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Director Accounting Biotech Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Cost Accounting Manager

Florham Park, NJ ยท On-site

$125K - $140K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Accounting required; CPA strongly preferred; * 8+ years of direct accounting experience within a manufacturing/distribution setting required; biotech or related industry ...

Cost Accounting Manager

Florham Park, NJ ยท On-site

$125K - $140K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Accounting required; CPA strongly preferred; * 8+ years of direct accounting experience within a manufacturing/distribution setting required; biotech or related industry ...

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Director Accounting Biotech information

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$50.5K

$134.3K

$201K

How much do director accounting biotech jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for director accounting biotech in the United States is $134,345.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $105,000.00 and $160,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by a Director of Accounting in the biotech industry?

A Director of Accounting in the biotech sector often faces the challenge of navigating complex revenue recognition standards, especially with grant funding, milestone payments, and licensing deals. The role also requires staying updated on evolving regulatory requirements and ensuring strict compliance with both GAAP and industry-specific guidelines. Additionally, coordinating with R&D, legal, and operations teams to accurately report financials while managing tight deadlines can be demanding. Proactively implementing robust internal controls and fostering cross-department collaboration are key to overcoming these challenges.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Accounting in the biotech industry, and why are they important?

To excel as a Director of Accounting in biotech, you need extensive accounting expertise, a relevant degree (such as a CPA or MBA), and experience with GAAP, SEC reporting, and biotech industry regulations. Familiarity with ERP systems like SAP or Oracle, as well as financial reporting and compliance tools, is typically required. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills help manage teams and collaborate with cross-functional departments. These skills ensure accurate financial management, regulatory compliance, and effective support of the company's growth and innovation.

What does a Director of Accounting do in a biotech company?

A Director of Accounting in a biotech company oversees all financial accounting operations, ensuring accurate reporting, compliance with regulations like GAAP or IFRS, and effective internal controls. They manage accounting teams, coordinate audits, and work closely with other departments to support financial planning and analysis. Their work is critical in a biotech environment due to complex funding, grants, and R&D expenses. They often interact with senior leadership to inform strategic decisions and support the company's growth.

What is the difference between Director Accounting Biotech vs Financial Controller Biotech?

AspectDirector Accounting BiotechFinancial Controller Biotech
Primary FocusOversees accounting policies, compliance, and financial reporting at a strategic levelManages day-to-day financial operations, internal controls, and reporting
CredentialsCPA or equivalent, extensive accounting experienceCPA or equivalent, strong accounting background
Work EnvironmentStrategic leadership in biotech firms, often in senior finance departmentsOperational finance team, ensuring accurate financial processes
Usage in IndustryCommonly used for senior accounting leadership rolesOften used for financial management roles with operational focus

The main difference between a Director Accounting Biotech and a Financial Controller Biotech lies in their focus and responsibilities. The Director Accounting Biotech typically handles strategic accounting policies and compliance, while the Financial Controller Biotech manages daily financial operations. Both roles require similar credentials, but their scope and focus differ within biotech companies.

More about Director Accounting Biotech jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Accounting Biotech jobs? Cities with the most Director Accounting Biotech job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Accounting Biotech jobs? The most popular types of Accounting Biotech jobs are:
What states have the most Director Accounting Biotech jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Accounting Biotech jobs include:
Infographic showing various Director Accounting Biotech job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $134,345 per year, or $64.6 per hour.

Associate Director, Accounting

Denali Therapeutics

South San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$159K - $207K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

Neurodegenerative diseases are one of the largest medical challenges of our time. Denali Therapeutics is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing breakthrough therapies for neurodegenerative diseases through our deep commitment to degeneration biology and principles of translational medicine. Denali is founded on the collaboration of leading scientists, industry experts, and investors who share the vision that scientific discovery energetically applied to translational medicine is the key to delivering effective therapies to patients.

We invite you to consider an opportunity with Denali to help achieve our goal of delivering meaningful therapeutics to patients.

Reporting to the Assistant Controller, this role leads key accounting operations, close activities, internal controls, and finance systems governance to support accurate financial reporting and a strong control environment. The position provides leadership and development for a team of accounting professionals while overseeing critical accounting processes and partnering across Finance, Procurement, Clinical Operations, HR, IT, and external auditors. This role drives scalable processes, strengthens operational effectiveness, and supports the company's growth through sound financial stewardship, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Key Accountabilities/Core Job Responsibilities:

  • Lead day-to-day management of the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, including review and approval of journal entries and account reconciliations.

  • Monitor close progress, drive issue resolution, and ensure timely completion of all close deliverables.

  • Oversee accounting for pre-clinical and clinical trial expenses and related R&D accruals.

  • Manage accounting for stock-based compensation, ESPP, bonus accruals, and other payroll-related accounting activities.

  • Review accounts payable activities and related accounting controls.

  • Serve as process owner for assigned SOX controls and coordinate with internal and external auditors, including EY and Deloitte.

  • Provide oversight of accounts payable operations and identify opportunities to strengthen efficiency and controls.

  • Serve as business owner for Coupa, including review and approval of testing associated with system enhancements, upgrades, and process changes.

  • Lead finance systems and process improvement initiatives in partnership with IT and business stakeholders.

  • Prepare and/or review technical accounting analyses, accounting memos, and implementation of new accounting standards (Associate Director level).

  • Support external audits, quarterly reviews, SEC reporting processes, and special projects as needed.

  • Lead, coach, and develop accounting team members, including performance management, goal setting, workload prioritization, and career development.

Qualifications/Skills:

  • Active CPA required.

  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.

  • Typically, 9+ years of industry experience and 5+ years of management experience

  • Big Four public accounting experience required (approximately 5+ years preferred).

  • 12+ years of progressive accounting experience

  • Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, SOX compliance, and public company reporting requirements.

  • Experience with SAP and Coupa strongly preferred.

  • Public biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or similar public company experience required.

  • Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects, drive process improvements, and manage competing priorities.

Salary Range: $159,000.00 to $207,000.00 .Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Denali offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k, healthcare coverage, ESPP and a broad range of other benefits. Learn more at https://www.denalitherapeutics.com/careers

This compensation and benefits information is based on Denali's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.

Denali is committed to its core company value of unity by creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.