Associate Director, Accounting

Reporting to the Corporate Controller, CARGO Therapeutics is hiring an Associate Director, Accounting. This person will be part of our Accounting team, and responsible for managing the month-end close, drafting and maintaining accounting policies & controls, and ensuring timely compliance with key internal controls. Core responsibilities for the role will include general ledger and accounts payable management, CRO/CDMO accrual review, and overall Accounting team leadership,

The role is based in San Carlos, CA.

WHAT YOU'LL DO AT CARGO THERAPEUTICS

• Manage the month-end close, including preparation of the close calendar, review of journal entries and account reconciliations, and preparation of balance sheet and department spending fluctuation analysis

• Review complex clinical trial and CDMO accrual models; ensure accounting treatment is in accordance with US GAAP

• Manage the accounts payable function, ensuring that all transactions and cash disbursements are recorded accurately and appropriately authorized; identify and implement process improvements for the procure-to-pay workflow

• Develop robust documentation around SOX-compliant internal controls and ensure all controls are performed and documented in a manner that will meet the requirements of both internal and external auditors

• Prepare quarterly/annual audit and tax schedules as needed to support the annual audit, tax provision preparation, and tax return preparation

• Ensure timely and accurate compliance with ongoing filings, including property tax returns, business license renewal, sales & use tax returns, 1099's, etc.

• Continually improve business processes through automation, thoughtful analysis, and researching standard methodologies in the industry

• Partner closely with various Corporate functions, ensuring that business needs are met while ensuring efficiency and accuracy of accounting in accordance with US GAAP

• Proactively participate in the management of the overall Accounting and Finance department as a key leader on the Accounting team

• Support preparation of internal financial reporting to Senior Management and the CARGO Board of Directors

• Embody the collaborative, innovative, and disciplined culture of the CARGO Finance team

THE RIGHT STUFF: Required Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or equivalent work experience; CPA required

• 6+ years of experience in accounting positions in a relevant industry setting (biotech, life sciences) with at least 3 years in public accounting; Big 4 experience preferred

• 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 problem solve in high pressure situations

• Process-oriented thinker with experience in process design, implementation, and improvement.

• Strong written and oral communication skills allowing for presentation of complex financial concepts in a digestible manner to stakeholders with varying degrees of financial experience

• Track record of collaboration, stakeholder relationship management, and influencing key decision-makers

• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity in the life sciences industry

• Highly skilled in use of information technology (e.g., ERP and financial planning systems)

• Well-developed analytical skills that demonstrate the ability to drive from data to analysis to insight

• Solid working knowledge of GAAP to facilitate understanding of financial results and forward-looking forecasts

• Familiarity with the control and compliance requirements of a public company including knowledge of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)

PAY RANGE

The combined pay range for this role is $140,000 - $192,500. Title and salary will be based on our assessment of skills and experience relevant to our needs for the role.

ABOUT CARGO THERAPEUTICS

CARGO Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company positioned to advance next generation, potentially curative cell therapies for cancer patients. CARGO's programs, platform technologies, and manufacturing strategy are designed to directly address the limitations of approved cell therapies, including limited durability of effect, safety concerns and unreliable supply. CARGO is currently evaluating its lead program, CRG-022, an autologous CD22 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy candidate, in a potentially pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) whose disease relapsed or was refractory (R/R) to CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. CARGO also plans to evaluate CRG-022 in patients at earlier stages of disease, including LBCL and other hematologic malignancies. Beyond its lead program, CARGO is leveraging its proprietary cell engineering platform technologies to develop a pipeline of programs that incorporate multiple transgene therapeutic "cargo" designed to enhance CAR T-cell persistence and trafficking to tumor lesions, as well as to help safeguard against tumor resistance and T-cell exhaustion. CARGO's founders are pioneers and world-class experts in CAR T-cell therapy, and its team has significant experience and success developing, manufacturing, launching and commercializing oncology and cell therapy products. For more information, please visit the CARGO Therapeutics website at https://cargo-tx.com/.

Join us to help make a difference!

EEO & EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY

CARGO Therapeutics, Inc. is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive company. We provide equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability, or veteran status. CARGO Therapeutics, Inc. also complies with all applicable national, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification required of applicable law.

CARGO Therapeutics requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of their start date. This requirement is a condition of employment at CARGO Therapeutics, and it applies regardless of whether the position is located at a CARGO Therapeutics site or is fully remote. If you are unable to receive the vaccine due to a disability or serious medical condition, or because it is prohibited because of your sincerely held religious beliefs, you will have an opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation.