Senior Director of Accounting and Finance

RhyGaze is a biotech company developing transformative gene therapies to restore vision in patients with blindness. Our programs target patients with blinding retinal diseases, and we are committed to bringing life-changing treatments to those in need. As RhyGaze expands its portfolio and advances additional development assets, we are seeking an Associate Director, Program Management to provide leadership across one or more development programs and support portfolio execution. Reporting to the Program Management Lead, this individual will drive cross-functional planning and execution, facilitate governance and decision-making processes, and ensure alignment across internal teams and external partners. The successful candidate will support the continued growth and maturation of the Company’s finance organization. This individual will play a key leadership role across accounting, financial planning and analysis, reporting, controls, budgeting, forecasting, and operational finance. The ideal candidate will have strong technical accounting experience, hands-on FP&A capabilities, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, growing biotech environment. Lead core accounting activities, including month-end close, accruals, prepaids, account reconciliations, and financial statement preparation. Support preparation of consolidated financial statements and management reporting packages. Partner with external auditors and support annual audit activities, including audit schedules, documentation, and follow-up items. Support the development and enhancement of finance processes, controls, policies, and procedures as the Company scales. Lead or support annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, long-range planning, and scenario modeling. Partner with functional leaders to manage department budgets, track spend, analyze variances, and identify risks and opportunities. Support in preparation of financial reporting and analysis for management, the Audit Committee, Board of Directors, and investors. Support cash forecasting, runway analysis, financing scenarios, and capital planning activities. Assist with ERP, procurement, expense management, and other finance system/process improvement initiatives. Support tax, transfer pricing, intercompany, equity management, and compliance-related workstreams in partnership with internal and external advisors. Help build a finance organization capable of supporting future growth, financing activities, and potential public company readiness. Support global payroll operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across all jurisdictions. Support the Company's global risk management and insurance programs, including policy administration, renewals, claims management, and broker relationships. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; CPA strongly preferred. 8-10+ years of progressive finance and accounting experience, preferably in biotech, life sciences, or a high-growth company environment. Experience across both accounting and FP&A required. Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP; public company readiness, audit, or SOX/control experience preferred. Experience with Swiss GAAP and/or IFRS is preferred. Experience with budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, cash planning, and board-level reporting. Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on in a lean finance environment. Strong analytical, communication, and project management skills. Experience working with external auditors, tax advisors, legal counsel, and cross-functional business partners. Comfortable managing ambiguity, building processes, and improving finance infrastructure as the Company scales. Preferred Experience Biotech or pharmaceutical industry experience. Pre-IPO, IPO readiness, or public company experience. Global finance and accounting leadership experience, including oversight of multinational accounting operations, financial reporting, compliance, and business partnering. Experience with ERP implementation or finance systems transformation. Experience supporting investor, Audit Committee, or Board reporting. Familiarity with equity management, 409A valuations, transfer pricing, and international entity structures. Key Attributes Hands-on, proactive, and detail-oriented. Strong business partner with the ability to communicate clearly with finance and non-finance stakeholders. Comfortable moving between strategic analysis and day-to-day execution. High integrity, sound judgment, and strong ownership mindset. Able to build scalable processes in a growing organization. Why Join Us Opportunity to help develop breakthrough therapies for patients with serious vision-threatening diseases. Work alongside a passionate, highly experienced team at the forefront of ophthalmology innovation. Meaningful impact in a growing biotech company. Collaborative, entrepreneurial culture where science and innovation drive decision-making. The position is based in Philadelphia. Candidates are expected to be 3 days per week onsite. Candidates needs legally able to work in the US (US citizen or US work permit).