Senior Manager / Associate Director, Accounting (Berkeley Heights)

Senior Manager/Associate Director of Accounting

About Kalaris

Kalaris Therapeutics is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of treatments for prevalent retinal diseases with major unmet medical needs.

Kalaris’ lead asset, TH103, was developed by Lasker Award winner, Dr. Napoleone Ferrara, a pioneer in the field of VEGF research, and the inventor of Lucentis and Avastin during his time at Genentech. TH103 is a novel, clinical stage anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug, specifically engineered to achieve extended intraocular retention with enhanced VEGF inhibition in patients with exudative and/or neovascular retinal diseases.

In head-to-head preclinical studies, TH103 showed more anti-VEGF activity and longer duration of activity compared to aflibercept, the current market-leading anti-VEGF agent. In a Phase 1a single ascending dose trial, TH103 was generally well tolerated and showed a potent anti-VEGF effect on functional and anatomical outcomes at 1-month post-dosing. Single dose durability signals, including pharmacokinetic analysis and retreatment results, suggest that TH103 may offer extended treatment durability outcomes after a standard four-dose loading regimen. Kalaris is currently enrolling a Phase 1b/2 Multiple Ascending Dose trial of TH103 in patients with nAMD, to help assess the safety and efficacy of repeat TH103 administration and to inform dose selection for potential Phase 3 development.

Kalaris’ board of directors, management team and investors include co-founders, scientists and leaders and investors from companies that have played pivotal roles in developing retina therapeutics.

About nAMD

nAMD is a leading cause of blindness in the United States and Europe that affected an estimated 1.6 million adults in the United States in 2024. Over the past 20 years, anti-VEGF therapeutics have revolutionized the treatment of prevalent exudative and/or neovascular retinal diseases, which represented an estimated $15 billion global branded market in 2024. While clinical trials for these drugs have shown improvements in mean visual acuity, these results often are not reproduced in real-world settings. Many patients find the treatment burden to be challenging because it requires a demanding schedule of clinic visits and years of monitoring and treatments. This onerous treatment burden can lead to a lack of adherence to the frequent visit regimen and a decline in vision after initial gains.

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Kalaris is seeking a Senior Manager or Associate Director of Accounting to join its growing Finance team. Reporting to the Director of Accounting, this individual will play a key role in the day-to-day accounting operations, monthly financial close, SEC reporting, SOX compliance, stock-based compensation, and financial systems administration. This is a highly visible, hands-on position that will partner across the organization while overseeing outsourced accounting resources and driving process improvements to support the Company's continued growth.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a mission-driven, early-stage biotechnology company and contribute meaningfully during a period of significant growth and operational scale-up. The ideal candidate is a proactive, detail-oriented accounting professional who thrives in a dynamic environment and enjoys balancing strategic thinking with day-to-day execution.

Job Description and Specific Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day accounting operations, including oversight of the general ledger, accounts payable, payroll, cash management, and outsourced accounting resources.
• Manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, including preparation and review of journal entries, account reconciliations, and fluctuation analyses.
• Partner cross-functionally with Clinical Operations, R&D, FP&A, and other business functions to develop and review accrual estimates, particularly clinical trial, manufacturing and other research-related accruals.
• Execute and monitor internal controls to ensure compliance with SOX requirements, including preparation and review of supporting documentation.
• Support IT general controls activities in coordination with internal stakeholders and external service providers.
• Manage all accounting and administration aspects of stock-based compensation programs, including equity accounting, system administration, and coordination with third-party providers.
• Support the preparation of SEC filings, including financial statements, footnotes, disclosures, and supporting schedules.
• Serve as a primary liaison for external auditors during quarterly reviews and annual audits.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, scalability, and controls within the accounting function.
• Manage and oversee the work of outsourced accounting consultants, ensuring deliverables are completed accurately and timely.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Desired Qualifications, Skills, & Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
• 6-10 years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including public company experience within the biotechnology or life sciences industry
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting requirements, and SOX compliance
• Experience supporting month-end close, external audits, technical accounting, and financial reporting processes
• Strong understanding of stock-based compensation accounting
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-growth, and resource-constrained environment
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills

Preferred

• CPA
• Big 4 public accounting experience
• Experience with NetSuite and Coupa or other similar ERP and Procurement systems
• Experience with Shareworks or other similar equity administration system

Additional Details

This role is hybrid and will require at least 1 week per month in office in Berkeley Heights, NJ.

The salary range for this position is $150,000 - $180,000 annually . This salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on the Company’s compensation practices.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.