Senior Director of Accounting & Assistant Controller

Olema Oncology is dedicated to developing better medicines for breast cancer and beyond. Our lead program, palazestrant (OP-1250), is a complete estrogen receptor antagonist (CERAN) currently in development for metastatic breast cancer with blockbuster potential as a monotherapy and in combination in ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer. Our follow-on product candidate, OP-3136, is a potent KAT6 inhibitor with best-in-class potential.  

Our scientific breakthroughs are accelerated through the ways in which we fearlessly support, motivate, and challenge one another. At Olema, we know that when we put people first, our work becomes second to none. If you’re ready to join us at the edge of something unstoppable, let’s make a profound impact together for our patients, for your career, for what’s beyond. 

You can view our latest corporate deck and other presentations here.

About the Role >>> Senior Director of Accounting & Assistant Controller 

As Senior Director of Accounting & Assistant Controller at Olema Oncology, reporting to the VP of Finance and Controller, this role serves as the number two leader within the accounting organization, with end-to-end ownership of technical accounting, SEC reporting, and the close process in a publicly traded biotech company. 

This is a high-impact, highly visible role at a pivotal time for Olema as the company advances toward NDA and prepares for potential commercialization. This position will lead complex accounting and reporting activities, partner closely with cross-functional teams, and play a key role in scaling processes, strengthening internal controls, and building a best-in-class accounting function to support the company’s next phase of growth. 

This role is based out of our San Francisco, CA office and will require occasional travel. 

Your work will primarily encompass: 

• Lead technical accounting, SEC reporting, and financial close, ensuring compliance with U.S. GAAP, SEC regulations, and SOX 404(b). 
• Own preparation and review of SEC filings (10-K, 10-Q, 8-K), including financial statements, disclosures, and MD&A. 
• Serve as the company’s technical accounting expert, evaluating complex transactions and developing accounting policies and position papers. 
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close, including general ledger activities, reconciliations, and financial analysis. 
• Partner cross-functionally with FP&A, Legal, Clinical, Tax, and external auditors to ensure accurate reporting and audit readiness. 
• Lead and evolve the company’s SOX compliance framework, including control design, documentation, testing, and remediation. 
• Oversee accounting for clinical trial accruals, equity compensation, and other complex areas, ensuring appropriate GAAP treatment. 
• Act as a primary liaison with external auditors, driving efficient audits and quarterly reviews. 
• Drive process improvement and systems optimization to enhance scalability, efficiency, and reporting quality. 
• Support tax, regulatory filings, and special projects as needed. 

Ideal Candidate Profile >>>  

A love of challenging, important work. We are a pragmatic team, driven to imagine and develop meaningful therapies for improving lives. All employees within our company play a unique and crucial role in our success, both in accomplishing our mission and building a positive company culture. As such, we are looking for someone with the right combination of knowledge, experience, and attributes for this role. 

Knowledge: 

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, MBA or Masters a plus. 
• CPA License required. 
• Deep expertise in U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting, and SOX 404(b) compliance. 
• Strong technical accounting foundation, including experience drafting accounting memos and policy documentation. 
• Expertise in Excel and knowledge of financial reporting systems and tools. 
• Demonstrated experience leading monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing process. 

Experience: 

• Minimum of 10+ years of accounting experience in publicly traded companies. 
• Biotechnology or life sciences industry experience required. 
• Prior experience with a Big 4 public accounting firm. 
• Direct experience owning SEC reporting and filings in a publicly traded company environment, with hands-on use of reporting tools (e.g., ActiveDisclosure) and ERP systems such as NetSuite. 
• Proven track record managing complex close processes and technical accounting issues in a high-growth environment. 
• Experience supporting commercialization or late-stage biotech environments preferred. 

Attributes: 

• Teamwork and collaboration skills: Balances team and individual responsibilities; gives and welcomes feedback; puts success of team above own interests; supports everyone's efforts to succeed; shares expertise with others. 
• Excellent written verbal and interpersonal communication skills and ability to adapt communication styles to varied internal and external partners. 
• Possesses a get-the-job done attitude and identifies not just challenges but takes the initiative to identify solutions. 
• Analytical thinking with problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines. 
• Impeccable professional ethics, integrity, and judgment. 

The base pay range for this position is expected to be $245,000-$270,000 annually, however the base pay offered may vary depending on location, market, job related knowledge, skills and capabilities, and experience. The total compensation package for this position also includes equity, bonus, and benefits.

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Important Information >>>

We provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and believe that great ideas and discoveries come from a mix of expertise, background, and experience. Olema is building a culture where the value of difference is celebrated.

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, seeking to provide an open, flexible, and friendly work environment to empower employees and provide them with a platform to develop their long-term careers. A Summary of Benefits is available for all applicants.

Please note: Olema doesn’t accept agency resumes and is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. Thank you.

Fraud Alert:  We are aware of employment scams where individuals pose as representatives of Olema Oncology and make false use of our company name to defraud job seekers. To protect yourself, please note that Olema’s official email addresses end in @olema.com. Our official corporate website is olema.com; our careers page is olema.com/careers; our LinkedIn page is linkedin.com/company/olema-oncology. Please visit these links for official information from Olema. Communication from any other variant is fraudulent. Olema does not conduct interviews via text message/messaging platforms, will not ask you to download anything as part of your interview, will never request any form of payment, provide upfront payments of any kind, and does not make job offers without an in-person interview.