Accountant / Executive Assistant

About Talus Bioscience

Talus Bioscience, Inc. is a venture-backed early-stage biotechnology startup working to develop new therapies for incurable cancers. At Talus Bio, we believe nothing is undruggable. We build the technology to bring drug development back to where it matters, inside the live human cell.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

Talus Bio is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and empowering workplace. We believe that having employees, interns, and contractors with diverse backgrounds enables Talus Bio to better meet our mission and serve healthcare communities around the world. We recognize that opportunities in the life sciences have historically excluded and continue to disproportionately exclude Black and Indigenous people, people of color, people from working class backgrounds, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQIA+ communities. We strongly encourage individuals with these identities to apply.

Accountant/Executive Assistant Job Description

Talus Bio is looking for an Accountant/Executive Assistant to join our team full-time in our Seattle office onsite. This person will work directly for and with the COO/CFO of Talus Bio and will lead the day-to-day in-house accounting and finance activities of our small, growing, biotech start-up. In addition, the person in this role will serve as Executive Assistant to the COO/CFO, supporting business operations and administration, HR and benefits management, IT, legal, and daily activities and schedule for the COO/CFO.

This is a unique role with opportunities to grow as a significant contributor in both finance and business management. This role requires an extremely high level of discretion, professionalism, and emotional intelligence. The ideal candidate will be naturally curious, goal-oriented, an eager learner, results-driven, and eager to work in a small team to achieve great things. This is a role for someone who is ambitious and driven, but also excited about rolling up their sleeves and doing the everyday tasks required to keep business rolling in a small start-up.

Responsibilities

Accounting and Payroll Responsibilities:

• Prepare accurate financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Review for completeness and consistency, verify that accounts are reconciled, that supporting schedules agree to financial statement balances, and that the reported results make sense based on historical results and current trends.
• Conduct regular reconciliations of accounts to maintain accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
• Assist in budget development, monitoring, working budget updates, and variance analysis.
• Collaborate with finance and management teams to provide financial insights for decision-making.
• Bookkeeping/accounting responsibilities
• Prepare customer invoices and process grant payment requests
• Import, reconcile, and code all bank and credit card transactions
• Manage prepaid expenses and amortization over the correct term; maintain reconciliation worksheet
• Fixed asset management, including maintaining FA worksheet and recording depreciation/amortization on a straight-line basis
• Manage right-of-use assets
• Calculate state B&O taxes due; prepare and file state B&O tax returns
• Prepare Seattle B&O tax return, Delaware annual franchise tax return, and work with CPA to file IRS returns, including R&D tax credit study work
• AP & Payroll responsibilities
• Manage (vendor management, setting approval queues, ensuring proper memos for account and class coding, adding and accruing for WA Use Tax)
• Synch with QuickBooks Online (QBO) and clear synch issues
• Confirm accuracy of AP invoice entries in QBO, including item, class, accurate description, costs, terms, etc.
• Manage ACH payments from banking account(s)
• Vendor interactions (in collaboration with the Lab Ops Manager)
• Payroll (processed through Rippling), including managing manual benefits entries for health insurance, FSA, and commuter benefits. Enter payroll and employee reimbursements into QBO, allocated by class
• Ensure all AP is accurately documented and paid on time
• Request and organize W-9's
• File annual 1099 forms
• Send annual W-2s to employees and vendors
• Assist with some crossover HR and benefits management functions to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.

General Ledger and Compliance:

• Maintain the general ledger, post journal entries, and oversee month-end and year-end closing processes.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and company accounting policies.
• Support internal and external audits by providing necessary documentation and information.

Financial Analysis and Reporting:

• Analyze financial data to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement.
• Generate and present financial reports to support management's strategic planning.
• Assist in the preparation of ad-hoc financial reports and presentations.
• Work closely with out-sourced accounting/finance contractor(s)

Executive Assistant Support for COO/CFO:

• Calendar management (Google calendar) for multiple calendars
• Meeting assistance, including scheduling/rescheduling, preparation prior to meeting, taking notes at meetings, documenting and assigning action items, etc.
• Plan and book travel (air, lodging, transfers, etc.), conference/meeting registrations
• Daily admin support tasks, including (but not limited to) entering credit card purchase memos and attaching receipts to banking website, email Inbox triage, and some email correspondence.
• Project and task organization, including tracking to do's (from email, Tasks, Slack, etc.), blocking time for tasks, and sending reminders.
• Drive and maintain excellent communication between the COO/CFO and internal teams, external stakeholders, and the Board of Directors.
• Coordinate/collaborate with the other members of the Operations Team (office ops associate, lab ops associate, laboratory ops manager, etc.) and the Events Committee on projects and initiatives.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.
• Bachelor's or Master's Degree and/or CPA or relevant certification a plus.
• 3+ years of experience in bookkeeping/accounting roles, with a focus on AP and a proven track-record of working independently with a strong ability to multi-task.
• Experience in a start-up work environment a plus
• Experience with grant accounting practices a plus
• 1+ years of experience in administrative or operations support roles
• Experience in the biotech or pharmaceutical industry a plus
• Proficiency and significant experience with QuickBooks Online
• Proficiency and experience with a plus.
• Proficiency in Experience in payroll processing and/or adjacent HR functions
• Strong understanding of accrual-based accounting principles and financial regulations.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Detail-oriented with a high level of accuracy.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate in a team environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel required; intermediate Excel skills
• Proficiency with Google Workspace applications (Gmail, GDrive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Calendar)

Salary and Benefits

$75,000-$120,000 plus Talus Bio stock options

Despite being a small startup biotech, Talus Bio's first priority is the safety and wellbeing of all our employees and their families, both inside and outside of the lab. As part of this commitment, we have put a great deal of thought and care into developing a cost-effective and comprehensive benefits package for our team.

Our benefits package includes but is not limited to the following:

• Medical/dental/vision insurance with 100% company-paid premiums for employees and 50% company-paid for dependents
• $124/month commuter and transportation reimbursement program
• 401(k) plan with a 4% Talus Bio contribution (regardless of employee contribution)
• STD, LTD, basic life, and AD&D insurance coverage
• 4 weeks of paid time off PLUS a paid end-of-year shutdown between Christmas Day and New Year's Day
• 10 paid holidays
• 5 days of sick time
• Weekly meals, snacks, and drinks
• Flexible working hours
• Flexible working environment and schedule

Talus Bioscience, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.