About Kamau Therapeutics, Inc.

Kamau Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company creating medicines that endure. Kamau has developed a proprietary ex vivo process for homology-directed repair (HDR) editing in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) — correcting disease at its genetic root while preserving the stemness and engraftment capacity that let a single treatment last for the life of the patient.

Our lead program, nula-cel, is a first-in-class HDR-corrected HSC therapy designed to cure sickle cell disease with a single treatment. Nula-cel holds Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations, and our Phase 1/2 RESTORE trial is fully enrolled across six U.S. sites. Beyond sickle cell disease, the same platform extends into hematology, oncology, and neurology. Our leadership team of physicians, scientists, and engineers has already taken cell therapies through registration — and as we advance toward a BLA, we are building a finance organization that matches the rigor of our science.

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Accounting Manager to join our growing finance team. Reporting to the VP, Head of Finance, you will play a key role in the monthly close and day-to-day accounting operations, with particular ownership of procurement, vendor onboarding, and the procure-to-pay process, while supporting audits and helping build the internal controls and accounting infrastructure of a company moving from clinical proof of concept toward registration and public-company readiness.

This is a hybrid role based in South San Francisco / Redwood City, with three days per week in the office. As a lean, fast-moving organization, we offer scope and ownership that larger companies can’t: your work is visible, your decisions matter, and you’ll help build the function rather than simply maintain it.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement, Vendor Onboarding & Procure-to-Pay

• Own and continuously improve the end-to-end procure-to-pay process in Prendio — from purchase requisition and approval through purchase order, receipt, invoice matching, and payment
• Lead vendor onboarding, including collecting and reviewing W-9s, banking details, and certificates of insurance; verifying vendor information; and maintaining a clean, controlled vendor master file
• Administer purchase order workflows and approval matrices in partnership with budget owners, ensuring spend is properly authorized, coded, and tied to budget before commitment
• Serve as the finance point of contact for business owners in Clinical Operations, Technical Operations/CMC, and R&D on purchasing questions, vendor setup, and PO status
• Oversee accounts payable, including invoice processing, two- and three-way matching, payment runs, vendor statement reconciliation, and timely resolution of vendor inquiries
• Design and maintain procure-to-pay controls, including segregation of duties, vendor master change controls, and payment approval and fraud-prevention procedures (e.g., bank detail verification)
• Maintain a finance-facing contract and PO tracking process linking agreements, purchase orders, and spend to support accruals, close, and open-commitment reporting
• Prepare annual 1099 reporting and support vendor-related tax compliance
• Optimize Prendio workflows and integrations, identify further AP automation opportunities, and develop purchasing policies and user training as the company scales

Monthly Close & Reporting

• Play a key role in the monthly close process, contributing to continuous improvement, documentation, and close efficiency
• Participate in the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close, preparing journal entries, balance sheet and income statement reconciliations, and analyses for accounts including prepaids, accruals, leases (ASC 842), and fixed assets
• Prepare and review account reconciliations and flux analyses, resolving variances before they reach leadership
• Prepare monthly management financial packages and other reports as requested, clearly articulating the company’s financial results
• Reconcile payroll-related accounts and prepare payroll journal entries
• Own clinical trial, CRO, CDMO/CMC, and R&D accruals in partnership with Clinical Operations, Technical Operations, and R&D, including site-level and vendor-level accrual tracking for an active multi-site trial

Audit, Compliance & Technical Accounting

• Serve as a point of contact for external auditors, preparing schedules, analyses, and documentation through reviews and the annual audit
• Support technical accounting matters such as leases and subleases, stock-based compensation, equity and financing transactions, and research and collaboration agreements
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, including tax filings, audit readiness, and financial reporting standards

Internal Controls & Process Improvement

• Help design and document internal controls and accounting policies in preparation for SOX and public-company readiness
• Identify opportunities to automate and improve accounting processes using the ERP and other tools
• Drive automation and process improvement across the close and transactional cycles, building for scale rather than patching

Accounting Operations

• Manage day-to-day accounting operations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and well-documented processes
• Administer the employee expense process in Expensify, including workflow support, coding assistance, documentation review, and exception follow-up

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with Clinical Operations, Technical Operations/CMC, R&D, Legal, and People teams to obtain the information needed for accurate and timely reporting
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and financing-related requests from the VP, Head of Finance
• Deliver results in a fast-paced environment as the company scales through key clinical, regulatory, and manufacturing milestones
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA (active or in progress) preferred
• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience; a mix of public accounting and industry experience is a plus
• Experience in biotech, pharmaceutical, or life sciences companies preferred; clinical-stage or cell and gene therapy experience is a strong plus
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. GAAP, including clinical trial and CDMO accruals, ASC 842, and stock-based compensation
• Hands-on month-end close ownership and account reconciliation expertise
• Experience supporting external audits and preparing audit-ready schedules and documentation
• Experience building accounting processes and controls through a growth phase; pre-IPO or SOX implementation experience is a plus
• Proficiency with ERP/accounting systems (e.g., NetSuite, QuickBooks) and expense management tools such as Expensify; advanced Excel skills
• Hands-on experience owning procure-to-pay, vendor onboarding, and accounts payable processes, including experience with procure-to-pay systems such as Prendio, Coupa, or similar platforms (Prendio experience a plus)
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines independently
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative, roll-up-your-sleeves mindset
• Able to work on-site in South San Francisco / Redwood City three days per week

What We Offer

• The opportunity to help shape the finance function of a clinical-stage company working toward a one-time cure for sickle cell disease
• A hybrid schedule with a collaborative, mission-driven team in the Bay Area
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• A culture built on scientific rigor, ownership, and continuous improvement

Compensation

The expected base salary range for this position is $110,000 to $140,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Actual compensation will depend on qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

In addition to base salary, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards program including health, dental, and vision coverage, retirement benefits, and paid time off.

Physical Requirements

This role is primarily performed in an office environment. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Kamau Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Additional Information

Employment is contingent on a background check conducted only after a conditional offer. Consistent with the California Fair Chance Act, we consider qualified applicants with criminal histories and conduct an individualized assessment of any conviction history. Kamau Therapeutics participates in E-Verify.

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications associated with the role.

Recruiter Policy

Kamau does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Services Agreement, Kamau will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee.

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