Manager, Cost Accounting

Graco

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life. This role is currently based at our Minneapolis office and will transition to our new headquarters in Dayton, MN, in 2027. The Manager, Cost Accounting is responsible for leading the accounting, strategy, and evolution of product costing, cost of goods sold, and inventory valuation in support of Graco’s Global Operations and Supply Chain organization. This role ensures accurate and timely accounting in compliance with GAAP while also owning the long-term direction of cost accounting practices to support operational decision making, capital deployment, and margin improvement. This position serves as a strategic partner to operations, supply chain, and finance leadership. The individual in this position goes beyond traditional accounting oversight to help design how Graco measures, understands, and manages cost across its manufacturing and distribution footprint today and in the future. What You Will Do at Graco Cost Accounting Strategy, Systems and Controls Own and evolve Graco’s cost accounting strategy, including the long-term roadmap for product costing, inventory valuation, and overhead absorption as the business grows and manufacturing complexity increases. Develop, maintain, and enhance cost accounting systems, processes, and internal controls to accurately track product costs, overhead, and inventory across global operations. Analyze, calculate, and report actual and standard product costs, including direct labor, materials, and overhead, and translate results into insights that support pricing, margin management, and operating decisions. Partner with operations, supply chain, and finance leadership to evaluate cost drivers, structural cost opportunities, and tradeoffs related to footprint, automation, sourcing, and capital investments. Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual cost related financial results, and actively contribute to management discussions on cost performance, trends, and risks. Ensure strong internal controls and compliance with GAAP and company policies related to manufacturing accounting, inventory, and COGS. Develop documentation and analysis to support internal and external audits, including cost accounting and inventory audits. Inventory Control and Operational Partnership Provide leadership over inventory integrity, production accounting, and inventory update processes across Graco’s factories and distribution centers. Lead and develop a team of inventory and cost accounting professionals responsible for monitoring inventory accuracy, valuation, and movement throughout the organization. Work closely with manufacturing and distribution leaders to identify, plan, and implement inventory and cost reduction initiatives, and evaluate the financial impact of operating decisions. Serve as a key financial partner to operations by translating inventory and cost data into actionable insights that improve working capital, service levels, and cost performance. Team Leadership and Financial Management Lead, mentor, manage, and staff a cost accounting team, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and promoting a culture of leadership excellence. Drive team performance by setting clear goals, providing ongoing feedback, and facilitating professional growth opportunities. Establish, manage, and be accountable for the annual cost accounting and inventory control budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and alignment with organizational strategic objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
• CPA or CMA certification
• 7+ years’ experience in corporate accounting.
• 5+ years’ experience in manufacturing cost accounting, including inventory control and production processes.
• Excellent leadership skills; 4+ years of team leadership experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and cost accounting principles in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficient working with ERP systems, preferably Oracle.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with the ability to digest and analyze complex financial data, interpret trends, and present actionable recommendations to leadership throughout the organization.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to travel approximately 10% of time, both domestic and international.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• This role is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, F-1 OPT).

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Global industrial manufacturing experience and knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve Graco’s cost accounting strategy, including the long-term roadmap for product costing, inventory valuation, and overhead absorption as the business grows and manufacturing complexity increases.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance cost accounting systems, processes, and internal controls to accurately track product costs, overhead, and inventory across global operations.
• Analyze, calculate, and report actual and standard product costs, including direct labor, materials, and overhead, and translate results into insights that support pricing, margin management, and operating decisions.
• Partner with operations, supply chain, and finance leadership to evaluate cost drivers, structural cost opportunities, and tradeoffs related to footprint, automation, sourcing, and capital investments.
• Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual cost related financial results, and actively contribute to management discussions on cost performance, trends, and risks.
• Ensure strong internal controls and compliance with GAAP and company policies related to manufacturing accounting, inventory, and COGS.
• Develop documentation and analysis to support internal and external audits, including cost accounting and inventory audits.
• Provide leadership over inventory integrity, production accounting, and inventory update processes across Graco’s factories and distribution centers.
• Lead and develop a team of inventory and cost accounting professionals responsible for monitoring inventory accuracy, valuation, and movement throughout the organization.
• Work closely with manufacturing and distribution leaders to identify, plan, and implement inventory and cost reduction initiatives, and evaluate the financial impact of operating decisions.
• Serve as a key financial partner to operations by translating inventory and cost data into actionable insights that improve working capital, service levels, and cost performance.
• Lead, mentor, manage, and staff a cost accounting team, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and promoting a culture of leadership excellence.
• Drive team performance by setting clear goals, providing ongoing feedback, and facilitating professional growth opportunities.
• Establish, manage, and be accountable for the annual cost accounting and inventory control budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and alignment with organizational strategic objectives.

Benefits

• Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities.
• Graco’s comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees