Vice President, Finance

GEMMABio; Philadelphia, Northern (Philadelphia County, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

GEMMABio in Philadelphia seeks a Vice President of Finance to lead the finance function, partner with the CEO/COO on strategy, and drive financial governance and reporting. You will manage budgeting, forecasting, treasury, and controls while guiding senior leadership on capital and investment decisions.

The role requires extensive experience in finance leadership within life sciences or complex industries, and strong cross-functional collaboration to support growth and risk management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in accounting, finance, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive finance leadership experience in life sciences or similar.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial governance, and scalable processes.
• Experience building financial models and translating plans into forecasts.

Responsibilities

• Lead Finance staff and oversee accounting operations including GL, AP, AR, payroll, close, tax and audit coordination.
• Oversee budgeting, long-range planning, forecasting, and cash requirements alignment with strategy.
• Prepare timely financial statements, management reports, and board materials.
• Develop robust internal controls, policies, and systems governance.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial planning

GAAP knowledge

Stakeholder communication

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/BA

MBA/CPA/CFA preferred

Tools

NetSuite

Job description

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Vice President, Finance

Full Time Philadelphia, PA, US

11 days ago Requisition ID: 1027

Job Summary

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Vice President, Finance is a senior member of the Leadership Team responsible for leading the company’s Finance function and supporting its financial health, operating priorities, and growth objectives. The Vice President, Finance serves as a strategic financial partner to the President/CEO and Chief Business Officer and is responsible for financial planning and analysis, accounting operations, financial reporting, treasury, internal controls, financial systems, and financial governance.

• Lead all Finance staff and oversee accounting operations, including the general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, financial close, and tax and audit coordination.
• Lead the annual budgeting, long-range planning, and forecasting processes, translating corporate strategy, development plans, headcount, contractual commitments, and operating priorities into integrated financial forecasts and cash requirements.
• Oversee the preparation of timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, management reports, program-cost reporting, cash forecasts, and Board financial materials.
• Develop and maintain a robust financial control environment, including Finance policies, approval authorities, segregation of duties, related-party controls, financial systems governance, and audit-ready documentation.
• Serve as a strategic financial partner to the CEO, providing financial modeling, scenario analysis, and recommendations to support organizational priorities, investment decisions, financing readiness, and long-range planning.
• Serve as the primary Finance partner to the CBO for business development, licensing, collaboration, and partnership opportunities, including financial modeling, valuation support, deal‑economics analysis, financial due diligence, and monitoring of obligations under executed agreements.
• Partner with the COO to align financial resources with operating priorities, monitor company and program spending, identify financial and operational risks, and support enterprise risk management and insurance activities.
• Oversee treasury operations, including cash forecasting, liquidity reporting, banking administration, investment administration, payment controls, and authorized access to company funds.
• Lead the development of scalable Finance systems, processes, reporting tools, and data standards that improve financial visibility, control effectiveness, organizational accountability, and decision-making.
• Manage relationships with the company’s auditors, tax advisors, banks, valuation providers, and other external financial service providers.
• Support Board reporting, investor and financing diligence, capital‑raising analyses, and strategic transactions under the direction of the COO and CEO, without independent responsibility for capital strategy, investor relations, legal oversight, or final transaction authority.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• More than 10 years of progressive finance experience, including senior financial leadership in life sciences or a similarly complex industry.
• Demonstrated experience in financial planning and analysis, accounting and reporting, budgeting, forecasting, treasury, internal controls, audit, and tax compliance.
• Experience developing financial models and translating corporate, program, and operating plans into forecasts and cash requirements.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial governance, and scalable Finance processes and systems.
• Proven ability to lead Finance staff, manage external service providers, advise senior executives, and communicate effectively with financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Strong judgment, integrity, analytical ability, attention to detail, and cross‑functional leadership skills.

Preferred

• CPA, MBA, CFA, or another relevant advanced degree or professional credential.
• Experience in a privately held, venture‑backed, or pre‑commercial life‑sciences company.
• Experience supporting financing diligence, business development, licensing, or strategic collaborations.
• Experience with NetSuite, program finance, R&D accounting, cost allocation, related‑party transactions, and collaboration accounting.