R&D Finance Lead - VistaGen Therapeutics

ABOUT THE ROLE

The role of R&D Finance Lead, will play a pivotal role in managing the financial aspects of our Research and Development (R&D) activities. This position requires a strategic thinker with strong financial acumen, leadership skills, and a deep understanding of the biotech industry. The ideal candidate will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams and work with CRO’s to support all finance and accounting activities related to our R&D activities.

Vistagen is a dynamic environment with a strong culture of innovation, initiative, and ownership. You must be excellent at multi-tasking and have the courage to provide honest feedback and assume a broad array of responsibilities. This will be a full-time position and may be performed remotely from any location within the continental U.S. The position will report to the Chief Finance Officer. 

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Business partner to the Clinical Operations, Translation Neuroscience, and CMC organizations.

• Lead quarterly and annual forecasts for clinical trials, R&D, and CMC expenses, including cashflows;

• Track risks and opportunities to the annual operating plan;

• Assist in the preparation and maintenance of long-range forecasts and cashflows;
• Responsible for clinical trial, CMC, and R&D accruals and expense analysis, including creation and maintenance of clinical trial models;
• Responsible for tracking contracts, financial data, and key expense categories related to CRO and CMO projects;
• Provide monthly variance analysis of actuals to budget for clinical trial, R&D, and CMC expenses;
• Prepare journal entries and accounting documentation to ensure compliance with US GAAP and SOX requirements;
• Prepare/review monthly account reconciliations for clinical trial accruals/prepayments and R&D and CMC accruals;
• Review invoices and reconcile data to budgets, PO’s, and work orders to validate invoices and determine the appropriate accounting treatment;
• Partner with Legal on contract and change order reviews for significant Clinical Trial Agreements to ensure competitive costing and budget compliance.
• Work cross-functionally with the Clinical, CMC, Research, and Legal teams, as well as external consultants;
• Support key projects and initiatives (e.g. planning system standardization, management reporting, and optimization) and drive process improvements;
• Supports ad hoc analysis as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field; CPA highly preferred;
• 8+ years of progressive biotech or pharmaceutical industry experience required;
• Strong understanding of R&D processes and the ability to translate scientific and technical information into financial insights.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills.
• In-depth knowledge of financial regulations, compliance, and risk management.
• Proficiency in financial modeling and analysis tools.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.  

What we offer:

• Industry competitive compensation
• Performance-base bonuses
• Stock options
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• 401K plan
• A collaborative and innovative work environment at the forefront of biotech advancements.

Give your best, live wholesomely:

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage, including medical, dental, and vision plans for employees and dependents
• FSA and HSA
• Basic Life Insurance 2x Earnings & AD&D
• Employee Assistance Program
• Healthcare advocates group to help navigate the healthcare system

Work-Life Balance:

• Unlimited paid time off
• Flexible work schedule
• Remote work option
• Paid Holidays
• Mental Health Days & Observances
• Winter shut-down
• Casual work environment

We uphold the ethos of work-life harmony, where enjoyment is woven into our fundamental values of integrity, teamwork, compassion, and excellence.

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work remotely is $150,000 to $180,000 per year. The final pay offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and years of experience within the job, the type of years and experience within the industry, education, etc.

Provided they meet all eligibility requirements under the applicable plan documents, employees (and their eligible dependents) will be eligible to enroll in group healthcare plans that offer medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance.  Employees also will be able to enroll in our company’s 401k plan provided they meet plan requirements. Employees will also enjoy paid holidays throughout the calendar year, subject to relevant terms outlined in the employee handbook.  Eligibility requirements for these benefits will be controlled by applicable plan documents.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit.

The employee is required to stand, walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The transition from standing and sitting often.

Specific vision for this job includes close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

This position requires the ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds occasionally.

Evening and weekend work as necessary.

DISCLAIMER

This is intended to provide a general description of benefits and other compensation and is not a substitute for applicable plan documents or company policies. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

About Us:

Vistagen (Nasdaq: VTGN) is a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company aiming to transform the treatment landscape for individuals living with anxiety, depression, and other CNS disorders. Vistagen is advancing therapeutics with the potential to be faster-acting, and with fewer side effects and safety concerns than those currently available for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and multiple CNS disorders. Vistagen’s pipeline includes six clinical-stage product candidates, including fasedienol (PH94B), itruvone (PH10), PH80, PH15, and PH284, each an investigational agent belonging to a new class of drugs known as pherines, as well as AV-101, which is an oral prodrug of an antagonist of the N-methyl-D aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Pherines are neuroactive nasal sprays designed with an innovative proposed mechanism of action that activates chemosensory neurons in the nasal cavity and can beneficially impact key neural circuits in the brain without systemic absorption or direct activity on neurons in the brain.

Vistagen is passionate about transforming mental health care and redefining what is possible in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and several other CNS disorders.

At Vistagen, we emphasize that mental health is foundational to living vibrant and healthy lives. We believe that healthy minds create healthy communities, and our core goal at Vistagen is to radically improve mental health and well-being worldwide – One Mind at a Time. We are change-makers committed to improving lives by developing innovative, science-based mental health care medicines with the potential to make the impossible, possible - to empower and support patients and their caregivers to achieve faster-acting efficacy without the side effects and safety concerns associated with current treatment options for anxiety and depression.

Vistagen Therapeutics, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.