Vice President, Corporate Controller at Freenome

Why join Freenome?

Freenome is a high-growth biotech company developing tests to detect cancer using a standard blood draw. To do this, Freenome uses a multiomics platform that combines tumor and non-tumor signals with machine learning to find cancer in its earliest, most-treatable stages. 

Cancer is relentless. This is why Freenome is building the clinical, economic, and operational evidence to drive cancer screening and save lives. Our first screening test is for colorectal cancer (CRC) and advanced adenomas, and it’s just the beginning. 

Founded in 2014, Freenome has ~400 employees and continues to grow to match the scope of our ambitions to provide access to better screening and earlier cancer detection.  

At Freenome, we aim to impact patients by empowering everyone to prevent, detect, and treat their disease. This, together with our high-performing culture of respect and cross-collaboration, is what motivates us to make every day count.

Become a Freenomer

Do you have what it takes to be a Freenomer? A “Freenomer” is a determined, mission-driven, results-oriented employee fueled by the opportunity to change the landscape of cancer and make a positive impact on patients’ lives. Freenomers bring their diverse experience, expertise, and personal perspective to solve problems and push to achieve what’s possible, one breakthrough at a time.

About this opportunity:

Freenome is seeking a hands-on, highly visible Corporate Controller who will be responsible for leading and coordinating the overall day-to-day activities of the accounting department. The Corporate Controller will play a crucial role in building scalable accounting processes to enable timely and accurate financial reporting, ensuring SOX compliance.

This position will report directly to the Chief Financial Officer and will be based in our Brisbane, California headquarters.

What you’ll do:

Accounting Close and Financial Reporting

• Hands-on management of accounting close process with focused effort to continuously drive efficiencies in order to enable an accurate 6-day accounting close
• Evaluate and initiate actions to build, develop, motivate, lead, unite and align accounting team capable of exceeding performance expectations
• Review and approve journal entries and account reconciliations as appropriate; enhance documentation and evidence of review over journal entries and account reconciliations to meet SOX compliance requirements
• Implement balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow analytics as part of the accounting close process to support internal management reporting
• Implement processes to identify and review accounting implications of non-standard contracts and agreements to ensure that appropriate technical accounting matters are documented and implemented in the Company’s accounting records
• Lead and drive the implementation/upgrade of various systems and leverage technology to build scalable/sustainable processes to create efficiencies in the accounting close and reporting processes (e.g., leverage power of NetSuite to build out reporting capabilities)
• Prepare and/or review schedules to support the preparation of external financial statements, footnotes, and MD&A (e.g., 10-Q, 10-K, S-1)
• Prepare and present materials at board and related committee meetings (e.g., audit committee); manage audit committee charter to ensure all mandated audit committee actions are addressed

Financial Operations

• Develop and implement best-in-class procure to pay processes; evaluate, provide recommendations and update financial approval matrix and workflows
• Support the implementation of a Contract Lifecycle Management System
• Oversee compliance with Travel & Entertainment (T&E) Policy and corporate credit card program; evaluate current T&E  expense management reporting software and propose/implement alternative solutions
• Oversee treasury process and external tax service providers

Internal Controls and Compliance

• Collaborate closely with Director, SEC Reporting/SOX Compliance to ensure appropriate controls over financial processes are designed and operating effectively
• Responsible for maintaining strong internal controls and ensuring accounting team is effectively trained
• Coordinate quarterly reviews and annual audits with external auditors; ensure that all PBCs are prepared accurately and provided timely to support an efficient and unqualified audit; support internal audits and SOX audits as required
• Stay updated on relevant accounting standards and regulatory changes impacting the biotech/diagnostic industry

IPO Readiness

• Maintain state of IPO readiness, including operating under public company accounting close and reporting timelines, facilitating external auditor quarterly reviews, providing supporting schedules to Director SEC Reporting/SOX
• Compliance for preparation of quarterly footnotes and MD&A
• Support due diligence efforts and interface with external stakeholders, including underwriters and legal counsel in connection with potential IPO diligence

Team Leadership and Development

• Provide leadership and guidance to the accounting team, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement
• Promote professional development and skill enhancement initiatives to build a high-performing accounting organization
• Collaborate cross-functionally with other departments to drive financial literacy and accountability throughout the organization
  
  

Must haves:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field (advanced degree preferred)
• Strong technical accounting skills and proficiency in implementation of U.S. GAAP, Sarbanes-Oxley, and SEC regulations
• Minimum of 15+ years of relevant experience
• Extensive experience in controllership roles in publicly traded life sciences company (minimum 6 years)
• Biotechnology/pharmaceutical/diagnostic industry experience required; experience building out accounting operations for a commercial organization are highly desirable (diagnostics industry)
• Must have strong experience implementing and managing a global legal entity structure in NetSuite
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams, Freenome’s leadership, and external stakeholders
• High degree of integrity, ethics and professionalism, with a commitment to uphold the highest standards
• Proven leadership and team building skills, with the ability to motivate others towards achieving common goals
• Proven ability to evaluate existing talent and implement necessary changes in order to scale the accounting organization to meet public company accounting close and reporting timelines
• Proven ability to meet tight timelines and manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment

Nice to haves:

• CPA License
• Experience at a Big 4 public accounting firm

Benefits and additional information:

The US target range of our base salary/hourly rate for new hires is $253,725 - $401,500. You will also be eligible to receive pre-IPO equity, cash bonuses, and a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits depending on the position offered.  Please note that individual total compensation for this position will be determined at the Company’s sole discretion and may vary based on several factors, including but not limited to, location, skill level, years and depth of relevant experience, and education. We invite you to check out our career page @ freenome.com/job-openings/ for additional company information.  

Freenome is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer, and we value diversity. Freenome does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws.  

• Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)

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