Staff Accountant

PhaseWell Research; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

PhaseWell Research is seeking a Staff Accountant to support general ledger maintenance, AP/AR, month-end close, and financial reporting at its Corporate Headquarters in Nashville, TN. The role collaborates with site leaders and reports to the Controller, contributing to revenue recognition under US GAAP and integration of acquired entities.

The ideal candidate has GAAP knowledge, 1–2 years of accounting/finance experience, and is energized by growth in a fast-scaling clinical trial site network.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related major.
• CPA or public accounting experience with at least 1 year.
• Experience in pharmaceutical/CRO/healthcare industries preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain general ledger and month-end close processes.
• Process accounts payable and accounts receivable; manage invoicing and billing.
• Prepare monthly/quarterly financial reports and analyze revenue, expenses, and margins.
• Support integration efforts for newly acquired entities and drive process improvements.

Skills

Analytical skills

Financial modeling

Negotiation

Communication

Detail-oriented

Cross-functional collaboration

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance or related

CPA or public accounting experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

CTMS

Contract lifecycle management tools

Job description

Description

Department: Accounting

Reports to: Controller

Location: Corporate Headquarters, Nashville, TN

Opportunity Overview

PhaseWell Research (“PhaseWell”) is seeking a detail-oriented and motivated Staff Accountant to support core accounting operations including general ledger maintenance, accounts payable and receivable, month-end close activities, and financial reporting. This represents a unique opportunity to join the corporate team of a newly formed and fast-scaling clinical research site organization. This position is based at PhaseWell’s corporate headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee.

PhaseWell launched its platform by acquiring two anchor sites, Renstar Medical Research and Gabrail Cancer Research Center (GCCR), each with a decades-long track record of excellence in clinical trials. PhaseWell acquired Bio Behavioral Health, Chase Medical Research, Latin Clinical Trial Center and Community Clinical Research in 2026. These sites are now being integrated into a unified, high-performing clinical trial site network. PhaseWell is backed by Shore Capital, a Chicago-based private equity firm, and competes in the rapidly expanding $7 billion SMO market (projected to exceed $12 billion by 2032), executing a clear thesis to scale through operational excellence and strategic M&A.

PhaseWell is led by CEO, Carsten Bick (online profile here) and CFO, Roberto Ramirez (online profile here).

Position Summary

As an integral member of the accounting team, the Revenue Accountant will collaborate closely with site leaders, embodying and supporting the PhaseWell culture and values. The Revenue Accountant will report directly to the Controller and will work closely with clinical research site leaders and personnel to understand the operational aspects of revenue recognition and translate that to financial recognition under US GAAP. This position will also work closely with the executive leadership team, including the CFO and Chief of Staff, to help with revenue recognition of newly acquired entities.

The Staff Accountant will play a key role in supporting daily and monthly accounting processes, ensuring accurate financial reporting, and maintaining strong internal controls. The ideal candidate is a structured thinker and has a solid understanding of GAAP and experience working in service-based industries, preferably in life sciences, CROs or healthcare. As PhaseWell continues to grow, this individual will be well-positioned to take on increasing levels of responsibility and leadership across a range of finance and accounting paths.

General Ledger & Month-End Close

• Prepare journal entries and maintain the general ledger.
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts monthly, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Assist with month-end close, including accruals, account reconciliations, and variance analyses.
• Support preparation of monthly financial statements and management reports.

Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable

• Process vendor invoices, ensure proper coding, and obtain necessary approvals.
• Generate, review, and send timely and accurate customer invoices based on contract terms.
• Track billable activities (e.g., patient visits, data submission, milestones) using internal systems.
• Maintain customer billing profiles and ensure compliance with client invoicing requirements.
• Collaborate with project managers and clinical teams to resolve invoice discrepancies.
• Collect and validate supporting documentation from clinical, regulatory, and project management teams for all triggered billable items.
• Monitor A/P and A/R aging reports and follow up on outstanding balances.

Financial Analysis & Reporting

• Assist with preparation of monthly and quarterly financial reports.
• Perform regular financial analysis on revenue streams, expenses, margins, and billing trends.
• Prepare forecasts and contribute to annual budgeting and quarterly reforecasting.
• Partner with the Controller on cash management and forecasting efforts, while identifying opportunities to further optimize working capital.
• Support the Controller and CFO with establishing KPIs to track financial performance, including revenue growth, EBITDA, cash flow, and operating margin.
• Assist with financial models, study profitability reviews, and ad-hoc data analyses.
• Participate and support with external audit and tax return preparation.

Integration, Process Improvements & Other Activities

• Assist the sites and Controller with implementing accounting systems, processes, and procedures to promote strong internal controls with a continuous focus on process improvement
• Optimize accounting function through process automation and exploration / application of AI tools
• Oversee the conversion from manual, spreadsheet-based billing to a CTMS-driven process, leading implementation, ensuring uninterrupted accuracy and timeliness, and establishing standardized workflows for long-term efficiency
• Standardize financial processes across newly acquired locations
• Assist in diligence and integration of M&A targets, ensuring seamless accounting and reporting consolidation
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of the integration playbook
• Maintain honest and ethical conduct at all times, serving as a positive cultural steward for the organization

About Shore Capital Partners

Shore Capital, a Chicago-based private equity firm with offices in Nashville, is an investor in lower middle market companies in the Healthcare, Food and Beverage, Business Services, Industrial, and Real Estate industries. Shore’s strategy is to support management partners to grow faster with less risk through access to capital, world‑class board and operational resources, and unmatched networking, development, and shared learnings across the portfolio. From 2020-2023, Shore received recognition from Inc Magazine as a 4x Top Founder Friendly Investor and by Pitchbook Research for being the global leader in Private Equity total deal volume.

Shore targets investments in proven, successful private companies with superior management teams, stable cash flow, and significant potential to grow through industry consolidation and organic growth to generate value for shareholders. Shore has $11.5 billion of assets under management and in additional investment platforms to which it provides business and operational consulting services. Shore’s exits have yielded a multiple of invested capital of 6.7x and an internal rate of return of 61.1% on average, which places SCP in the top 1% of private equity firms. For more information on these awards and investment platforms, please visit: www.shorecp.com.

Requirements

Qualifications

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual with at least one to two years of relevant accounting or finance experience to join an entrepreneurial environment and help establish a solid accounting function for a high-growth company.

Qualifications of the successful candidate will include:

Key Competencies

• Entrepreneurial – an independent thinker, high aptitude, resilient, comfortable with risks and setbacks. Ability to operate in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment while making data-driven decisions
• Adaptability – fast learner open to change, new ideas, new technology, and shifting priorities. Comfortable shifting between tactical execution and strategic financial analysis
• Effective Collaborator and Communicator – proactively engages with cross-functional teams to contribute to successful achievement of goals
• Relationship Builder – connect with internal team members and maintain a customer orientation towards affiliate practices and their administrative teams
• Results Orientation – sharp focus and sense of urgency demonstrated in meeting deadlines and goals while retaining a strong commitment to accuracy
• Technical Skills – mastery of relevant financial and accounting skills, with the ability to shift between strategic and tactical activities on a fluid, as-needed basis
• Detail-oriented – strong critical thinking skills and logical judgment

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related major
• Master’s degree or MBA viewed favorably

Experience

• CPA or public accounting, with a minimum of 1 year of total experience
• Advanced Microsoft Office capabilities, including strong Microsoft Excel expertise and ability to construct well-organized financial analysis and models
• High Preference
  • Prior pharmaceutical, contract research organization (CRO), or biotechnology experience
  • Familiarity with clinical trial management systems and/or contract lifecycle management tools
  • Prior budget development and forward-looking financial analysis
• Viewed Favorably
  • Private Equity portfolio company experience
  • Multi-site healthcare experience
  • High-velocity M&A and integration experience

Skills

• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills
• Excellent negotiation and communication abilities
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team environment
• Strong relationship-building skills focused on durable industry partnerships

Physical Requirements

• Primarily office-based with fieldwork / travel tied to site visits, conferences, etc.
• In-person 5 days a week
• Ability to travel to clinical trial sites occasionally (< 10% of time)

Compensation

Competitive salary and equity opportunity commensurate with experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities.

FLSA Status: Exempt

This position is classified as Exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), meaning the employee is not entitled to overtime pay for hours worked over 40 hours per week