Corporate Controller

Reporting to the SVP, Finance, the Corporate Controller will be responsible for leading all aspects of accounting, financial reporting (including SEC reporting), technical accounting, tax, and SOX compliance for CARGO Therapeutics. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills, foster collaboration, be service-focused, have experience managing staff and the desire to be part of a team. They must have the ability and desire to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple projects at once.

The role is based in San Carlos, CA.

WHAT YOU'LL DO AT CARGO THERAPEUTICS

Financial Operations:

• Lead CARGO's accounting operations and work directly with members of the business to ensure completeness and accuracy of financial information

• Ensure accurate and timely financial statement reporting and GAAP compliance

• Lead, inspire, and develop staff by building engagement with the team, providing feedback and growth opportunities, and holding the team accountable; provide mentoring and coaching for direct and indirect reports

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support strategic initiatives, financial planning, and risk management

• Evaluate and optimize accounting systems and processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and accuracy

• Responsible for preparation and presentation of financial updates, analysis and content for certain meetings of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors

• Lead management of payroll, accounts payable and general ledger; assess system requirements for the Accounting department in support of organizational growth; systems implementation experience or improvement experience; lead system implementations in core areas of responsibility

• Partner with FP&A team to help provide timely financial information

• Work with outsourced partners to maintain Company's insurance coverage, valuations, and tax-related compliance and activities

• Work with SVP, Finance to monitor and manage cash and investments as necessary

• Help identify and implement system and process enhancements to improve operational efficiencies across the Company

SEC Reporting & Compliance:

• Coordinate quarterly and annual SEC filings including 10K,10Q, and Proxy, ensuring compliance with GAAP and other regulations

• Provide guidance/research to Finance organization for all technical accounting inquiries and guidance regarding impact

• Review and oversight of CARGO's SEC reporting, technical accounting projects, financial policies and procedures, internal controls, and tax

• Lead implementation of internal controls and other processes as needed as CARGO scales

• Ensure compliance with internal controls and Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404, including the maintenance of documentation, testing procedures, and remediation activities

• Drive interactions with external and internal auditors and tax consultants

• Oversee proper accounting treatment of all transactions in accordance with GAAP; ensure consistent application among all operating divisions

• Manage stock-based compensation and equity accounting processes

• Ad hoc analysis and other special projects as assigned

THE RIGHT STUFF: Required Experience & Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in Accounting with a minimum 10+ years of experience; experience in Biotech/Life Sciences preferred

• CPA required and/or MBA preferred

• Large, public accounting Big 4 environment with SEC reporting requirements expertise, as well as experience leading a corporate reporting function

• Demonstrated success building relationships and partnering with cross functional internal and external stakeholders

• Executes to a high standard - acts with a sense of urgency with the end result in mind and is able to follow through to deliver exceptional results

• Strong technical accounting skills

• Stays in touch - maintains line of sight to team and Company priorities; understands and values all areas of business; creates connections beyond own role/function

• Challenges self and others by demonstrating critical thinking; challenges assumptions, practices, and beliefs

• Drives clarity - sets the direction and manages the delivery of results (directly or indirectly) and choices on priorities.

• Makes sound timely decisions; integrates knowledge to analyze information and to solve problems; uses judgment to make timely decisions

• Takes the approach to continuous improvement; anticipates and addresses capability gaps to prepare for future challenges.

• Proficient with Microsoft Office products and Microsoft Teams

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and communicate complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders

• Proven leadership and management skills, with experience leading high-performing teams and driving results in a fast-paced environment

PAY RANGE

The combined pay range for this role is $215,000 - $295,000. 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.