Senior Director, Controller

About the Company

Lycia Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing first-in-class and best-in-class medicines through its proprietary lysosomal targeting chimera (LYTAC) platform. The platform is designed to remove extracellular and membrane-associated proteins that contribute to challenging diseases, including autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Founded in 2019 in partnership with academic founder and Nobel Laureate Carolyn Bertozzi, Ph.D., Lycia is based in South San Francisco. In June 2026, the company completed a $75 million Series D financing to progress its LYTAC-based pipeline into clinical development.

Role Overview

Lycia Therapeutics is looking for an accomplished Senior Director, Controller to oversee accounting and financial reporting during a period of rapid expansion. Reporting to the SVP, Finance, this leader will be responsible for the quality and accuracy of the company’s financial statements, the monthly and quarterly close, the annual audit, and the scalability of the accounting function. The position is highly visible and works closely with senior leadership and the audit committee on complex accounting issues and broader financial operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the full financial close cycle, covering the general ledger, accounts payable, payroll, and accruals, and ensure monthly, quarterly, and annual statements are produced accurately and on time in line with U.S. GAAP.
• Act as the main technical accounting authority, performing research and documenting conclusions for complex matters such as collaboration arrangements, equity-based instruments, clinical trial accruals, in-process research and development, and lease accounting.
• Prepare and maintain financial statements and support schedules in Workiva, with a focus on completeness, precision, and audit readiness.
• Manage the annual audit and quarterly review process, including auditor coordination, PBC deliverables, and schedule management.
• Handle federal, state, and local tax compliance with support from external tax advisors, including tax provisions and timely filing of required returns.
• Build and maintain internal controls suited to a company operating under public company accounting standards.
• Oversee treasury activities such as cash management, banking relationships, and short-term investment monitoring.
• Administer equity accounting alongside legal and external stock plan administrators, ensuring accurate stock compensation expense and capitalization table reporting.
• Own NetSuite as the primary system of record, working with IT and FP&A on chart of accounts governance, reporting setup, and process enhancements; also oversee Point Purchasing for procure-to-pay workflows and approval controls.
• Evaluate and adopt AI-enabled tools and automation to improve efficiency in close, reporting, and control processes, while fostering a continuous improvement mindset in the accounting team.
• Recruit, coach, and retain a strong accounting team as the organization expands.
• Support the SVP, Finance with board and audit committee materials, technical accounting memoranda, and other analytical needs.
• Partner on cash burn analysis, runway forecasts, and program-level cost tracking, and contribute accounting insights to long-range planning and investor-facing financial messaging.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance is required, along with a CPA license.
• Bring 12 or more years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 3 years in a Controller or Assistant Controller role; Big 4 public accounting background is highly preferred.
• Have prior public company accounting experience with direct responsibility for financial statement preparation and audit management under public-company deadlines.
• Possess biotech or life sciences experience; familiarity with clinical-stage accounting such as CRO accrual methods, collaboration revenue, and grant accounting is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrate hands-on expertise with NetSuite and Workiva; experience with Point Purchasing or a similar procurement platform is an advantage.
• Have strong command of U.S. GAAP, especially ASC 718, ASC 842, ASC 808/606, and equity accounting.
• Be able to design and document internal controls effectively in a fast-moving, high-growth environment.
• Communicate clearly and confidently with non-accounting stakeholders, auditors, and senior leaders.

Equal Opportunity

Lycia Therapeutics is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

Fraud Awareness

The company warns candidates about increasing scam activity involving email and social media. Legitimate openings are posted directly on the company website or through its recruitment partner. Candidates may reach out to verify the authenticity of any posting.

AI in Hiring

Lycia may use artificial intelligence tools to assist with parts of the hiring process, such as resume review, application analysis, response assessment, and spotting possible inconsistencies. These tools support the recruiting team and do not replace human judgment; final decisions are made by people. Candidates can contact the company for more information about data handling.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated base pay for this role is $265,000 to $290,000 per year. Lycia notes there may be flexibility in title and scope depending on the candidate’s background. Compensation is based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity, and includes an annual bonus, equity, and a strong benefits package.