Vice President, Finance

Flagship Pioneering; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 265,000 - 330,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Annual incentive program

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Flagship Pioneering seeks a seasoned VP of Finance to partner with early‑stage platform companies in its portfolio, guiding financial strategy and overseeing month‑end close, cash management, budgeting, and forecasting.

You will work with platform leadership, PBU, and FP&A to build value maps, manage debt strategy, and provide ad hoc strategic analysis. The role combines hands‑on financial control with strategic business partnering in a fast‑moving biotech environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of financial and accounting experience in life sciences/biotech.
• MBA and/or CPA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with platform leadership to develop long‑term plans and detailed financial models.
• Partner with PBU Leadership, Flagship Labs Leadership, and FP&A to create value maps for portfolio companies.
• Oversee cash flow planning aligned with financing needs and scientific milestones.
• Manage annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and long‑range plans for portfolio companies with FP&A.
• Prepare financial materials for Board meetings and governance activities.
• Oversee Venture Debt strategy, execution, and governance across Flagship Lab.
• Coordinate with Facilities to optimize space and plan for headcount growth and capital needs.
• Lead high‑impact projects and implement standardized processes across startups.
• Provide ad hoc financial reporting and strategic analysis as needed.

Skills

Business acumen

Project management

Presentation skills

Strategic finance

Education

BS/BA in accounting or finance

MBA and/or CPA preferred

Job description

Who We Are

Flagship Pioneering is a biotechnology company that invents and builds platform companies that change the world. We bring together the greatest scientific minds with entrepreneurial company builders and assemble capital to allow them to take courageous leaps. Those big leaps in human health and sustainability exponentially accelerate scientific progress in areas ranging from cancer detection and treatment to nature‑positive agriculture. We unite life science innovation, company creation, and capital investment under one roof in a way that is largely without precedent. Our scientific founders, entrepreneurial leaders, and professional capital managers are each aligned around an institutionalized process that enables us to innovate and transform for the benefit of people and planet. Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID‑19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture. Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list and twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies.

Position Summary

The VP of Finance at Flagship Labs will serve as a strategic finance partner to a portfolio of early‑stage platform companies (pre‑Series A through Series B). This individual will advise company leadership on financial strategy while overseeing the day‑to‑day financial operations of each portfolio company, including month‑end closing, cash management, budgeting and forecasting, administrative functions, and technology oversight.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with platform company leadership teams to develop long‑term strategic plans, define key milestones, and build detailed financial models and projections
• Partner with Pioneering Business Unit (PBU) Leadership, Flagship Labs Leadership, Business Analytics and Pipeline & Product Innovation (PPI) team to create value maps with potential unlocks for portfolio companies
• Oversee cash flow planning in alignment with financing requirements and scientific milestones
• Oversee annual budgets, rolling monthly forecasts and long‑range plans for responsible portfolio companies in partnership with FP&A
• Prepare financial materials for Board of Directors meetings and other governance meetings. Support corporate governance activities
• Oversee the Venture Debt strategy, execution, and governance across Flagship Lab, ensuring disciplined paydowns, amortization schedules, vehicle drawdowns & extensions and financials reporting
• Partner with the Flagship Facilities team to strategically optimize space allocation across portfolio companies, proactively planning for headcount growth and evolving capital requirements
• Drive high‑impact projects typical of rapidly scaling biotechnology startups, including efficient system implementations, standardized processes, and operational process improvements across portfolio companies
• Provide ad hoc financial reporting and strategic analysis as needed

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of financial and accounting experience in the life sciences/biotechnology industry. Experience in a company that completed a successful IPO is a plus
• BS/BA in accounting or finance; MBA and/or CPA preferred
• Strong business acumen: proven ability to effectively scrutinize and challenge assumptions and interpret the strategy and priorities of the organization in financial terms
• Excellent project management / consultative skills with demonstrated track record and ability to manage competing priorities and stakeholders
• Strong presentation skills to deliver succinctly and effectively deliver recommendations to senior leaders and frame complex concepts

Equal Employment Opportunity

Flagship Pioneering and our ecosystem companies are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Benefits and Compensation

The salary range for this role is $265,000 - $330,000. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Flagship Pioneering currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on Flagship Pioneering's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.