Senior Accountant, Accounting

About Us

Kardigan is a heart health company working to make cardiovascular disease preventable, curable and no longer the leading cause of death in the world.

It is Kardigan’s mission to develop multiple targeted treatments in parallel that bring people with cardiovascular diseases to the cures they deserve.

Led by Tassos Giannakakos, Jay Edelberg, M.D., Ph.D. and Bob McDowell, Ph.D., Kardigan’s co-founders have reunited after leading MyoKardia to discover and develop mavacamten, the first cardiac myosin inhibitor, resulting in an acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2020.

We have a cutting-edge discovery and translational research platform, a pipeline of late-stage candidates, and an industry-leading team that is driven to improve the lives of patients.

At Kardigan, we are motivated by our values which guide how we work, interact, and achieve our goals. Driven by patients and their families , we are deeply committed to improving the lives of patients and prioritizing their needs above all else. We believe in being authentic —leading with truth to bring out the best in others by creating an environment where every person knows they will be fully accepted. With an eagerness to learn , we encourage the highest levels of curiosity and are open to changing our minds. We are committed to winning as a team with urgency, excellence, and intention, and support each other no matter what role we play or where we sit. Lastly, we strive to enable the impossible because patients are counting on us. We are not afraid to take risks to unlock innovation and advance scientific discoveries.

These values are the foundation of our work, empowering us to make a real difference, every day.

Position Title: Senior Accountant, Accounting

Department: Finance & Accounting

Reports To: Senior Director, Accounting

Location: South San Francisco, CA – On-site 4 days per week (Mon to Thurs)

Job Overview

Kardigan is seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Senior Accountant, to assist with the company’s accounting functions. This position primarily focuses on assisting with and independently executing complex aspects of the company’s accounting operations, ensuring compliance with GAAP, financial reporting accuracy, and efficient financial processes. In addition, the role will also assist in processing payroll and payroll related matters, accounts payable and purchasing . This is an exciting opportunity for a professional with hands-on experience, with a strong accounting background and payroll expertise, to have a meaningful impact on financial operations within a growing organization. The ideal candidate will play a significant role in driving process improvements and working alongside key internal teams to enhance overall business performance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Accounting Leadership:
Assist in the preparation of the company’s general ledger, ensuring accuracy and compliance with GAAP, internal policies, and regulatory guidelines while working towards month-end and year-end close processes, including preparing and reviewing more complex reconciliations, journal entries, and accruals. Analyze financial data to maintain accuracy and integrity in records, assist in preparing financial statements for business decision-making, and assist with proper accounting treatment, including evaluation of non-routine or judgmental transactions Collaborate with external auditors and tax advisors to provide relevant support for financial audits, tax filings, and compliance requirements.

System Integration and Management:
Collaborate with the IT teams to maintain and optimize accounting and payroll systems. Assist with the integration between GL, payroll data, accounts payables, purchasing and the general ledger, and work to enhance the functionality and efficiency of financial systems such as NetSuite, including supporting enhancements that impact multiple functional areas

Operational Excellence:
Enhance, implement and advocate accounting policies and procedures that improve operations, minimize errors, and ensure compliance. Continuously coming up with ideas to improve processes and accounting workflows to increase efficiency and scalability, particularly as the organization grows in complexity Being a reliable backup for the payroll, accounts payable and purchasing functions.

Audit & Compliance Support:
Assist in accounting and payroll audits, ensuring all records and financial reports are accurate, complete, and compliant with applicable laws and regulations. Support the preparation for internal and external audits by providing required documentation and responding to audit inquiries.

Business Partnership:
Work closely with cross-functional teams (HR, IT, FP&A) to provide insights and recommendations that drive operational efficiency and sound financial decision-making, including advising on accounting implications or cross-functional intiatives Collaborate with the FP&A team to ensure accuracy and integrity in financial reporting. Assemble and prepare statistics on key areas of company operations and assist in analyzing, interpreting, and communicating this information

Qualifications and Preferred Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA, or relevant advanced degree preferred.


• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, with additional experience in payroll accounting.


• Strong knowledge of GAAP and payroll regulations, with the ability to interpret and apply this knowledge in financial reporting and payroll transactions.


• Proven ability to exercise independent judgement on complex accounting decisions matters and provide recommendations for financial accuracy and compliance.


• Experience with ERP systems (NetSuite required) Proven ability to design, implement, and improve accounting and payroll processes (ADP WFN preferred) in a growing organization.


• Ensuring all documentation is audit-ready and policy-compliant, setting standards for the team.


• Responsible for processing all employee reimbursements and credit card reconciliations.


• Some experience with P2P process, with the ability to research transactions and assist team with solutions.


• Experience managing payroll and financial audits, ensuring compliance with regulatory compliance measures.


• Experience gathering data for financial and tax audits.


• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial data and ensure accuracy in accounting records.


• You are a self-starter who can plan, organize and take the initiative to meet job objectives and deadlines independently. Ability to manage multiple priorities.


• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey financial and payroll information to non-financial stakeholders , including complex topics.


• Strong leadership capabilities, with experience developing cross-functional teams.

Exact Compensation may vary based on skills, experience and location.

Pay range

$123,000 - $160,000 USD