Director, Finance (Site Finance Head)

Encoded Therapeutics is a clinical-stage genetic medicines company developing potentially disease-modifying therapies to improve the lives of people with severe CNS disorders. Our proprietary vector engineering approach combines novel regulatory elements and payloads with AAV vectors to unlock innovative solutions for debilitating, intractable CNS conditions. At the forefront is our flagship clinical program, ETX101 for Dravet syndrome, which targets the underlying cause of the disorder to enable highly selective upregulation of SCN1A for potentially long-lasting benefit. In parallel, we are advancing a pipeline of potentially best-in-class programs to address significant unmet needs across both monogenic and prevalent CNS conditions. For more information, please visit www.encoded.com.

As we approach our next phase of growth, we are seeking a Director, Finance to serve as the senior finance business partner for our cGMP manufacturing operations facility. 

You will partner directly with site leadership - including Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering & Facilities, Process Sciences, Analytical Sciences, Quality, and People & Culture - to drive budgeting, cost management, capital planning and long-range financial strategy for CMC Operations.

This is a highly visible, cross-functional leadership position ideal for a finance professional who is comfortable navigating the economics of gene therapy and who thrives operating as an embedded strategic partner rather than a back-office analyst.

This role is based in Morrisville, NC and reports to the Vice President, Finance.

Responsibilities 

• Site Finance Partnership: Serve as the primary finance point of contact and trusted advisor for CMC site leadership, providing financial insight that informs day-to-day operating decisions and long-term site strategy
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Lead the annual budgeting and periodic forecasting process for the manufacturing site functions, including headcount, operating expenses, capital expenditures and cost of goods 
• Manufacturing Cost Accounting: Own batch costing, standard costing and variance analysis for GMP drug substance/drug product manufacturing, identifying and explaining drivers of cost variance to plan
• Capital Planning: Develop business cases and ROI analyses for capital projects (e.g., new suites, equipment, automation), as needed
• Inventory & Supply Chain Finance: Partner with Supply Chain and Manufacturing on raw material, consumable and inventory planning; support inventory valuation, cycle counts and other analyses
• Reporting & KPIs: Design and deliver recurring financial and operational KPI dashboards for site leadership, translating complex manufacturing and financial data into meaningful insights
• Controls & Compliance: Ensure site financial processes and controls comply with SOX, internal policy, and GxP-adjacent documentation standards; support internal and external audits as the site finance representative
• Workforce Planning: Lead or contribute to headcount planning, org design discussions, and workforce cost modeling in partnership with Site Leadership and HR Business Partners

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or a related field
• Experience: 12+ years of progressive finance/accounting experience, 5+ years supporting a manufacturing plant or site operation 
• Industry Expertise: Proven experience in the Biotech/Life Science industry 
• Technical Proficiency: Demonstrated experience with manufacturing cost accounting, including standard costing, batch/product costing, and COGS/COGM analysis. Working knowledge of CMC and GMP manufacturing operations; direct exposure to cell therapy, gene therapy, biologics, or other advanced-therapy manufacturing is a strong plus.
• Systems and Tools: Proficiency with Coupa and Adaptive preferred
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills; comfortable presenting financial analyses to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Leadership: Demonstrated leadership capability, including managing cross-functional stakeholders
• Business Partnership: Proven ability to partner with non-finance operational leaders (Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain) and translate financial concepts into operational terms, and vice versa

• Comprehensive benefits package, including competitive employer premium contributions
• Meaningful stock option grants
• PTO, sick time, and holiday pay
• Generous Parental Leave program
• Pre-tax medical and dependent care programs
• STD, LTD, Life and AD&D
• Professional development opportunities
• Team-building events
• Stocked micro-kitchen with drinks and snacks
• Wellness Resources

Encoded is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. Encoded is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Encoded are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, religion or belief, color, national origin, gender, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the location in which we operate. Encoded will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. Encoded encourages applicants of all ages.