Vice President, Finance & Administration

Sunstone Therapies is the leader in the delivery of psychedelic-assisted therapy in the medical setting, focusing on the development and implementation of clinical trials today, and moving towards clinical delivery if and when therapies are approved. Right now, we have one site with roughly 30 employees (not including trainee therapists)-- looking to build our team and expand to 2 more sites in the next 2 years. At Sunstone, our culture centers on love and rigor, prioritizing whole-person healing for all. Join us in making a profound impact in the realm of therapeutic research!

Sunstone Therapies is working to accelerate the on-the-ground learning and operations necessary to approve and scale psychedelic therapies in the medical setting. Sunstone is a leader in addressing the mental health of cancer patients and their caregivers through psychedelic therapies. In service to Sunstone’s vision of Whole Person Healing for All, this position plays a role in Sunstone’s ability to deliver on its vision with Love and Rigor. To be successful in this role in this growth stage start-up, the candidate must be a detail-oriented self-starter and problem solver, be able to shift projects and priorities rapidly to meet emerging needs, and approach the work with the values of love and rigor, which are essential to the Sunstone culture.

To be successful in this role in this growth stage start-up, the candidate must be a detail-oriented self-starter and problem solver, be able to shift projects and priorities rapidly to meet emerging needs and approach the work with the values of love and rigor, which are essential to the Sunstone culture.

Scope: Reporting to the CEO, the Vice President, Finance and Administration is a pivotal multifaceted role in Sunstone’s growth trajectory as a member of the Senior team. They will help establish and maintain the aggressive growth plans and the funding and strategic and tactical practices to support them. This role has responsibility for ensuring quality in all accounting, analytical, reporting, regulatory, and compliance processes. They will interact directly with the Board and Investors and will play a key role in fundraising efforts. They also play an important operational role, being responsible for areas such as internal IT, facilities management, insurance, and other vendor relationships. They are a key liaison to legal counsel on all these matters. They must have a track record of excellent people management and the ability to build high-performing teams. Finally, and most importantly, they are responsible as a senior leader for fostering and ensuring Sunstone’s culture of Love and Rigor.

Job activities include but are not limited to:

Strategic Planning and Business Development:

• Contribute to the development of the company's strategic goals and objectives.
• Assess market trends, competitive landscape, and industry opportunities to inform strategic decisions.
• Evaluate potential partnerships, collaborations, and acquisition opportunities to drive growth and innovation.

Financial Management:

• Develop and oversee financial strategies, budgets, and forecasts.
• Manage financial reporting, including monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Monitor cash flow, financial performance, and key financial metrics.
• Manage the accounting team to ensure accurate and timely recording of financial transactions.
• Implement financial controls and risk management strategies to safeguard company assets.
• Provide financial analysis and insights to support decision-making processes.
• Support the research team in management of financials associated with clinical trials.

Fundraising and Investor Relations:

• Partner with the CEO on fundraising efforts
• Prepare investor presentations and financial models to attract investment.
• Cultivate relationships with investors and stakeholders to maintain trust and transparency.

Administration/Operations:

• Oversee facilities management, including the negotiation, selection, contract and build-out/renovations of new locations.
• Responsible for all general IT systems and partner with those whose clinical or other systems intersect with them.
• Lead on all insurance needs, except for those associated with People Practices, which will be in partnership with the head of HR.
• Manage vendor relationships and negotiate contracts for services and supplies.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Develop and implement administrative policies and procedures to support efficient operations.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Strong contributor to the senior leadership team
• Build and lead a high-performing finance and administration team.
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and professional development opportunities to team members.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages creativity and accountability while living Sunstone’s values of “Love and Rigor.”

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:

• Proven experience in financial planning and analysis, budgeting (top-down/bottom-up), and accounting acumen in a hyper-growth company, with CPA or MBA highly preferred
• 10+ years experience in areas outlined above, with 5 of them in people management roles
• Preferred experience working in a healthcare setting
• Outstanding knowledge and understanding of accounting and financial principles
• Experience in venture backed companies, including raising capital and board and investor management
• Demonstrated ability to manage operational areas key to Sunstone’s growth (e.g., facilities, IT)
• If not located in Rockville, MD, a willingness to travel to corporate headquarters on a consistent basis

The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:

• Data-driven analytical, reasoning and problem solving skills
• Authentic and clear communication skills, including to executive leadership, peers, team members and investors
• Strategic thinker, thinks downstream, and proposes solutions to help us make the best business decisions
• Adaptive; easily pivots; mentally agile; likes a challenge; fast-paced
• Creative, pragmatic, and data-driven
• Collaborative, relationship-based team player
• Excellent people management to both direct reports and indirectly to the team
• Results-oriented and self-accountable, taking responsibility for own performance and that
• of the team
• Team leadership including attracting, developing and retaining staff and contractors, particularly in a remote environment

Compensation and Benefits

Sunstone Therapies offers a competitive salary package commensurate with skills and experience plus benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a retirement savings 401(k) plan.