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Director of Accounting

Emeryville, CA

Our mission at Ansa Biotechnologies is to revolutionize the way we make DNA. Compared to reading or editing life’s code, writing new code from scratch has remained one of the field’s most elusive challenges. At Ansa, we are putting nature to work, creating novel enzymatic solutions that will redefine how we build DNA. We believe that the biggest challenges our world faces will be solved using biotechnology and that DNA synthesis is the fuel for that transformation. Our enzyme-based approach (published in Nature Biotechnology) promises to dramatically accelerate innovation in biological research and biotechnology, including therapeutics, diagnostics, biomanufacturing, and synthetic biology.

 

The Director of Accounting will report to the CFO and is responsible for the integrity of the company's financial records and the efficiency of its accounting operations while helping build the financial infrastructure necessary to scale a venture-backed biotechnology company. This is a player-coach role: you will own the monthly close, financial reporting, and technical accounting while also driving the cost accounting discipline critical to a manufacturing and R&D-intensive business. You will act as the functional and administrative owner of NetSuite, ensuring the system, its master data, and its processes support accurate, timely reporting as the company grows.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in cost and technical accounting and understands inventory valuation, standard vs. actual costing, WIP, variance analysis, and gross margin reporting in a physical-goods or life-sciences manufacturing environment.  They must employ a hands-on approach and enjoy building systems and processes in a fast-paced, rapidly changing, and growing start-up environment.

 

Responsibilities

  • Accounting Operations & Month-End Close
    • Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, including journal entries, revenue recognition, accruals, reconciliations, and the general ledger.
    • Manage the full-cycle Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable functions, including vendor management, collections, and cash application.
    • Administer the employee expense reimbursement program, including policy enforcement, approvals, and reporting.
    • Build and maintain a system of accounting policies and internal controls.
  • Team Leadership
    • Recruit, mentor, and develop accounting staff
    • Build a scalable accounting organization with performance expectations and career development plans
    • Foster a collaborative, high performance, high accountability culture
  • Financial Reporting & Technical Accounting
    • Prepare accurate, timely internal and external financial statements in accordance with US GAAP.
    • Research and document technical accounting positions (e.g., revenue recognition, leases, equity, capitalization) and prepare supporting memos.
    • Work with the CFO and VP, Finance to support management reporting, board packages, and investor reporting as needed.
  • Cost Accounting
    • Own the cost accounting function: inventory valuation, standard costing, WIP, and cost-of-goods-sold accounting for synthesis operations and consumables.
    • Perform monthly variance analysis (purchase price, material usage, labor, overhead) and partner with Operations and Manufacturing to explain drivers.
    • Establish and maintain standard costs and BOMs in NetSuite; lead periodic cost rolls and revaluations.
    • Deliver gross margin and product-cost reporting to inform pricing, production, and capacity decisions.
    • Support inventory controls, cycle counts, and physical inventory reconciliations.
  • Treasury & Banking
    • Manage banking relationships, cash positioning, and daily/weekly cash flow reporting.
    • Administer bank accounts, user access, wire and ACH approvals, and treasury controls.
  • Payroll, Equity, & Benefits Administration
    • Oversee payroll processing and related accounting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
    • Administer the 401(k) plan, including funding, reconciliations, compliance testing support, and the annual audit.
    • Administer the company's stock/equity plan, including grants, exercises, cap table maintenance, and related accounting (stock-based compensation).
  • Tax, Royalty, & Audit
    • Coordinate federal, state, and local tax filings, sales/use tax, and indirect tax compliance with external tax advisors.
    • Manage royalty accounting, tracking, and payments under licensing and IP agreements.
    • Lead the annual audit and serve as the primary liaison to external auditors, preparing schedules and supporting documentation.
  • NetSuite Administration & Master Data
    • Serve as the functional and administrative owner of NetSuite: roles and permissions, workflows, saved searches, approval routing, and reporting.
    • Own NetSuite master data governance — chart of accounts, items, vendors, customers, BOMs, and standard costs — ensuring accuracy and consistency.
    • Identify and implement process and system improvements, and manage NetSuite enhancements, integrations, and module rollouts.
    • Work with IT to ensure effective NetSuite integration with other company systems, such as data repositories and manufacturing systems.

 

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
  • 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including 4+ years in a leadership or Director-level role.
  • Strong cost accounting background in a manufacturing, life-sciences, or physical-goods environment (inventory, standard costing, WIP, variance analysis, COGS).
  • Hands-on NetSuite experience, including administration and master data ownership.
  • Strong working knowledge of US GAAP and technical accounting.
  • Demonstrated ownership of the full month-end close and financial reporting cycle.
  • Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment and build trusted relationships with internal business partners and leadership.
  • Excellent analytical skills and strong attention to detail, with the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • CPA (active or inactive).
  • Experience in biotech, life sciences, or a scaling manufacturing company.
  • Experience administering equity/stock plans (e.g., Carta) and 401(k) plans.
  • Experience supporting audits, fundraising, or diligence at a venture-backed company.
  • Experience with NetSuite implementation, optimization, or integrations

 

Benefits & Compensation

Ansa offers a benefit package including comprehensive medical, dental & vision plans for employees and dependents, 401k retirement planning, company holidays, truly unlimited and company encouraged vacation time, and parental leave.  Our compensation packages include industry competitive and experience commensurate base salaries, sign-on bonus and stock options.

Salary range for role is $200-$225k

 

Equal Opportunity & Diversity Commitment

Ansa Biotechnologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

At Ansa, we are building a high-performing team focused on changing how scientists access DNA. We look for people who are curious, rigorous, accountable, and excited to work on hard problems. Our hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications, experience, and the needs ofthe business.

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