Chief Accounting Officer
Over the coming years, biotech will fundamentally rewrite the way we live. Gene editing and cell therapy are dramatically changing how we treat cancer and other major illnesses. Biofuels and biomaterials are transforming the cars we drive, the clothes we wear, and the makeup of everyday objects. Crop science and synthetic biology are producing sustainable and ethical food. Benchling’s mission is to accelerate the research that propels us towards this reality, and magnify its impact, through modern software.
Every day, scientists around the world use Benchling’s applications, platform, & analytics in their efforts to solve humanity’s most pressing problems. For these scientists, Benchling is the central technology they use to conduct their research. Our customers include pharmaceutical giants, leading biotechs, and the world’s most renowned research institutes.
ROLE OVERVIEW
Benchling is looking for a business oriented Chief Accounting Officer who will be responsible for overseeing all accounting functions including corporate accounting, international accounting, consolidations, external reporting, technical accounting, audits, payroll, and global tax. We are looking for a proven leader, results-oriented, with a track record of accomplishing objectives in a complex environment. Equally important is solid business judgment, high integrity and ability to partner with the senior management team to drive the strategic vision of the company. The successful candidate will regularly collaborate with senior management, the business and functional group personnel worldwide, as well as our various professional service providers.
The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in a fast-growth corporate environment, have built organizations to scale for rapid growth, and have a history of experience that includes public company environment and requirements, and public accounting. Prior experience with Subscription businesses/SaaS is strongly preferred.
WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON
- Direct and lead accounting teams in the development, implementation, and oversight of company-wide accounting policies and controls consistent with SEC, US GAAP and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance
- Coordinate the preparation of financial reports on a regular basis, including but not limited to income and cash flow statements, quarterly reports, and balance sheets
- Plan and direct all accounting activities across the organization, to ensure compliance with GAAP, SEC regulations, SOX, statutory guidelines, and internal financial policies and procedures
- Drive external reporting, including presentations and direct communication with the Audit Committee and the Board
- Provide leadership required to strengthen and grow the Accounting team, with a commitment to recruiting, training, and mentoring
- Responsible for providing guidance and training of the new accounting guidance including the SEC regulations to the accounting team and broader organization
- Partner with the FP&A organization to ensure the accuracy of the financial statements through a monthly executive review of revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities
- Build the technical infrastructure and control environment to support the company's global growth and readiness for public life
- Leverage technology to build scalable/sustainable processes to create efficiencies, streamline accounting operations, and improve the employee experience
- Establish strong relationships with inter-departmental peers and be the go-to accounting source in the Company
- Continually evaluate and optimize month-end close processes, striving to deliver process automation, improved accuracy, and higher customer service
- Develop/enhance, implement and enforce accounting policies and procedures that will improve the overall operation and reduce risks of the business
- Provide financial guidance on technical accounting and financial reporting issues
- Manage insourced and outsourced international accountants for general accounting, payroll, tax, statutory accounts and compliance
- Manage the annual consolidated external audit working with independent auditors
ABOUT YOU
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business; MBA or Masters in Accounting preferred
- Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) License highly preferred
- Experience with a Big 4 or other national accounting firm preferred
- Minimum 10 years accounting and finance experience, with a minimum of 8 years in a financial senior leadership position in a public technology company
- Experience managing international accounting functions at both a corporate and a business unit-level for a global publicly-traded company, including consolidating US and non-US financial statements rolling up to the corporate level
- Experience presenting to Board of Directors, Audit Committees and other internal and external decision-makers
- Significant experience in SaaS business models
- Expert knowledge of financial activities, policies, and processes, including multi-currency consolidations, SEC reporting, and Sarbanes-Oxley
- Experience leading SOX implementations and maintaining effective internal controls over financial reporting
- Must be a proven and effective leader that garners trust and loyalty from team members
- Demonstrated proficiency in enhancing financial systems to enable scalability of the business and accounting functions
Benchling welcomes everyone. We believe every member of our team enriches our diversity and inclusion by broadening our ways of problem-solving for future challenges. Even if you don't meet 100% of the qualifications for this job, we strongly encourage you to apply.
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
- Admit mistakes and shortcomings
- Deliver results
- Disagree and commit
- Obsess over customers
- Rely on work ethic
- Show empathy
- Recruit and develop the best
- Sweat the details
- Think and communicate clearly
- Unite around the mission
PERKS AND BENEFITS
- Work with a talented yet humble team
- Competitive compensation & equity package
- Quarterly mental health days
- Weekly virtual social events, and annual company retreats
- 401k, Medical, dental, and vision insurance (US Employees Only)
- Monthly health & wellness stipend (Currently US Employees Only)
- Yearly educational stipend (Currently US Employees Only)
- To support remote work conditions, Benchling provides each employee a one-time stipend of $1,000(USD) upon commencing employment, and additional discounted employee purchase plans for home-office equipment.
In following best practices and safety protocols, all Benchling employees are expected to work remotely until we are further advised that it is safe for employees to resume work in their respective office locations.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.