Finance Officer

Background

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) was created by the people of California to fund stem cell and gene therapy research with the goal of accelerating treatments for patients with unmet medical needs. With $8.5 billion in funding allocated through both Proposition 71 in 2004 and Proposition 14 in 2020, CIRM supports stem cell and gene therapy discoveries from inception through clinical trials, trains a workforce in California to fill jobs in the state’s thriving biotech and biomedical research industry, and creates infrastructure to make clinical trials accessible for people throughout California. All of CIRM’s research, workforce development, and infrastructure programs are designed to benefit the people of California, whose vision created the agency.

General Statement

The Finance Officer reports to the Director, Finance, and is responsible for California Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s (CIRM) high level reconciliation governance and subject matter authority for cash management. These incumbent leads reconciliation strategy and advises the Director, Finance on financial risk exposure, and is a primary liaison with state oversight agencies and external auditors.

Job Functions

Reconciliation

• Lead and oversee all monthly, quarterly, and annual reconciliations to ensure compliance with Proposition 71 and 14 requirements and governmental accounting standards.


• Exercise decision making authority in resolving discrepancies and directing corrective actions to the Finance team.


• Establish reconciliation protocols and internal safeguards to mitigate fiscal risk.


• Direct and lead finance team in corrections per the reconciliations.


• Present analytical findings, risk exposure assessments, and recommendations to upper management.

Cash Management

• Direct the development of cash flow forecast surveys in partnership with Grants Management.


• Determine cash source utilization strategy and sequencing to optimize liquidity and.


• Primary compliance liaison with the State Treasurer’s Office for all cash-related matters.


• Advise leadership on cash risk exposure and funding implications.

Research Grants

• Provide oversight of EFT grant payment processes and compliance utilizing CIRM’s Grants Management System (GMS).


• Ensure integrity and accuracy of grant disbursement reporting within FI$Cal.


• Represent CIRM in financial coordination with the State Treasure’s Office, State Controller’s Office (SC), and Department of General Services (DGS).


• Resolve escalated payment and compliance issues.

Position Control

• Fiscal oversight of labor reporting and position control alignment.


• Authorize pay unit determinations related to position transfers.


• Partner with HR leadership on position control, processing 607s, and leave payouts.


• Assist Director, Finance in preparing Schedule 8/7A package to DOF.

Reports, Annual Audits and PRAs

• Lead financial representative during yearly audits with external stakeholders.


• Direct audit preparation, documentation strategy, and cross-functional coordination.


• Exercise authority in responding to audit findings and implementing corrective action plans.


• Assist the Director, Finance in developing year-end expenditure forecasts.

Policies and Procedures

• Establish and revise accounting policies and procedures, and templates.


• Design and implement internal control enhancements.


• Lead accounting process improvements to strengthen compliance and operational efficiency.


• Provide training to ensure organizational adherence to fiscal standards.

Other Duties

• Perform other duties in support of the ICOC Board and executive leadership as required.

Supervision Received

The Finance Officer reports directly to the Director, Finance.

Supervision Exercised

None

Qualifications (Experience and Education)

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration with emphasis in Accounting, or a related field. In lieu of a bachelor’s degree, four (4) years of relevant, progressively responsible professional accounting experience may be substituted.


• Additionally, six (6) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the management of a financial operation, preferably within California governmental accounting, budgeting, and regulatory practices.

Required Skills

• A demonstrated ability to take charge of projects, overcome obstacles, and move them to completion with minimal supervision.


• Excellent organizational skills, including a demonstrated ability to prioritize a wide variety of tasks and work on multiple tasks simultaneously, while timely meeting deadlines and keeping materials organized.


• Demonstrated ability to work flexibly in a fast-paced environment where priorities often shift.


• Experience in and ability to write business correspondence.


• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.


• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe PDF, Docusign.


• Ability to operate standard office equipment such as but not limited to a personal computer (desktop or lap top models). Paper shredder, basic calculator, document system, (copier, facsimile, imaging).


• Ability to move materials and equipment, including boxes up to 25 pounds.


• Tactful and discreet.


• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, flexibility and problem-solving skills.

Working Conditions

• This position works in a hybrid environment. Employees are required to work in the office two days and work remotely three days per week. CIRM has offices in South San Francisco and West Sacramento. The selected candidate will be assigned a primary office location based on business needs. Employees assigned to the West Sacramento office are required to report to that office one day and in the South San Francisco office one day per week. Employees assigned to the South San Francisco office are required to report two days per week.


• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.


• Must be willing to work in a high-rise building


• Ability to operate standard office equipment.

Salary Range and Benefits

This position is expected to pay $127,308 - $147,000 which fits within the full salary range of $127,308 - $176,604 for the Finance Officer job classification. It is uncommon for an individual to be offered a salary near the maximum of the range for a position. Salary for this position will reflect the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, knowledge, relevant education, and certifications, in addition to being aligned with the internal leadership peer group.

Required Application Documents 

Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position. 

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the interview process should inform the interview scheduler at the time of scheduling.  

For general questions regarding this position or inquiries specifically related to reasonable accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), please contact [email protected]. 

Benefits 

https://benefits.calhr.ca.gov/state-employees/ 

Additional EEO Contact Information 

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed,  sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.