Highspring\") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations; and
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).