Senior Cost Accountant

Divergent•Torrance, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Cost Accountant serves as a subject-matter expert across cost accounting, owning core cost accounting activities across close, reconciliations, standard cost management, inventory valuation, and financial controls. This role operates with significant autonomy across multiple cost accounting workstreams, independently resolving complex accounting and operational issues, defining scalable practices, and influencing functional decisions that strengthen the accuracy and integrity of inventory and COGS reporting. Working closely with Supply Chain (Warehouse, Procurement, Planning), Production, Program Management, and IT teams- this position strengthens the Cost Accounting and Finance function by defining and improving cost accounting methodologies, reconciliations, processes, and financial controls that improve the accuracy, reliability, and scalability of inventory and COGS reporting.

Requirements

Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting
4–6 years of progressive experience in cost accounting, inventory accounting, or manufacturing accounting; candidates with additional experience are encouraged to apply
Deep understanding of inventory flows, standard costing, PPV, absorption, WIP accounting, and COGS recognition in an ERP environment
Demonstrated experience independently owning multiple cost accounting workstreams and resolving complex accounting and operational issues with limited oversight
Demonstrated experience preparing and owning journal entries, account reconciliations, and close workpapers independently
Demonstrated ability to define and improve cost accounting processes, controls, methodologies, and best practices
Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, structured reconciliation models)
Strong analytical judgment with the ability to identify root causes, evaluate accounting and operational implications, and develop scalable solutions
Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and lead issue resolution without direct authority
Comfortable operating with significant autonomy in a fast-paced environment with evolving processes and imperfect data

Nice To Haves

Experience in manufacturing, hardware, aerospace, or complex operational environments
Experience serving as a cost accounting subject-matter expert within a complex manufacturing organization
Exposure to ERP environments requiring manual accounting intervention or workarounds
Experience owning cost accounting close activities and multiple inventory and cost accounting workstreams end-to-end in a manual or semi-manual environment
Advanced working knowledge of PPV, absorption, WIP accounting, inventory valuation, landed cost, and standard cost systems
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain scalable, audit-ready reconciliation packages and control frameworks with minimal oversight
Experience defining cost accounting processes, documentation, controls, and workflow standards
Experience leading Finance requirements, testing, and validation for ERP or cost accounting process enhancements
Experience mentoring peers or providing technical guidance across Finance and operational teams
Oracle Fusion experience preferred

Responsibilities

Own assigned cost accounting close workstreams end-to-end, independently establishing priorities, resolving complex issues, and ensuring accurate and timely completion
Prepare and post journal entries for assigned close areas, including accruals, reclassifications, and timing corrections
Own sub-ledger to GL reconciliations for assigned accounts, ensuring alignment between operational data and financial results and independently determining appropriate resolution for complex discrepancies
Define and continuously improve close schedules, checklists, controls, and supporting workpapers to improve scalability, accuracy, and repeatability
Identify and resolve discrepancies between operational activity and financial reporting; assess downstream accounting implications and lead cross-functional resolution of issues affecting inventory and COGS
Serve as a subject-matter expert for standard costing, providing guidance on costing methodology , inventory valuation, and related accounting practices to Finance and cross-functional partners
Own standard cost records and methodologies, ensuring ERP cost data appropriately reflects approved processes, operational changes, accounting requirements, and cost methodologies
Perform complex costing and work order analysis to evaluate inventory valuation, identify systemic issues, and determine appropriate accounting treatment and process improvements
Analyze cost variances including purchase price variance (PPV), identify root causes and interdependencies across operational processes, and drive corrective actions or standard cost updates as appropriate
Define and improve standard costing practices and controls as manufacturing processes, systems, and business requirements evolve
Own inventory and cost account reconciliations, including raw materials, WIP, and finished goods, and independently resolve complex or recurring accounting issues
Develop and maintain PPV analysis, absorption reporting, and other cost variance workpapers that provide actionable insight into manufacturing and financial performance
Validate inventory movements and production data against ERP records; independently investigate complex breaks, determine root causes, and lead resolution across Finance and Operations
Identify trends and systemic issues across inventory and cost accounting workstreams and recommend changes to accounting practices, operational processes, or system controls
Define and maintain reconciliation templates, trackers, standards, and process documentation for recurring close activities and one-time events
Own documentation of inventory valuation, cost recognition, standard cost assumptions and methodology in a clear, audit-ready format as processes evolve
Establish and continuously improve cost accounting workflows, standards, and controls to improve repeatability, scalability, and process continuity
Provide technical guidance to accounting peers and cross-functional partners on cost accounting processes, controls, and methodologies and proactively share knowledge and best practices across the function
Own tracking and analysis related to freight, duties, and outside processing costs and identify opportunities to improve landed cost accuracy and methodology
Define and monitor key variances and metrics to ensure inventory and cost inputs are reasonable and accurate ; identify trends, risks, and opportunities for process improvement
Serve as a Finance subject-matter expert for ERP development, reconciliation, and validation activities tied to cost accounting and inventory accounting workflows
Lead cost accounting requirements, testing, reconciliation, and validation for ERP enhancements affecting cost accounting processes
Evaluate system and process dependencies across cost accounting workstreams and recommend solutions that balance accounting requirements, operational needs, and system capabilities
Serve as a key cost accounting partner to Supply Chain (Planning, Procurement, Warehouse), Production, Program Management, and IT, providing subject-matter expertise on inventory, costing, and transaction-related accounting matters
Lead cross-functional teams in resolving complex inventory and transaction issues while reinforcing process discipline, control ownership, and continuous improvement to reduce recurring exceptions
Influence functional decisions by translating cost accounting requirements and financial impacts into actionable recommendations for Finance and operational stakeholders
Identify interdependencies across Finance, Supply Chain, Production, and IT processes and proactively drive initiatives that improve data quality, financial controls, and the scalability of inventory and cost accounting processes
Provide guidance and mentorship to accounting peers and cross-functional partners, building broader understanding of cost accounting standards, controls, and best practices