Cost Accounting Manager

Cost Accounting, Compliance, and Financial Control

• Manage and maintain the plant's standard costing structure, including material, labor, and overhead rates.
• Coordinate annual and periodic standard cost updates, including supporting analysis, documentation, and approval processes.
• Analyze manufacturing variances such as purchase price variance (PPV), material usage, labor efficiency, and overhead absorption, providing clear explanations to plant management.
• Supervise inventory valuation processes, account reconciliations, cycle counts, and reserve analyses while ensuring compliance with GAAP and internal policies.
• Support month-end closing activities related to inventory, production costs, and accrual accounting.
• Establish, maintain, and improve cost accounting procedures and internal control practices.

Continuous Improvement and Operational Collaboration

• Work closely with Operations to identify, evaluate, and quantify opportunities for cost savings and productivity improvements.
• Lead or participate in continuous improvement initiatives, including Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and value stream optimization projects.
• Assess the financial impact of operational changes and monitor results following implementation.
• Enhance the quality and effectiveness of operational KPIs, dashboards, and management reporting tools.
• Promote process simplification, automation, and standardization across costing and reporting activities.

Financial Planning and Business Support

• Provide financial evaluations for make-versus-buy analyses, capital investments, sourcing projects, and product modifications.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning processes through a thorough understanding of manufacturing cost drivers.
• Serve as a key financial liaison between plant operations and corporate finance teams.
• Help non-financial stakeholders understand cost behavior, variance analysis, and the financial implications of operational decisions.

Leadership and Governance

• Lead, coach, and develop cost accounting personnel when applicable, establishing performance expectations and development plans.
• Ensure adherence to internal policies, audit requirements, and external financial reporting standards.
• Foster accountability, data integrity, and continuous improvement within the finance organization.

*Must have*: Manager-level experience within a global manufacturing company Experience in cost accounting, inventory management and variance analysis

Education and Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• MBA, CPA, or CMA designation preferred.

Professional Experience

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in manufacturing cost accounting.
• Demonstrated success partnering with manufacturing and operational teams.
• Previous experience in a plant-based finance leadership position.
• Exposure to Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies is highly desirable.
• Experience working with ERP systems in a manufacturing environment is required.

Technical Competencies

• Strong expertise in standard costing, inventory accounting, variance analysis, and GAAP principles.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Solid understanding of cost accounting methodologies and inventory management practices.
• Strong financial analysis and reporting capabilities.
• Excellent business and operational acumen.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.

Behavioral Competencies

• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Proactive and hands-on approach to understanding operational processes.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and process optimization.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
• Strong influencing skills and ability to collaborate with operational leaders without direct authority.
• Capable of balancing precision and accuracy with business priorities and deadlines.
• Adaptable team player with strong collaboration skills.

Our client is a well-established global manufacturing company known for its commitment to quality, innovation, and continuous improvement. With a strong presence in its industry, the organization has built a reputation for delivering reliable solutions while maintaining high operational standards and a customer-focused approach.

• Benefits above the law
• Direct exposure to C-level leadership
• Opportunity to build and reshape costing processes
• High-impact role with strong visibility in plant operations
• Company focused on innovation, AI adoption, and continuous improvement