Associate Director, Accounting

Join bluebird bio's enthusiastic and collaborative team by contributing to the overall success of our novel gene therapy approach. Based in Cambridge MA, this position is designed for an experienced strong team contributor to lead the accounting function at bluebird. Bluebird is growing substantially in size and complexity, this dynamic and fast paced company requires an individual who has the ability to drive global accounting close processes at both a consolidated and entity level, has system expertise, experience in working with internal and external reporting for our consolidated group. This individual will be a global process owner to our accounting close process, have full responsibility over the general accounting operations for our Corporate and US entities, support consolidated reporting and analytics as required, and ensure adherence to company policies. This individual will have a goal to drive efficiencies in our accounting closing and reporting processes, and ensure that all financial information is prepared in compliance with bluebird financial policies and US GAAP. This individual will be responsible for establishing global close deadlines, supporting regional teams, participating in monthly financial meetings, and maintain strong business partnerships with key counterparts including, Treasury, Requisition to Pay, and functional area business owners. This individual will need to possess outstanding project management skills, attention to detail and an ability to adhere to deadlines. This individual will need to be self-motivated, analytical and able to make well-reasoned and timely decisions. This individual should be comfortable identifying and implementing creative solutions to support greater efficiency and effectiveness of processes and procedures and ability to enhance the utilization of our key financial systems. This individual must be comfortable driving change, managing through uncertainty and supporting a high growth fast paced company.

Principal Responsibilities of Global Accounting Close:

• Responsible for the monthly closing process of US and all foreign subsidiaries with oversight and review of accruals and other more complex areas of accounting.
• Improve coordination and partnerships with bluebird departments in support of our close process and cross functional initiatives.
• Support Company's efforts to integrate related finance closing processes into a fully integrated financial close process. Identify and implement ways to streamline, simplify and shorten our close process and enhance our quarterly close cycle
• Plan and design business processes and make recommendations for changes in order to improve and support scalability in company's business systems and activities, including enhancements and efficiencies in our accrual process
• Ensure accounting records, monthly accounting close activities, and variance analysis are properly prepared, maintained and explained in a timely manner.
• Use broad knowledge of accounting concepts, wide-ranging experience, superior analytical skills and knowledge of the industry to review issues and develop standards and policies.
• Support of the SEC Filings, audit committee and other financial presentations • Support of the quarterly reviews and annual audit process with the auditors
• Identify any technical related or other complex accounting matters and work with the technical accounting group and interface with corporate departments to address accounting matters on an operational basis
• Strong internal controls background and demonstrated ability to support compliance with internal control frameworks and company policies
• Responsible for direct supervision and development of a growing accounting team
• Ability to motivate, lead and teach team members in order to produce high quality materials within tight timeframes and simultaneously manage several projects.
• Responsible for appraising performance and motivating team within the accounting function

Qualifications:

• CPA required, Bachelor's degree in Accounting required, MBA or Master's degree is a plus
• 7+ years of combined Public Accounting and accounting experience in a growth industry
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP, internal controls able to manage a complex global closing process
• 3+ years of accounting managerial experience
• Experience with financial systems inclusive of Oracle Cloud, Blackline (or equivalent system), and Concur are preferred, with a clear ability to demonstrate enhanced utilization of system capabilities
• Advanced skills utilizing Microsoft Suite of products
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Strong contributor in a team environment, with the ability to balance team and individual viewpoints and responsibilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departmental functions