Director, Financial Planning and Analysis

Who We Are

Cogent Biosciences is a publicly traded biotechnology company focused on developing precision therapies for genetically defined diseases. The most advanced clinical program, bezuclastinib, is a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is designed to potently inhibit the KIT D816V mutation as well as other mutations in KIT exon 17. KIT D816V is responsible for driving systemic mastocytosis (SM), a serious disease caused by unchecked proliferation of mast cells. Exon 17 mutations are also found in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a type of cancer with strong dependence on oncogenic KIT signaling. Top-line results from registration-directed trials in NonAdvanced SM, Advanced SM and GIST are expected in 2025. The company also has an ongoing Phase 1 study of its novel internally discovered FGFR2 inhibitor. In addition, the Cogent Research Team is developing a portfolio of novel targeted therapies to help patients fighting serious, genetically driven diseases targeting mutations in ErbB2, PI3Kα and KRAS.

Our Team

https://cogent.culturehq.com

The Director of Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) will oversee all financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and analysis activities for Cogent’s Commercial team. This role will support financial decisions making and providing insights to support the company's growth and profitability. The Director will collaborate closely with senior leadership and various departments to ensure alignment with the company's financial goals.

Responsibilities

• Leadership and Management: Initially, you will be a team of one to lead the function with support from an outside consultant. An additional staff member will occur shortly arrive you are established. You will lead the FP&A function, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
• Financial Planning: Develop and manage the annual budgeting process, including long-term financial planning and forecasting.
• Analysis and Reporting: Provide detailed financial analysis and reporting to senior management, highlighting key trends, risks, and opportunities. Translate forecasts into digestible KPIs and high-level dashboards that highlight risks and opportunities. Avoid data dumps.
• Strategic Support: Partner with the CFO to support strategic initiatives and decision-making processes.
• Performance Monitoring: Monitor financial performance against budgets and forecasts, identifying variances and recommending corrective actions. Highlight early warning signs (e.g., cash burn accelerating, pipeline slippage). Ensure no bad news surprises, keep ahead of the curve, not reacting to it.
• Process Improvement: Implement and enhance FP&A processes, tools, and systems to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with other departments to ensure financial alignment and support business objectives.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field; MBA or CPA preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 10 years of experience in financial planning and analysis, with at least 5 years in Commercial
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• Proficiency in financial modeling and forecasting tools.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.

Competencies

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think strategically and provide insights that drive business decisions.
• Leadership: Proven leadership skills with the ability to inspire and develop a high-performing team.
• Detail-Oriented: Strong attention to detail and accuracy in financial analysis and reporting.
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing business environments and manage multiple priorities.

Our Locations

Waltham, MA: Our Boston office includes an open office layout that has recently undergone a makeover designed for collaboration and giving our employees the best work place possible. Free access is provided for both on-site parking and gym facilities in the building.

Boulder, CO: We have just moved into our new state-of-the art Research Facility in the fast-growing biopharmaceutical hub in the greater Denver/Boulder corridor.  Our CEO is based full-time in this location and we are proud to call this the home of Cogent’s discovery research organization.

Our Offer To You

To attract the very best talent, we offer a generous benefits package that includes competitive pay, performance-based bonus, stock options, insurance coverage (health, dental, life, and disability), competitive time-off, a 401(k) plan, and commuter/parking benefits.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our goal is to have a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or disability, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.