About the role Loyal is hiring a VP Finance & Operations to build and lead the company's finance, accounting, and business operations infrastructure. This is a hands-on leadership role at a company that has closed a $100M Series C, is advancing three pipeline programs, and is targeting commercial launch of its lead product. As a key strategic partner to the CEO, you will be instrumental in scaling Loyal into a commercial-stage organization by driving the overall capital strategy, fundraising, board materials, and investor-facing work. You will build and lead the comprehensive finance, accounting, and business operations infrastructure, establishing repeatable disciplines like FP&A and robust board reporting, managing the company's first audit, and owning controllership and close. This is not a role for someone who wants to oversee from a distance. The finance infrastructure for commercialization is being built from the ground up. The right person has done this before at a VC-backed biotech or other atoms-based, milestone-based organization, knows what excellence looks like pre- and post-revenue generation, and is ready to do the work to get there. Your daily work will include • Own and drive Loyal's controllership function, including monthly close, CRO/CMO accrual reconciliation, technical accounting (ASC 606, 718, 842, 330; IRC A7382; R&D tax credits), and audit management from auditor selection through signed opinion delivery. • Build inventory and cost-of-goods tracking ahead of commercial launch. Stand up gross margin reporting and the financial infrastructure required for a revenue-generating operation. • Build on and enforce internal controls while still enabling speed and judgment - purchase order requirements, contract approval workflows, and segregation of duties - documented for audit readiness. • Own the financial model. Build and maintain an integrated P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow model across pipeline programs, milestone timelines, and capital deployment scenarios. • Lead program valuation - NPV, DCF, and rNPV modeling - and support portfolio prioritization, partnering discussions, and Board capital allocation reviews. • Maintain a rolling cash runway model linked to program spend, headcount, and financing events. Track budget vs. actual at the department level; issue quarterly reforecasts with variance narratives. • Evaluate and implement an FP&A platform, integrated with QBO and providing department-level visibility. • Own the quarterly board finance package - standardized KPIs, variance analysis, and cash runway narrative - and provide regular financial updates to executive leadership and the board. • Populate data rooms, respond to investor and lender diligence requests, and prepare financial packages for capital partners. Support venture debt facilities and future financing events. • Partner with leadership on pre-board alignment, narrative framing, and capital strategy. Over time, assume primary ownership of investor-facing finance communications. • Build and manage contract processing workflows, the contract repository, and outside counsel relationships. Oversee vendor management and compliance filings. • Maintain the company's insurance portfolio - D&O, clinical trial liability, general coverage - reviewed annually and updated at financing events. • Manage in-house finance and people team and outsourced service providers. Ensure HR infrastructure is compliant across offer letters, onboarding, benefits, offboarding, and policy maintenance. Ensure payroll runs accurately across multiple states with equity compensation tracked correctly. • Lead ERP evaluation and migration when the company outgrows QBO. About you • 10-15 years of progressive finance experience, with at least 5 years in biotech, pharma, or life sciences or another R&D heavy business that builds value by achieving technical milestones. • You are low ego, high integrity, and a clear and concise communicator. • You actively embrace and seek opportunities to leverage AI and automation tools to streamline financial processes and build a cutting-edge, efficient finance infrastructure. • You can present financial results, variance narratives, and capital strategy clearly to a board audience. Your written and verbal communication is precise and direct. You translate model outputs into decision-relevant narratives. • You have managed people and built teams. You set clear expectations, hold people accountable, and develop talent. You can manage both in-house staff and outsourced service providers without creating gaps in ownership. • You work fluidly across functions - with research and manufacturing stakeholders, program managers, and outside advisors. You earn credibility by knowing the business, not just the numbers. • You understand what auditors look for and how to prepare a team for fieldwork without derailing day-to-day operations. • You operate with a high degree of autonomy. You escalate appropriately, build systems and processes that outlast you, and are comfortable in a fast-paced environment where the scope is broad, the team is lean, and the work matters. Preferred attributes • Experience supporting a first commercial launch and establishing the financial infrastructure for a revenue-generating operation. • Experience evaluating and implementing ERP systems in a scaling organization. • Experience at a company that completed an IPO and leading VC fundraises. • Familiarity with veterinary or animal health regulatory and commercial dynamics. Why you may not be a fit • You've only worked in large companies with clear playbooks and unlimited resources. • You've never managed the finances of an R&D-heavy product - trial burn rates, CRO relationships, manufacturing scale-up costs. • You've never had to plan around uncertain, multi-year R&D cycles where cash must be committed ahead of proof. • You need perfect information before making a decision. • You want a narrow role with well-defined guardrails - this role is broad, messy, and high-ownership by design. Salary Range: $250,000 - $310,000 Loyal benefits • Full-coverage health insurance - medical, dental and vision - for you and your dependents • $1,000 home office equipment stipend • $1,200/year learning budget for books, courses, etc. • $250/month wellness budget for gym, cleaners, spa, food, etc. • All 3-day weekends are turned into 4-day weekends • Unlimited vacation and paid holidays • Paw-ternity leave - adopt a dog and get a day off with your new family member • Competitive salary • Company equity options grant for new hires