About Cerus:
Cerus aims to be the global leader and trusted partner of blood centers and hospitals whose technology, services, and commitment are the lifeblood of safe and accessible blood for patients around the world.
The Controller is the senior-most member of the accounting team and trusted partner for the CFO. Responsible for managing global corporate and operational accounting functions and related third parties, SEC financial reporting, internal controls.
Primary Responsibilities:- Strong leadership presence and drive for results in commercial, publicly traded, global organization
- Strong knowledge of current and developing GAAP standards
- Develop and lead corporate accounting, operational accounting, technical accounting, payables, SEC reporting (’33 Securities Act and ’34 Securities Exchange Act) and international accounting teams
- Liaison with Legal, Sales, Operations (including Customer Care, Sales Ops, Supply Chain), IT
- Manage external auditors, valuation experts, internal audit/SOX firms, and other third-party experts
- Oversee accounting functions and staff in overseas subsidiaries and joint ventures
- Ensure compliance with all relevant facets of Sarbanes-Oxley, including management of third-party internal controls testing firm
- Oversee Government contract accounting and invoicing, including working with PMO office in-charge of Government projects
- Oversee the evolution of financial accounting and reporting systems required to maintain reporting requirements
- Prepare materials and interact with Board of Directors’ Audit Committee
- Perform other related duties as required.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with CPA license and >12 years related experience required
- At least 3-5 years with big four auditing firm
- Experience managing accounting functions in a dynamic, global, commercial, publicly traded company required
- Strong work ethic and willingness to coordinate with global teams, as needed
- Experience with accounting for companies with operational accounting (revenue recognition, inventory valuation, costing)
- Demonstrated knowledge of GAAP
- Demonstrated managerial capability in a growing and changing company; ability to initiate and make improvements to processes and procedures
- Demonstrated drive for results
- Lean six-sigma / kaizen experience a plus
- Hands-on management - ability and desire to manage, as well as perform the detailed work personally
- Demonstrated time management skills (schedules, timelines, task prioritization)
- Strong communication skills – written and verbal; ability to, coordinate and interact with, board level, executive management, middle management and personnel within other departments
- Demonstrated success in collaborating with other functional areas (e.g., research, clinical development, regulatory, sales ops)
- Working knowledge and experience with financial software required – Oracle preferred
- Strong analytical and organizational skills
- Strong leadership, management and mentoring skill; team oriented
- Demonstrated accuracy and ability to focus on detail while understanding the relevance and application of that detail to the larger business at hand
- Flexible, ability to adapt to changing priorities
We understand that our people are essential to our success. This philosophy is revealed in our competitive benefits package, designed to improve employees’ lives both on and off the job.
Benefits plans: medical, dental, vision, domestic partner benefits, paid maternity and paternity leaves, healthcare and dependent care flexible spending, life and accidental death insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, matching 401(k), RSUs
Work and family: EAP, legal and financial services, health club membership discounts, tuition reimbursement
Compensation: The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $252,000-$298,000 annually. Base pay is one part of the total package to compensate and recognize employees for their work.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or Master's degree
- CPA license
- >12 years related accounting experience
- 3-5 years experience with a Big Four auditing firm
- Experience managing accounting functions in a global, publicly traded company
- Knowledge of GAAP and technical accounting
- Experience with SEC financial reporting ('33 and '34 Acts) and Board Audit Committee materials
- Experience with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance and internal controls
- Experience with operational accounting (revenue recognition, inventory valuation, costing)
- Experience overseeing government contract accounting and invoicing
- Working knowledge and experience with financial software (Oracle preferred)
- Demonstrated managerial capability, leadership, and hands-on management
- Strong communication, analytical, organizational, and time management skills
- Lean Six Sigma / Kaizen experience
What We Do
Cerus Corporation is dedicated solely to safeguarding the world’s blood supply and aims to become the preeminent global blood products company. Headquartered in Concord, California, the company develops and supplies vital technologies and pathogen-protected blood components to blood centers, hospitals, and ultimately patients who rely on safe blood. The INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma is available globally and remains the only pathogen reduction system with both CE mark and FDA approval for these two blood components. The INTERCEPT red blood cell system is under regulatory review in Europe, and in late-stage clinical development in the US. Also in the US, the INTERCEPT Blood System for Cryoprecipitation is approved for production of INTERCEPT Fibrinogen Complex, a therapeutic product for the treatment and control of bleeding, including massive hemorrhage, associated with fibrinogen deficiency. For more information about Cerus, visit www.cerus.com and follow us on LinkedIn.








