Sr Director, FP&A (R&D)

Role

The Senior Director of R&D FP&A will be instrumental in building Tarsus's decision support capability to enable efficient operations and effective capital allocation across R&D and Operations functions at Tarsus. They will also contribute to the development of the Company's financial and corporate strategy, specifically as it relates to Research & Development and Operations (R&D and Ops).

Core responsibilities for the role will include generation of the annual budget and short-range forecasts for the R&D and Operations function, assisting with the long-range plan (LRP) as it relates to programs, and monthly and quarterly close analysis and reporting. The Senior Director of FP&A will act as the Finance lead for the R&D and Operations functions at Tarsus.

Let's talk about some of the key responsibilities of the role

• Build and maintain strong cross-functional business partnerships to budget/forecast and track activities by embedding finance into decision-making processes.
• Lead annual budget and quarterly forecasting processes for R&D & Operations, specifically with the Program Team Leads (PTLs).
• Develop and prepare monthly internal financial management reporting packages; spearhead monthly variance analysis of actuals to budget, investigate any major discrepancies, and articulate key business drivers.
• Drive strategic planning for the R&D and Operations part of the annual long-range plan (LRP) exercise to enable investment decisions across a portfolio of internal programs and opportunities.
• Provide financial direction to key stakeholders with proactive recommendations, supported by robust financial analysis and insightful delivery.
• Support clinical trial accruals, including review of Contract Research Organization (CRO) reports, patient costs, and site payments.
• Review clinical and supply chain contracts and amendments to analyze and determine various financial impacts.
• Support ad hoc analyses and special projects, providing timely and accurate financial insights to support organizational initiatives.
• Help drive process improvements and efficiencies in areas of financial planning, financial analysis, and production of reporting packages.
• Hire, coach, and mentor direct reports and adjacent team members, promoting a culture of high engagement, high performance, collaboration and continuous improvement that values learning and continuous improvement.
• Present analysis and strategic insights to the Executive Team to support effective financial decision making.

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Finance or Accounting
• 12+ years of progressive financial planning and analysis experience, including significant time within publicly traded life sciences companies
• Hands-on experience with clinical trial forecasting, modeling, and the R&D forecast and accruals process, including late-stage (Phase 3) programs
• In-house experience owning budget and forecasting processes and partnering directly with the business
• Track record of collaboration, stakeholder relationship management, and influencing key decision-makers, including the confidence to challenge and advise VP- and C-level leaders

Desired

• CPA or MBA
• 15+ years of FP&A experience
• Pharmaceutical industry experience with late stage clinical trial experience strongly preferred
• Working knowledge of GAAP
• Experience with Adaptive Insights / Adaptive Planning (Workday) or a comparable planning tool (e.g., Anaplan, Hyperion), and with NetSuite
• Experience scaling finance processes within a rapidly growing biotech company
• Global or international exposure

What You'll Bring

• Well-developed analytical skills that demonstrate the ability to drive from data to analysis to insight.
• Self-motivated with the strong work ethic and sense of urgency required for success in a rapidly growing biotech company and an equally critical ability to solve problems in high pressure situations.
• Process-oriented thinker with experience in process design, implementation, and improvement.
• Strong financial modeling skills and proficiency in Excel.
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills - ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights for non-financial audiences, and to present complex financial concepts in a digestible manner to stakeholders with varying degrees of financial experience.
• A self-starter - who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and demonstrates a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Collaborative mindset - with a focus on teamwork and cross-functional partnership.
• Empowering Others - Fosters empowerment by aligning authority with accountability, developing leaders' decision-making capability, and creating systems that support performance and growth.
• Emotional Intelligence - Foster trust and psychological safety, navigating complex interpersonal dynamics with compassion and accountability, and adapting leadership style to support others while maintaining composure under pressure.
• Grows Capacity - Builds organizational capacity by developing talent systems, coaching cultures, and strategic partnerships that grow leadership strength and prepare the next generation of leaders.
• Business Acumen - Demonstrates strong business acumen by anticipating market dynamics and using financial and strategic insight to guide investments, manage risk, and align priorities with long-term organizational value.
• Innovative Mindset and Action - Demonstrates an innovative mindset by championing new ideas, investing in enabling systems and partnerships, and translating innovation into sustainable growth and organizational resilience.

A Few Other Details Worth Mentioning

• The position will be based in our beautiful Irvine office, complete with onsite gym, pool, snacks, drinks, and occasional catered meals. We provide a hybrid work environment. Remote work is an option.
• We are passionate about our culture! Our Tarsans live our values of commitment to patients, empowerment to champion innovation, and teamwork to amplify impact!
• This position reports directly to our VP, Finance
• Some travel may be required - up to 25%

Pay and benefits

At Tarsus, we understand the importance of attracting and retaining top talent. The expected base pay range for this position is $226,500 - $317,100 plus bonus, stock equity, and comprehensive benefits. The base pay range reflects the target range for this position, but individual pay will be determined by additional factors such as job-related skills, experience and relevant education or training. Our benefits include health, dental and vision insurance benefits to ensure your well-being. We believe in work-life balance and offer generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and personal days.

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