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Associate Director, R&D Finance – Technical Operations

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About the Role

This is an exciting leadership opportunity to join a high‑growth, innovative biopharmaceutical company pioneering targeted C3 therapies to address a broad range of debilitating diseases. As Associate Director of R&D Finance, you will serve as the strategic financial partner to our Technical Operations organization (CMC, CM&S, Supply Chain, Quality, and Facilities), driving financial planning, reporting, and strategic insights that enable informed decision‑making and optimal resource allocation. Reporting to the Head of FP&A, you will play a critical role in shaping financial processes, supporting scalability for future growth, and ensuring alignment with Apellis’ long‑term objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted Finance Business Partner to the Tech Ops Executive/Senior Leadership, delivering strategic and operational guidance to support critical decision‑making, drive organizational priorities, and ensure financial alignment with long‑term objectives.
• Foster strong relationships with senior stakeholders to proactively identify opportunities, address challenges, and enable optimal resource allocation across Technical Operations.
• Lead development and coordination of annual budgets, interim forecasts, and long‑range financial plans for Tech Ops.
• Deliver proactive financial analysis and timely reporting to track performance against budget and forecast, enabling data‑driven decisions.
• Oversee month‑end and quarter‑end close processes, including accruals, ensuring compliance with GAAP, SOX, and Apellis accounting policies.
• Collaborate with Tech Ops leadership to understand complexities of clinical and commercial supply and their impact on development plans and demand forecasts.
• Ensure accuracy of financial exposure related to external contract manufacturers.
• Partner with cost accounting to ensure proper P&L classification (COGS vs. expense) and guide budget/forecast accuracy.
• Provide analytical support for pipeline advancement, lifecycle management, and upcoming launches (e.g., C3G/IC‑MPGN).
• Drive process improvements and implement scalable financial practices to support Apellis’ growth trajectory.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; MBA or CPA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in accounting and financial planning/analysis.
• 3+ years of finance experience supporting Technical Operations in a publicly traded biopharma company.
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP and SOX compliance for public companies.
• Experience with SAP (ERP) and Adaptive Insights (planning/reporting) strongly preferred.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills; ability to influence across all levels.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with non‑finance teams while representing Finance effectively.
• Comfortable challenging the status quo, driving change, and thriving in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to manage large datasets and deliver under tight deadlines.

Work Location & Hybrid Policy

• This role is based in Waltham, MA.
• Hybrid work model: requires in‑office presence at least 2 days per week to foster collaboration and engagement with cross‑functional teams.

Benefits and Perks

Base salary for this role will consider multiple factors, including but not limited to candidate qualifications, relevant expertise, specialized skills, and industry experience in complement‑targeted therapies. The targeted base salary range for this position is $162,600 – $243,900 per year. This range represents the base salary only and reflects Apellis’ commitment to competitive compensation within the biopharmaceutical industry. The final salary offered may vary based on individual qualifications, business needs, and current market conditions.

Apellis offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a 401(k) plan with company match, inclusive family building benefits, flexible time off, summer and winter shutdowns, paid family leave, disability and life insurance, and more! Visit https://apellis.com/careers/benefits/ to learn more.

Company Background

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company that combines courageous science and compassion to develop life‑changing therapies for some of the most challenging diseases patients face. We ushered in the first new class of complement medicine in 15 years and now have two approved medicines targeting C3. These include the first and only therapy for geographic atrophy, a leading cause of blindness around the world. With nearly a dozen clinical and pre‑clinical programs underway, we believe we have only begun to unlock the potential of targeting C3 across many serious diseases.

EEO Statement

Apellis is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state and local fair employment practices laws. Apellis strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy), gender (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, marital status, AIDS/HIV status, smoker/non‑smoker, and occupational pneumoconiosis or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law. For San Francisco postings: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.