Director

Description:

This position is based at our South San Francisco headquarters, reports to the SVP, Accounting & Financial Operations, and works onsite three days per week as part of our in-person hybrid model.

Responsibilities

Financial Reporting

Own the Financial Statements: Direct the annual audit and financial statement process, preparing US GAAP financial statements and footnote disclosures that are accurate, timely, and fully supported
Run the Audit: Serve as the primary point of contact for our external auditors, leading audit planning, the PBC list, tie-outs, disclosure checklists, and resolution of audit comments
Lead the Disclosure Committee: Own and lead the Disclosure Committee, including setting the agenda, running the meetings, gathering and assessing potential disclosure items from across the company, and documenting conclusions
Prepare Executive and Board Materials: Prepare and update financial reporting and accounting content for Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors materials and support the monthly reporting package and ad hoc investor requests

Technical Accounting & Policy

Lead Technical Accounting: Lead research and author memos on complex and non-routine transactions, including ASC 606 / ASC 808 collaboration and partnership revenue, ASC 842 leases, and equity and financing instruments
Account for the Pipeline: Evaluate the accounting and disclosures for preclinical and clinical activities as our programs advance toward the clinic, including R&D and clinical trial accrual methodologies for CRO and CDMO arrangements
Shape Deals Early: Partner with Corporate Development, Legal, and Strategic Finance on partnership agreements, financings, and other transactions so accounting implications are assessed before terms are finalized
Leverage Advisors: Serve as the primary liaison to our third-party tax advisor, communicating the tax implications of deals, financial results, and other transactions, and overseeing the tax provision, tax returns, R&D credit study, Section 382 analysis, and equity tax considerations for grants outside the US
Set the Policy: Develop, document, and maintain US GAAP accounting policies; monitor FASB developments and lead the adoption of new standards

Equity, Valuation, Insurance & International Compliance

Own Stock-Based Compensation Accounting: Own ASC 718 accounting and reporting, including expense recognition, award modifications, forfeitures, roll-forwards, and related disclosures, partnering with Legal, which administers grants and the equity plans
Support the 409A Valuation: Partner with our third-party valuation advisor on the 409A valuation process, including providing inputs, reviewing key assumptions and conclusions, and supporting audit review
Ensure International Compliance: Oversee statutory reporting, audits, and local compliance for our international subsidiary, partnering with local advisors so filing, tax, and regulatory requirements are met on time, and coordinate intercompany agreements and transfer pricing with our tax advisor
Support Insurance Renewals: Support the annual insurance renewal process with our insurance brokers, assessing the company’s risk profile and making sure coverage remains adequate as insitro grows and its programs move into the clinic
Support the Close: Prepare or review stock-based compensation, contract revenue, and other higher-risk journal entries and reconciliations

Controls, Scale & AI

Build for Scale: Design and maintain process documentation and internal controls that will scale with the company; when applicable, lead the SOX program, including planning, risk assessment, ITGCs, entity-level controls, remediation, and third-party testing
Build and Deploy AI Tools: Put Claude and other AI tools to work across reporting and technical accounting, such as roll-forwards, tie-outs, disclosure drafting, research, and memo drafting, and document those workflows so others can use and extend them
Counsel and Advise: Provide clear, decision-ready accounting guidance that non-accountants can act on without a follow-up meeting
Grow with the Function: As insitro grows, take on ownership of SOX compliance and SEC reporting (Forms S-1, 10-Q, and 10-K) and help expand the team, growing with the function into a public-company-ready organization
Special Projects: Participate in special projects and perform other related duties as assigned

About You

Experience & Qualifications

Proven Tenure: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field and 8–12+ years of relevant experience, preferably a mix of Big 4 public accounting and public company experience, ideally in biotech or life sciences
Certification: Active CPA license
Technical Depth: Deep, practical command of US GAAP and financial reporting, with a track record of authoring accounting positions that withstand auditor scrutiny
Preclinical & Clinical Accounting: Experience with the accounting and disclosures for preclinical and clinical-stage biotech activities, including R&D and clinical trial accruals
Reporting Ownership: Hands-on experience owning audited financial statements and footnote disclosures and working directly with external auditors
AI in Practice: Hands-on experience using Claude and other AI tools to build or improve accounting and reporting workflows, with sound judgment about their limits and appropriate use