Senior Accountant
About the role
Position Summary
Natera is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Senior Accountant to support key accounting operations related to Clinical Trials and Research & Development (R&D) activities. This role will be responsible for clinical trial accruals, prepaid expense accounting, R&D expense analysis, month-end close activities, and financial reporting processes in compliance with GAAP, ASC 730, and SOX requirements.
The Senior Accountant will partner closely with Clinical Operations, FP&A, Procurement, and external vendors including CROs and clinical sites to ensure accurate accounting and reporting of clinical trial and R&D expenditures. This individual will also support process improvements and technical accounting reviews related to clinical trial agreements and research activities.
This is a fully remote position, offering the opportunity to work from anywhere within the United States while collaborating with a high-performing and dynamic finance team.
This is an excellent opportunity for an accounting professional looking to grow within a rapidly expanding public biotechnology company.
Primary Responsibilities
Clinical Trial & R&D Accounting
- Prepare monthly clinical trial accruals, prepaid roll-forwards, and reconciliations in accordance with ASC 730
- Gather enrollment, site activity, and milestone data from Clinical Operations to support accrual calculations
- Review CRO and clinical site invoices against contracted milestones and fee schedules; identify and investigate variances
- Support R&D expense accounting, including accruals, prepaid amortization, and cost allocations
- Assist with technical accounting reviews of new and amended clinical trial agreements
- Maintain supporting schedules and documentation related to clinical trial and R&D accounting activities
- Partner cross-functionally with Clinical Operations, Legal, Procurement, and FP&A to ensure accurate and timely accounting treatment of research-related expenditures
Financial Reporting & Month-End Close
- Support monthly and quarterly financial statement close processes
- Prepare and post month-end journal entries with appropriate supporting documentation
- Perform account reconciliations and detailed analyses to identify and resolve discrepancies
- Prepare fluctuation analyses and provide explanations for financial trends and variances
- Review, investigate, and correct accounting errors, inconsistencies, and reporting issues
- Ensure compliance with GAAP, internal controls, and company accounting policies
- Proactively communicate accounting, financial reporting, or control issues to management
- Support internal and external audit requests, including preparation of supporting documentation
SOX Compliance & Process Improvement
- Execute SOX 404(b) controls related to clinical trial and R&D accounting processes
- Contribute to process improvements across clinical trial and R&D accounting workflows
- Participate in automation, scalability, and operational efficiency initiatives within the accounting function
- Collaborate with team members to improve reporting accuracy and streamline month-end close processes
Revised Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required
- CPA certification preferred
- Minimum of 2-3 years of accounting or audit experience required
- Public accounting/audit background required; Big 4 experience strongly preferred
- Experience in biotechnology, life sciences, h