Associate Director, Accounting

The Position   The  Finance team  is looking for  an Associate Director, Accounting .     As the Associate Director, Accounting, you sit at the center of our company’s financial integrity and operational execution.  You’ll  lead core accounting operations, including payroll and month-end close, while ensuring  accurate  and  timely  financial reporting. With a hands-on mindset, you can balance getting into the details while setting direction, keeping the close moving forward and  maintaining  financial accuracy through attention to detail.   You are a key business owner of internal controls, partnering closely with our auditors and cross-functional teams to design,  operate , and continuously strengthen a control environment that can scale with our organization. You proactively identify  risks, streamline  process , and drive thoughtful improvements that enhance efficiency without sacrificing rigor. You develop and lead a high-performing accounting team, bringing clarity, accountability, and curiosity to everything you do, helping the company grow with confidence.   This position reports to  the  VP ,  Corporate  Controller.   The Impact  You’ll  Have   Accounting Operations & Close – oversee day-to-day accounting operations including payroll, general ledger operations, and month-end close activities. Review journal entries, account  reconciliations,  and supporting schedules.   Payroll Oversight – Partner with People Operations, Accounting team, and third-party payroll provider to ensure  accurate , compliant, and  timely  payroll processing.   SOX 404 & Internal Controls – Own and  maintain  internal controls compliance for assigned processes, including documentation, risk assessments, control design, testing, and remediation. Serve as  liaison  with internal and external auditors for assigned areas.   Team Leadership & Collaboration – Manage, mentor, and develop members of the accounting team by  providing  clear guidance, coaching, and performance feedback. Act as a trusted business partner to cross-functional stakeholders, including FP&A, People Operations, and IT.   Process Improvement & Systems – Drive continuous improvement with a focus on scalability, efficiency, and control effectiveness. Support accounting system controls through  timely  review of user access and change management. Ensure accounting policies, procedures, and process documentation are  accurate , current, and scalable for future growth.   Leadership Competencies   Communication  and Influence   Builds communication channels across Maze for sharing information   Influences Senior Management decisions through persuasive arguments   Respectfully addresses differing opinions leading to support of decision   Teamwork and  Collaboration   Champions partnerships and connections across Maze   Proactively addresses issues that could result in breakdown of team relationships   Spotlights team and individual contributions in public forums   Execution and Results   Addresses gaps and leverages strengths to get best results   Maintains a  steadying  presence and clarifies priorities during change   Anticipates and removes barriers that put functional/corporate goals at risk   Develop Others and  Self   Removes barriers to staff development and empowers them to make their own decisions   Stays current on industry trends and keeps direct-reports prepared and responsive   What  We’re  Looking For   Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field, with 10+ years of progressive accounting experience; CPA preferred   Proven experience leading payroll operations and the month-end close process   People management experience, leading 2+ direct reports   Deep experience with SOX404 and internal controls in a public company environment   Solid knowledge of US GAAP and public company requirements   Experience supporting external audits and working directly with auditors   Ability to come on site 2-3x per week   Hands on experience with NetSuite and ADP required, Coupa preferred   Big 4 public accounting experience preferred   Biotech and/or pre-revenue R&D company experience preferred   About Maze Therapeutics   Maze Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company harnessing the power of human genetics to develop novel, small molecule precision medicines for patients living with renal, cardiovascular and related metabolic diseases, including obesity. The company is advancing a pipeline using its Compass platform, which allows it to identify and characterize genetic variants in disease and then link those variants to the biological pathways that drive disease in specific patient groups through a process it refers to as variant functionalization. The company’s pipeline is led by two wholly owned lead programs, MZE829 and MZE782, each of which represents a novel precision medicine-based approach for chronic kidney disease.  Maze is based in South San Francisco.   Our People   Maze is comprised of a team of passionate and creative professionals committed to discovering and delivering transformative medicines to patients suffering from both rare and common genetic diseases. We are fostering a culture that encourages vision, initiative, and the development of talent. Our supportive work environment inspires creative thinking and freedom of expression, resulting in a stimulating atmosphere where people enjoy coming to work. While we have a passion for advanced science and pride ourselves on excellence in execution, ultimately, everything we do is about patients.    Our Core Values Further Together – Our path is paved with challenges, but with resilience and a team-first mentality, we’ll achieve our mission.  Impact Obsessed – We embrace the bold, take calculated risks, and learn from our mistakes to improve the lives of others. Stand True – Our integrity is foundational; it guides us no matte