About this Associate Director, FP&A role at Lyell Immunopharma
Using living cells to treat – and sometimes even cure – cancer is one of the most dramatic advances in modern medicine. Patients with hematologic malignancies have been successfully treated with cell therapies. However, these profound results have not yet been achieved in patients with solid tumors, representing approximately 90% of all cancers. And for patients with hematologic malignancies, there is a need for next-generation cell therapies that can deliver increased response rates and longer duration of response. We are a clinical-stage company advancing a pipeline of next-generation CAR T-cell therapies for patients with solid tumors or hematologic malignancies. Lyell’s product candidates are enhanced with novel technology designed to generate T cells that resist exhaustion and have qualities of durable stemness in order to drive durable tumor cytotoxicity and achieve consistent and long-lasting clinical response. We were founded by cell therapy pioneers whose decades of research elevated the broader understanding of T-cell biology and its interaction with cancer. In our quest to advance next-generation CAR T-cell therapies, we have built a fully integrated company capable of discovering new technologies, translating science into therapies, manufacturing cell therapy products, and clinically evaluating them in patients. Our culture is based on Science, Respect, Collaboration, and Courage and reflects who we are, the environment we create, and our mission's urgency.
The Associate Director, FP&A is responsible for leading the company’s core financial planning and analysis activities, including annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, monthly financial reporting, variance analysis, financial modeling, and business performance management. The Associate Director will partner closely with functional leaders across the organization to develop and manage financial plans, understand key business drivers, monitor performance, and provide actionable financial insights to support effective resource allocation and decision-making.
The Associate Director will serve as a key financial partner to R&D, Clinical, G&A, Commercial and other functional leaders, with a focus on understanding operational activities and their financial implications. The role will also be responsible for continuously improving the company’s FP&A processes, reporting, systems, forecasting capabilities, and financial discipline.
KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead the annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting processes, coordinating cross-functional inputs, establishing timelines and assumptions, and ensuring forecasts accurately reflect current business plans and operational activities.
- Own the monthly FP&A reporting and performance management process, including actual versus budget and forecast analysis, KPI reporting, identification of key drivers and trends, and communication of actionable insights to Finance and business leaders.
- Partner with R&D, Clinical, G&A, Commercial, and other functional leaders to track spend, monitor performance, identify key cost drivers, including CRO and vendor costs, and provide timely financial analysis to support informed decision-making.
- Develop and maintain driver-based financial models that link operational assumptions to financial performance, including headcount, departmental expenses, clinical programs, CRO and vendor costs, and other significant spending categories.
- Lead headcount and operating expense planning and forecasting, partnering with Human Resources and functional leaders to understand resource requirements and assess their financial impact.
- Support the long-range planning process by coordinating cross-functional inputs, gathering and validating operating assumptions, and ensuring timely and complete submissions from functional leaders.
- Support the development and maintenance of the company’s commercial forecast, partnering with Commercial and cross-functional stakeholders to incorporate key assumptions and operating drivers into the financial plan.
- Manage and continuously improve FP&A systems and processes, including data integration, hierarchy maintenance, reporting structures, process automation, and forecasting methodologies, to improve efficiency, scalability, and forecast accuracy.
- Partner with Accounting to ensure actual financial results are appropriately reflected in FP&A reporting and that forecasts are aligned with reported results.
- Provide ad hoc financial analysis and modeling to support operational decision-making, special projects, and other business needs.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required; MBA or other related advanced degree preferred.
- 8+ years of progressive experience in FP&A, financial planning, or a related finance function.
- 5+ years of experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, with strong knowledge of clinical studies and the drug development lifecycle.
- Proven experience with annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and monthly financial reporting.
- Experience partnering with R&D, Clinical, G&A, and other functional leaders to track spend, monitor KPIs, and identify key cost drivers, including CRO and vendor costs.
- Experience with FP&A systems, data integration, reporting, and process automation preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Strong financial modeling and analytical skills, with high proficiency in Excel and the ability to translate operational drivers into financial insights.
- Strong understanding of FP&A principles and ability to identify trends, variances, and opportunities to improve financial performance.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain financial concepts and analysis to non-Finance stakeholders.
- Strong business partnering skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions and influence without direct authority.
- Strong attention to detail, organization, and commitment to data accuracy.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and effectively manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Demonstrated ability to improve processes and bring structure to ambiguous situations in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
