Job Title

Synox Therapeutics is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company. We have recently completed a $75M series B fundraise to continue with the clinical development of emactuzumab, a drug to treat diffuse tenosynovial giant cell tumours (TGCT), also known as pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS). TGCT are rare tumours that form in the joints, causing severe swelling and pain, and often the only available treatment is surgery, which may not prevent tumours returning. We have secured exclusive world-wide rights for the manufacturing and commercialisation of emactuzumab under a licence agreement with Roche and are currently undertaking our global, registrational Phase III trial, TANGENT.The RoleThis role is fundamental in leading our close-knit team to set up a professional and compliant finance function, with both a strategic and operational focus expanding into the wider business. The ideal candidate will report directly to, and work closely with, the SVP, Finance and Operations. They will take over day-to-day responsibility for managing all finance and admin processes. This is a broad role that will cover a range of processes including complex global consolidated accounting, IT governance, risk management and general business operations.The Group is made up of an Irish-based parent company and a UK subsidiary and the business is complex with global operations and technical scientific services being procured. We are pre-revenue but need to build a roadmap for commercialisation, in which the ideal candidate will play a pivotal role. It is therefore extremely important that the right candidate is detailed-oriented and meticulous, although must be able to step back to a strategic level to shape the department. We expect the right candidate to be to take a high level of autonomy, trusting that they will ask for help if needed and off their own back will build strong relationships around the business.This is the opportunity for the right person to build their own financial admin infrastructure and take ownership over the finance and supporting business operations.This role is supported by a very strong Finance & IT Systems Manager who takes ownership over the day-to-day financial operations and management accounts processes. The right candidate will need to work closely with the Finance & IT Systems Manager, but it is the Financial Controller that will need to take a hands-on approach to delivering complex statutory accounting and global tax compliance.The role is predominantly remote, although the team meet semi-regularly in the Oxford area and there may need to be occasional onsite days elsewhere in the UK that may even require very occasional overnight travel. This role can support a part-time position (3-4 days per week), although would also suit a full-time position for someone willing to be proactive and take initiative to take on a wider support role in the admin side of the business. We are happy to discuss any flexible working preferences and consider alternative time commitments.ResponsibilitiesThe role will require hands on involvement with a broad variety of tasks as needed, including:Full ownership of the financial processes and controls, being responsible for identifying and independently implementing significant process improvements, managing and working in close collaboration with the Finance & IT Systems Manager.Responsibility for the development, and subsequent review, of comprehensive documentation of policies, processes and procedures for the finance and admin functions including corporate governance, IT governance and risk management.Building controls and checklists to ensure processes are being followed efficiently and reporting dashboards to succinctly visualise the teams financial and corporate KPIs, risks and achievements for reporting to senior management.Building close working relationships across to wider team, ensuring buy-in and compliance with a wide range of important finance and admin processes. This role will be a key point of contact for all departments throughout the business and the candidate will need to take the time to fully understand each departments responsibilities, workflows and concerns, working throughout the business to facilitate more streamlined ways of working.Work with the wider business and the Finance & IT System Manager to develop robust, well-thought budgets and communicate these succinctly to senior management. It will be a key part of the role to help all departments to understand their budgets, how to articulate and communicate budget variance and how/when to communicate this to senior management.Review of management accounts and investor reporting figures as prepared by the finance team, followed by the writing of the accompanying written reports for senior management distribution.Lead relationship with statutory auditors and other third-party professional advisers to deliver a clean audit report in a timely manner. Whilst the finance team will support with the management accounts and supporting audit working papers, this role requires a hands-on and autonomous approach to managing the audit process (deadlines and workflow management), preparing consolidation journals, preparing technical accounting papers (share options, FX, equity), preparing IFRS consolidated accounts and preparing R&D tax credit claims efficiently, accurately and to a high level of compliance.Full ownership of all global tax activities including corporate tax returns (UK, Ireland, US), R&D tax credit claims (UK), people/payroll (inc P11Ds, share options, global mobility), corporate structuring and risk.Keeping up to date with compliance standards and communicating to the wider team as requiredThis role will have a key involvement in shaping the strategic financial future of the business. We need to be prepared for a full range of potential exit strategies whilst we focus in parallel on readiness for a commercial launch. This includes ensuring that the finance and business operations functions are ready for IPO-level due diligence processes.Responsibility over global expansion and compliance, in particular the incorporation of a US subsidiary and supporting intercompany agreements to deliver a tax-efficient corporate structureCap table management, including complex loan and preference share transactions. This includes exit waterfall modelling, understanding complex anti-dilution mechanism, understanding intricate rights associated with different share classes and being able to communicate this succinctly.Develop a deep understanding of the share option plan and take full ownership of share option administration.Leading role in the development of an Information Security Management System to an ISO27001 standardHelp build a wider business continuity plan; risk register and disaster recovery planIn conjunction with the Head of HR, be a key contact for our outsourced Data Protection Officer and leading data protection policies and processesIn conjunction with the Head of HR, consider the corporate training requirements for the wider team e.g. anti-bribery, tax evasion.Step up as needed to support the external communication strategy of the business, including for example minor website updates, management of press release drafting by external PR firm, management of relationship with external corporate branding teamTo act as a second in command for the SVP, Finance and Operations with any other ad hoc tasks as requiredRequirementsThe ideal candidate must:You must be a qualified accountant with strong technical skills at a group consolidation level.You must have experience, and a strong interest is life sciences, ideally in a global biotech that have transitioned from pre-revenue through to commercialisation.You must be a self-starter - highly organised, proactive and efficient. Whilst we are a close team and always willing to help each other, there will be a high level of autonomy in this role. You will need to have the ability to work independently, with minimal supervision.You must have strong verbal and written communication skills it will be important to build relationships with all team members and communicate complex financial strategy succinctly and articulately to non-finance senior management.You must be happy to roll up your sleeves and get involved with any business needs even if they dont fall directly within the scope the role (as is often the case in start-up environment). Ideally, you will have experience in a start-up environment.You should prefer working to well-documented processes and be happy to build such documentation when its not already in place if processes are not up to the required professional level you should be confident in diplomatically suggesting process improvements and following through with the management of implementing these improvements.You must enjoy working in a small team!Ideally you will have experience working with NetSuite, or if not another multi-book, multi-currency ERP systemBenefits:Competitive salary (80-95k)25 days holiday in addition to local bank holidays2:1 matched pension contributions (e.g. if an employee contributes 5% salary to their pension pot, the company will contribute 10% salary, up to a max employer contribution of 10%).Eligibility for the discretionary company bonus scheme based on achievement against both corporate and personal objectives (up to a max of 15% salary). Our objectives are designed to be a stretch but achievable.Consideration in future share option awards.Access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).Bupa health insurance including dental coverage, plan covers familiesLife InsurancePlease no agencies at this moment in time.