Senior Manager, Cost Accounting

Orca Bio•Menlo Park, CA

3d•$155,000 - $175,000

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Cost Accounting will lead cost accounting activities for manufacturing and operational functions within a biotechnology or pharmaceutical organization. This role is responsible for overseeing product costing, inventory valuation, COGS reporting, and cost-related controls, while supporting business scaling from clinical-stage through commercialization. The position requires strong leadership, cross-functional partnership, and deep expertise in manufacturing cost structures.

Requirements

Bachelorâs degree in accounting, Finance, or related field
5+ years of progressive cost accounting experience in a manufacturing, biotech, or pharmaceutical environment
Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, and variance analysis
Experience working with ERP systems â NetSuite is highly desirable
Strong Excel skills and data analysis capabilities
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to work cross-functionally with manufacturing and operations teams
High attention to detail and accuracy
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Nice To Haves

Experience in cell therapy, gene therapy, or biologics manufacturing
Knowledge of GMP manufacturing environments
CPA preferred but not required
Experience supporting clinical stage to commercial transition

Responsibilities

Develop, own and oversee standard costing, variance analysis, and cost allocations across manufacturing operations
Establish and maintain cost accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls
Lead and review monthly close activities related to inventory, COGS, and manufacturing variances
Support cost-of-goods-sold (COGS) analysis for clinical and commercial products
Maintain accurate inventory valuation for raw materials, WIP, and finished goods
Account for complex manufacturing processes, including batch-based and patient-specific production, where applicable
Partner with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and R&D to understand cost drivers and improve cost accuracy
Lead physical inventory counts and cycle count programs
Ensure proper capitalization and expensing of manufacturing-related costs
Support monthly close activities related to inventory, COGS, and manufacturing variances
Ensure compliance with GAAP, SOX (if applicable), and internal controls
Assist with audit requests related to inventory, cost accounting, and manufacturing transactions
Support implementation and maintenance of ERP and cost accounting systems
Serve as a primary point of contact for auditors on cost accounting and inventory-related matters
Assist in manufacturing cost forecasts and annual budgets
Monitor actual costs versus budget and provide variance analysis
Support long-range planning related to scale-up, tech transfer, and commercialization