---
title: 'Sr Director, FP&A (R&D) at Tarsus Pharmaceuticals'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/sr-director-fp-a-r-d-tarsus-pharmaceuticals-irvine-8b3fx41sxw2m'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-10'
---

# Sr Director, FP&A (R&D) at Tarsus Pharmaceuticals

- **Company:** Tarsus Pharmaceuticals
- **Location:** Irvine, CA
- **Posted:** 2026-11-05
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-10
- **Apply:** https://tarsusrx.com/careers/apply/?gh_jid=6251066004

## Job description

## Role

The Senior Director of R&D FP&A will be instrumental in building Tarsus’s decision support capability to enable efficient operations and effective capital allocation across R&D and Operations functions at Tarsus. They will also contribute to the development of the Company’s financial and corporate strategy, specifically as it relates to Research & Development and Operations (R&D and Ops). Core responsibilities for the role will include generation of the annual budget and short-range forecasts for the R&D and Operations function, assisting with the long-range plan (LRP) as it relates to programs, and monthly and quarterly close analysis and reporting. The Senior Director of FP&A will act as the Finance lead for the R&D and Operations functions at Tarsus.

Let’s talk about some of the key responsibilities of the role:

- Build and maintain strong cross-functional business partnerships to budget/forecast and track activities by embedding finance into decision-making processes.
- Lead annual budget and quarterly forecasting processes for R&D & Operations, specifically with the Program Team Leads (PTLs).
- Develop and prepare monthly internal financial management reporting packages; spearhead monthly variance analysis of actuals to budget, investigate any major discrepancies, and articulate key business drivers.
- Drive strategic planning for the R&D and Operations part of the annual long-range plan (LRP) exercise to enable investment decisions across a portfolio of internal programs and opportunities.
- Provide financial direction to key stakeholders with proactive recommendations, supported by robust financial analysis and insightful delivery.
- Support clinical trial accruals, including review of Contract Research Organization (CRO) reports, patient costs, and site payments.
- Review clinical and supply chain contracts and amendments to analyze and determine various financial impacts.
- Support ad hoc analyses and special projects, providing timely and accurate financial insights to support organizational initiatives.
- Help drive process improvements and efficiencies in areas of financial planning, financial analysis, and production of reporting packages.
- Hire, coach, and mentor direct reports and adjacent team members, promoting a culture of high engagement, high performance, collaboration and continuous improvement that values learning and continuous improvement.
- Present analysis and strategic insights to the Executive Team to support effective financial decision making.

Factors for Success:

Required:

- Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting
- 12+ years of progressive financial planning and analysis experience, including significant time within publicly traded life sciences companies
- Hands-on experience with clinical trial forecasting, modeling, and the R&D forecast and accruals process, including late-stage (Phase 3) programs
- In-house experience owning budget and forecasting processes and partnering directly with the business
- Track record of collaboration, stakeholder relationship management, and influencing key decision-makers, including the confidence to challenge and advise VP- and C-level leaders

Desired:

- CPA or MBA
- 15+ years of FP&A experience
- Pharmaceutical industry experience with late stage clinical trial experience strongly preferred
- Working knowledge of GAAP
- Experience with Adaptive Insights / Adaptive Planning (Workday) or a comparable planning tool (e.g., Anaplan, Hyperion), and with NetSuite
- Experience scaling finance processes within a rapidly growing biotech company
- Global or international exposure

What You’ll Bring:

- Well-developed analytical skills that demonstrate the ability to drive from data to analysis to insight.
- Self-motivated with the strong work ethic and sense of urgency required for success in a rapidly growing biotech company and an equally critical ability to solve problems in high pressure situations.
- Process-oriented thinker with experience in process design, implementation, and improvement.
- Strong financial modeling skills and proficiency in Excel.
- Exceptional communication and storytelling skills – ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights for non-financial audiences, and to present complex financial concepts in a digestible manner to stakeholders with varying degrees of financial experience.
- A self-starter - who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and demonstrates a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
- Collaborative mindset - with a focus on teamwork and cross-functional partnership.
- Empowering Others - Fosters empowerment by aligning authority with accountability, developing leaders’ decision-making capability, and creating systems that support performance and growth.
- Emotional Intelligence - Foster trust and psychological safety, navigating complex interpersonal dynamics with compassion and accountability, and adapting leadership style to support others while maintaining composure under pressure.
- Grows Capacity - Builds organizational capacity by developing talent systems, coaching cultures, and strategic partnerships that grow leadership strength and prepare the next generation of leaders.
- Business Acumen - Demonstrates strong business acumen by anticipating market dynamics and using financial and strategic insight to guide investments, manage risk, and align priorities with long-term organizational value.
- Innovative Mindset and Action - Demonstrates an innovative mindset by championing new ideas, investing in enabling systems and partnerships, and translating innovation into sustainable growth and organizational resilience.

A Few Other Details Worth Mentioning:

- The position will be based in our beautiful Irvine office, complete with onsite gym, pool, snacks, drinks, and occasional catered meals. We provide a hybrid work environment. Remote work is an option.
- We are passionate about our culture! Our Tarsans live our values of commitment to patients, empowerment to champion innovation, and teamwork to amplify impact!
- This position reports directly to our VP, Finance
- Some travel may be required – up to 25%

At Tarsus, we understand the importance of attracting and retaining top talent. The expected base pay range for this position is $226,500 - $317,100 plus bonus, stock equity, and comprehensive benefits. The base pay range reflects the target range for this position, but individual pay will be determined by additional factors such as job-related skills, experience and relevant education or training. Our benefits include health, dental and vision insurance benefits to ensure your well-being. We believe in work-life balance and offer generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and personal days. For more details regarding Tarsus benefits, please visit: https://eb.alliant.com/26tarsusbenefitssnapshot.

#LI-Remote Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

## About Tarsus Pharmaceuticals

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: A biopharmaceutical company creating novel therapies to treat the root cause of diseases, starting with eye care and expanding into dermatology and infectious disease prevention.
- **Entity Type**: Public (NASDAQ: TARS)
- **Headquarters**: Not publicly available in provided sources (inferred to be Irvine, CA, but not confirmed)
- **Founded**: 2016
- **Founders**: Bobak Azamian, MD, PhD and Michael Ackermann

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Biopharmaceuticals (eye care, dermatology, infectious disease prevention)
- **Target customers**: Patients with high unmet medical needs; prescribing eye care professionals, dermatologists, and other healthcare providers (B2B/B2C hybrid)
- **Mission or purpose**: To revolutionize treatment for patients with unmet needs by pursuing the root cause of disease, not just symptoms.

## Products & Services
- **[XDEMVY® (lotilaner ophthalmic solution) 0.25%]**: The first and only FDA-approved treatment for Demodex blepharitis, an eyelid disease affecting approximately 25 million Americans. (Product, prescription medicine)
- **[TP-03 (lotilaner ophthalmic solution)]**: Investigational treatment for Meibomian Gland Disease (MGD), currently in Phase 2a clinical trial. (Pipeline candidate)
- **[TP-04]**: Investigational treatment for Rosacea (ocular rosacea), currently in Phase 2a clinical trial. (Pipeline candidate)
- **[TP-05]**: Oral tablet for the prevention of Lyme disease, currently in Phase 2a clinical trial. (Pipeline candidate)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed in provided sources (public company, stock price available via LSEG with 15-minute delay)
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue – Not disclosed in provided sources (public company, quarterly earnings reported; Q1 2026 results mentioned but figures not included)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Initial backing from Versant Ventures and Third Rock Ventures (per founder background); global partnerships mentioned but not specified.
- **Growth Signals**: FDA approval of first product (XDEMVY); advancing three pipeline candidates into Phase 2a trials; partnership with John Cena to raise awareness of Demodex blepharitis; public listing enabling further financing.

## Competitive Advantages
- **First-mover category**: XDEMVY is the only FDA-approved treatment for Demodex blepharitis, creating a new category in eye care.
- **Root-cause approach**: Focus on treating the underlying cause of disease rather than symptoms, potentially offering more durable solutions.
- **Expanding pipeline**: Leveraging the same platform (lotilaner) to address multiple large, underserved conditions (MGD, rosacea, Lyme disease prevention).
- **Strong leadership and culture**: Experienced management team with deep biotech expertise; culture of teamwork, empowerment, and commitment.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Commercialize XDEMVY and expand its reach; advance Phase 2a trials for TP-03, TP-04, and TP-05; pursue new categories in eye care, dermatology, and infectious disease prevention.
- **Direction for growth**: Build on the success of XDEMVY to establish a pipeline of novel therapies addressing high unmet needs, with potential to expand beyond the eye.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Driven by core values of teamwork, empowerment, and commitment; described as nimble, differentiated, and patient-centered.
- **Work model**: Hybrid work options available; on-campus gym at headquarters.
- **Perks & benefits**: Comprehensive health & wellness program (medical, dental, vision with significant employer contribution), flexible time off, paid parental leave, sabbatical program, 401(k) match, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, gym reimbursement, Calm and LifeBalance memberships, cell phone allowance, in-office meals and snacks, family-building assistance via Carrot.
- **Growth opportunities**: Learning and career development resources; recognition programs; exposure to a fast-growing public company with a promising pipeline.

## Sources
1. [tarsusrx.com](https://tarsusrx.com/)
2. [tarsusrx.com/careers](https://tarsusrx.com/careers/)
3. [tarsusrx.com/our-story](https://tarsusrx.com/our-story/)
4. [ir.tarsusrx.com/investor-relations](https://ir.tarsusrx.com/investor-relations)
5. [tarsusrx.com/our-leadership](https://tarsusrx.com/our-leadership/)

## Other roles at Tarsus Pharmaceuticals

- [Director, Program Team Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/director-program-team-lead-tarsus-pharmaceuticals-irvine-799gd3nmzbzq) — Irvine, CA
- [Territory Leader - San Jose South](https://feeny.ai/job/territory-leader-san-jose-south-tarsus-pharmaceuticals-san-jose-74zact6p0w63) — San Jose, CA
- [VP, Market Access](https://feeny.ai/job/vp-market-access-tarsus-pharmaceuticals-irvine-7vcrc0vahmrn) — Irvine, CA
- [Territory Leader - Rhode Island](https://feeny.ai/job/territory-leader-rhode-island-tarsus-pharmaceuticals-providence-k6921km4vm3y) — Providence, RI
- [Director, HR Business Partner](https://feeny.ai/job/director-hr-business-partner-tarsus-pharmaceuticals-irvine-c2g1arezaycx) — Irvine, CA
- [Territory Leader - Houston East](https://feeny.ai/job/territory-leader-houston-east-tarsus-pharmaceuticals-houston-pe75ak3gradx) — Houston, TX
- [Scientist, Pharmacology](https://feeny.ai/job/scientist-pharmacology-tarsus-pharmaceuticals-irvine-zsxqv30ksgyg) — Irvine, CA
- [Director, Formulation Development](https://feeny.ai/job/director-formulation-development-tarsus-pharmaceuticals-irvine-9d3ewftc58m5) — Irvine, CA
- [Manager II, Program Management - Late-Stage Development](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-ii-program-management-late-stage-development-tarsus-pharmaceuticals-e1fn90s6cwf6) — Irvine, CA
- [Associate Director, Clinical Supply Chain](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-director-clinical-supply-chain-tarsus-pharmaceuticals-irvine-drqgc0e7n3h2) — Irvine, CA