Sr. Accounting Manager
Overview
A growing life sciences organization is seeking a hands-on Sr. Accounting Manager to support critical accounting operations during an interim engagement. This individual contributor role is ideal for an experienced accounting professional who can independently manage monthly close activities, general ledger accounting, fixed assets, international accounting, revenue recognition, and account reconciliations within a structured, control-conscious environment.
Reporting to the Director of Accounting, the Sr. Accounting Manager will work closely with cross-functional teams and accounting leadership to deliver accurate financial reporting, maintain supporting schedules, and meet tight monthly close deadlines. The engagement is expected to last approximately three months, with potential for extension.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the monthly financial close process, with the heaviest workload occurring from Day -3 through Day 7.
- Review Oracle journal postings, P&L cost-center reports, account-combination listings, trial balances, and journal entry listings.
- Prepare account reconciliations, supporting schedules, flux analysis materials, and CapEx budget-versus-actual reporting.
- Prepare required business, financial, R&D, and property tax filings.
- Prepare monthly revenue journal entries, review time inputs, reconcile deferred revenue, and calculate revenue recognition in accordance with established procedures.
- Maintain partnership and milestone accruals and coordinate with accounting leadership on revenue recognition judgments and budget changes.
- Support international accounting activities, including foreign exchange rate uploads, entity reporting packages, trial balance reviews, foreign currency translation, and intercompany eliminations.
- Prepare monthly lease accounting entries under ASC 842 and maintain related reconciliations and rollforward schedules.
- Review expense accounts, prepaid transactions, and fixed-asset-related activity for appropriate classification and accrual requirements.
- Prepare and distribute customer invoices, post customer receipts, and resolve accounts receivable subledger exceptions.
- Own the monthly fixed asset accounting cycle in Oracle Fusion Cloud, including additions, adjustments, transfers, disposals, reinstatements, depreciation, and reconciliations.
- Process Mass Additions, execute Create Accounting, and reconcile the fixed asset subledger to the general ledger.
- Maintain fixed asset clearing schedules, in-service dates, supporting documentation, and account rollforwards.
- Coordinate with Facilities, Lab Operations, Research Operations, Automation, and IT regarding fixed asset activity.
- Review leasehold improvements for appropriate construction-in-progress coding and accrual requirements.
- Review inactive or on-hold asset lines and test proposed deletions for general ledger impact.
Required Skills
- 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including hands-on experience at the Senior Accountant or Accounting Manager level.
- Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP, including fixed asset accounting, capitalization, construction-in-progress, depreciation, and ASC 842 lease accounting.
- Demonstrated experience with monthly close, journal entries, account reconciliations, and general ledger reporting.
- Working knowledge of foreign currency translation, international accounting, and consolidation principles.
- Advanced Excel and Google Sheets skills.
- Ability to independently manage detailed accounting processes and meet tight close deadlines.
- Strong documentation, organization, and analytical skills.
- Ability to identify and appropriately escalate accounting judgment matters.
- Comfort working in a structured, control-conscious accounting environment.
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities during periods of high activity.
Nice-to-Have Skills
- Experience in biotechnology, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, or another R&D-intensive industry.
- Hands-on experience with Oracle Fusion Cloud, particularly General Ledger, Fixed Assets, and Subledger Accounting.
- Experience with Oracle Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable modules.
- Experience with multi-entity accounting, intercompany eliminations, and foreign subsidiaries.
- Familiarity with ASC 606 revenue recognition, particularly collaboration or partnership arrangements.
- CPA or equivalent accounting qualification.
- Experience with SOX compliance, audit readiness, or external audit support.
- Experience with Oracle ADI.
- Familiarity with AI-assisted accounting workflows, including tools used for reconciliations and elimination entries.
Preferred Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred.
- At least seven years of progressive accounting experience, ideally in a technically complex or R&D-intensive environment.
- Experience operating as a Senior Accountant, Accounting Manager, or similar accounting professional with ownership of close and reconciliation processes.
Other Requirements
- Work arrangement: Hybrid; three days per week onsite in South San Francisco, typically Tuesday, Thursday, and one flexible onsite day.
- Schedule: 40 hours per week, with additional focus required during the monthly close period.
- Engagement: Approximately three months, with potential for extension.
- Primary systems and tools: Oracle Fusion Cloud, Google Workspace, Slack, and AI-assisted accounting tools.
- Must be comfortable working as an individual contributor while coordinating with accounting leadership and cross-functional business partners.
