Director/Sr. Director, Corporate Controller

Frontier Medicines; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care plan

401(k)

Life insurance

Paid time off

Family leave

Disability insurance

Training & development

Free food & snacks

Wellness resources

Stock option plan

Job summary

Frontier Medicines is seeking a Director/Senior Director, Corporate Controller to lead the accounting organization and build a scalable foundation for growth. You will own the close, audit execution, and internal controls, partnering with the Vice President of Finance on SEC reporting and complex technical accounting.

The role leads a lean internal team and collaborates with external partners, focusing on improving quality, efficiency, and clarity of ownership as Frontier advances toward larger

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience in a public company or IPO-track environment.
• Strong command of U.S. GAAP and internal controls over financial reporting, with practical SOX readiness experience.
• Hands-on ownership of monthly, quarterly, and annual close with leadership responsibilities.
• Technical depth in clinical and R&D accruals, stock-based compensation, equity/debt transactions, and leases.
• Demonstrated ability to build teams, improve close processes, and lead in a lean organization.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly close process and deliver accurate, timely financial information per U.S. GAAP.
• Review journal entries, reconciliations, and supporting schedules with audit-ready rigor.
• Lead day-to-day accounting operations including payroll, AP, cash, and equity administration.
• Own accruals for CRO/CMO programs, with reliable estimates for audits.
• Design and maintain internal controls over financial reporting.
• Coordinate income tax provision and compliance with external advisors.
• Partner with executives to translate accounting conclusions into repeatable processes.

Skills

Public company close ownership

Strong communication

Lean leadership

SOX readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance

CPA

Tools

NetSuite

SEC reporting tools

Job description

Frontier is entering an important stage of growth as its pipeline advances, its development activities and partnerships expand, and the Company prepares for the requirements of a public company. We are looking for a Director/Senior Director, Corporate Controller to lead the day-to-day accounting organization and build a reliable, scalable operating foundation needed to support the Company’s growth. Reporting to the Vice President, Finance, this person will own the financial close, audit execution, accounting operations, and internal controls, and will build the accounting organization that supports the next stage of the Company’s growth.

This is a hands on role for someone who enjoys making the accounting engine work: shortening the close, improving the quality of support, building controls that fit how the business operates, clarifying ownership, and developing a strong team. The Controller will partner closely with the Vice President, Finance on SEC reporting and complex technical accounting, while owning the accounting data, schedules, controls, and operational implementation that underpin those workstreams.

The Controller leads a lean internal team alongside a set of external partners, and will shape how that organization is built out over the next two years. This is a rare opportunity to build on an established accounting foundation and strengthen the people, processes, systems, and controls needed as Frontier’s pipeline advances and its reporting requirements become more complex.

What will you be doing?

Lead the accounting operation and close

• Own the monthly close process, including the close calendar, responsibilities, review standards, and delivery of accurate, timely financial information in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
• Review journal entries, account reconciliations, flux analyses, and supporting schedules with the judgment and attention to detail expected in a public-company environment.
• Lead all day-to-day accounting operations, including payroll, accounts payable, cash, and equity administration.
• Own the clinical and R&D accrual process end to end, including building and maintaining accrual workbooks for new programs and trials from CRO and CMO contracts, enrollment and site activation data, and vendor spend, so that estimates are supportable and stand up to audit scrutiny.
• Own accounting for other areas of increased complexity, including collaboration and licensing arrangements, VIE consolidation, and other matters relevant to a clinical-stage biotechnology company.
• Establish and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and documentation, and ensure that technical conclusions are consistently implemented in the close.
• Manage outsourced accounting, tax, payroll, valuation, and other service providers, bringing work in-house as needed to improve quality, accountability, or efficiency.

Deliver audit-ready reporting and a strong control environment

• Serve as the primary operational contact for the external auditors, and coordinate annual audits and quarterly reviews through completion.
• Prepare the financial statements, disclosure schedules, tie-outs, and audit evidence that support periodic reporting and registration statements.
• Partner with the Vice President, Finance on SEC reporting and technical accounting, including new accounting standards and judgmental matters, and translate conclusions into repeatable processes and controls.
• Design, document, and maintain internal controls over financial reporting, including process narratives, control matrices, evidence standards, and testing support.
• Coordinate the income tax provision and compliance activities with external advisors, and maintain appropriate support for tax, statutory, and other regulatory requirements.
• Support clear, decision-useful reporting for executive leadership and the Audit Committee on quarterly results, key judgments, control matters, and audit status.

Build the team and systems for scale

• Lead, coach, and develop the accounting team, creating clear ownership, strong review practices, and meaningful growth opportunities.
• Assess the future-state accounting organization and use internal talent and external resources thoughtfully as Frontier grows.
• Improve the close and the accounting operating model through standardization, automation, and disciplined project management.
• Own and optimize accounting systems and related workflows, including the ERP, close management, accounts payable, payroll, and equity administration tools.
• Partner with Clinical, Research, CMC, Legal, People, Procurement, and other teams to improve source data, accruals, contracting workflows, and financial accountability.
• Oversee daily treasury and cash operations, and provide the accurate actuals and accruals that support budgeting, forecasting, and cash planning led by the broader Finance team.

What are we looking for?

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Hands-on ownership of the monthly, quarterly, and annual close in a public company or an IPO-track environment, together with meaningful leadership responsibility. This typically reflects 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, though we care more about the depth of what you have owned than the number of years.
• Public accounting experience, ideally with a Big Four or national firm, followed by accounting leadership in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or life sciences.
• Strong command of U.S. GAAP and internal controls over financial reporting, with practical SOX readiness or compliance experience.
• Technical depth in clinical and R&D accruals, stock-based compensation, equity and debt transactions, and leases.
• A record of building teams and improving close processes in a lean organization, and a hands‑on, low‑ego leadership style.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to translate accounting issues into practical guidance for business partners and senior leaders.

Preferred

• Active CPA.
• Experience supporting an IPO, registration statement, or newly public company, including work alongside external auditors and counsel.
• Experience with collaboration and license accounting and revenue recognition in a partnered biotech.
• Experience with NetSuite or a comparable ERP, and familiarity with close-management, equity-administration, and SEC-reporting tools.

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Free Food & Snacks
• Wellness Resources
• Stock Option Plan

At Frontier, we strive to build a diverse and equitable workplace. The salary range for this role is $200,000 to $290,000. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including candidates’ qualifications, skills, competencies and experience. Frontier offers a competitive total rewards package which includes healthcare coverage, 401k and a broad range of other benefits.

This compensation and benefits information is based on Frontier’s knowledge as of the date of publication, and may be modified in the future.