We are looking for a Senior Cost Accountant to join a growing accounting and finance team. This role will be heavily involved in cost accounting, inventory, manufacturing/operational analysis, month-end close, and financial reporting.
The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of how costs flow through an organization and can dig into the details behind inventory, margins, variances, and production costs. This person will work closely with Accounting, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and other business partners to ensure accurate reporting while identifying opportunities to improve processes and profitability.
Key Responsibilities
Own and maintain cost accounting activities, including standard costs, inventory valuation, overhead allocation, and cost of goods sold (COGS).
Analyze material, labor, overhead, purchase price, and manufacturing variances and communicate key findings to management.
Support the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, including journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, and variance analysis.
Perform detailed inventory analysis, including raw materials, WIP, and finished goods.
Review inventory reserves, excess and obsolete inventory, cycle counts, and physical inventory results.
Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to better understand production costs, efficiencies, scrap, yields, and other operational drivers.
Assist with the development and maintenance of standard costing and annual cost rolls.
Analyze product and customer profitability, gross margins, and cost trends.
Help improve costing methodologies, reporting, internal controls, and accounting processes.
Support budgeting and forecasting related to inventory, manufacturing costs, and COGS.
Assist with internal and external audits by preparing schedules and supporting documentation.
Identify opportunities to automate or streamline reporting and cost accounting processes.
Participate in special projects and ad hoc financial analysis as needed.
Qualifications
Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
4+ years of accounting experience, preferably with significant exposure to cost accounting, inventory, or manufacturing.
Strong understanding of GAAP and inventory accounting.
Experience working with standard costing, manufacturing variances, inventory valuation, and COGS.
Advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables, lookups, and working with large data sets.
Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Dynamics, or similar platforms.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to investigate variances and explain the underlying business drivers.
Comfortable working cross-functionally with both accounting and operational teams.
Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred Qualifications
CPA or CMA certification, or progress toward certification.
Experience within a manufacturing, distribution, consumer products, aerospace, electronics, or other inventory-intensive environment.
Experience with ERP implementations, system upgrades, or process improvement initiatives.
Exposure to Power BI, Tableau, or other reporting/analytics tools is a plus.
Numbers & Facts
Location
Mission Viejo, CA
Skills
Accountingunmatched
Accounting Closeunmatched
Accounting Policiesunmatched
Ad Hoc Financial Modelingunmatched
Aerospace and Defenseunmatched
Analysis Skillsunmatched
Budgetingunmatched
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)unmatched
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)unmatched
Cost Accountingunmatched
Cost Allocationunmatched
Cost Reportingunmatched
Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)unmatched
Cross-Functionalunmatched
Data Setsunmatched
Distribution Servicesunmatched
Documentationunmatched
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)unmatched
Electronicsunmatched
External Auditunmatched
Financeunmatched
Financial Operationsunmatched
Financial Reportingunmatched
Forecastingunmatched
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)unmatched
Gross Marginunmatched
Internal Auditunmatched
Inventory Costsunmatched
Inventory Cycle Countsunmatched
Journal Entriesunmatched
Manufacturingunmatched
Manufacturing Analysisunmatched
Manufacturing Costunmatched
Manufacturing Operationsunmatched
Materials Analysisunmatched
Multitaskingunmatched
NetSuiteunmatched
Oracleunmatched
Physical Inventoryunmatched
Power BIunmatched
Process Improvementunmatched
Product Profitabilityunmatched
Production Costingunmatched
Profit & Lossunmatched
Reconciliationunmatched
SAPunmatched
Standard Costingunmatched
Standards Developmentunmatched
Supply Chain Operationsunmatched
Systems Administration/Managementunmatched
Tableauunmatched
Variance Analysisunmatched
🎯
Be found by employers
5,500+ employers search our resume database daily. Add yours to get found by recruiters looking for candidates like you.
Level up your application
Professional resume templates
Browse dozens of recruiter approved resume templates, layouts and formats. Choose your favorite and make it your own in minutes.