Job Purpose

The Sr. Manager, Cost Accounting role leads cost accounting activities and the production of accurate and consistent inventory, manufacturing cost, margin, and operating reports across multiple plant locations, businesses, or corporate functions. This role formulates and administers approved cost accounting practices to ensure the integrity of product costs, inventory valuation, manufacturing variances, and cost of sales. Additionally, this role provides financial and operational support to Operations and Functions while ensuring compliance and controls are in place.

In this position you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead and oversee cost accounting operations across assigned businesses, plants, or product lines, ensuring accurate and timely accounting for inventory, manufacturing costs, cost of sales, and related financial results in accordance with GAAP and company policy
• Own the governance, consistency, and integrity of standard and actual product costs, including bills of material, routings, labor and machine rates, overhead rates, freight, and other cost components
• Direct monthly, quarterly, and annual close activities for inventory and manufacturing accounting, including analysis and resolution of material usage, labor, overhead, purchase price, yield, volume, and other manufacturing variances
• Lead the annual standard cost development and roll process, including validation of assumptions, coordination across functions, impact analysis, system execution, and communication of results
• Provide advanced technical accounting guidance and act as a key escalation point for complex inventory and cost accounting matters, including capitalization, reserves, obsolescence, lower of cost and net realizable value, and physical inventory adjustments
• Review and analyze plant and product profitability, conversion costs, inventory movements, cost drivers, and manufacturing performance, proactively identifying risks, trends, and opportunities prior to senior leadership review
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, and FP&A leadership to support budgeting, forecasting, productivity initiatives, sourcing decisions, network optimization, new product introductions, and make versus buy decisions
• Provide leadership for SAP cost accounting and material ledger processes, including cost estimates, inventory movements, production orders, settlements, purchase price differences, and related accounting entries and reconciliations
• Strengthen internal controls over inventory and cost accounting, ensuring SOX compliance, audit readiness, and consistent execution of physical inventories, reserves, reconciliations, and management reviews
• Lead process optimization and standardization efforts to improve costing methodologies, data quality, reporting, efficiency, and scalability across manufacturing locations
• Lead, coach, and develop cost accounting team, including assigning work, managing performance, identifying training needs, and supporting succession planning and professional growth
• Anticipate leadership questions and business risks, delivering clear analysis, actionable insights, and sustainable solutions with minimal direction
• Lead and influence cross functional projects involving ERP enhancements, plant integrations, acquisitions, footprint changes, product rationalization, and other initiatives with significant inventory or manufacturing cost implications
• Prepare and present executive level reporting on inventory, manufacturing costs, variances, margins, controls, and financial risks, including clear recommendations and follow through on actions

What do I need to be successful?

• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including significant cost accounting experience in a multi site manufacturing environment required
• Demonstrated supervisory experience required
• Expert knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) applicable to inventory, cost accounting, and manufacturing operations
• Advanced understanding of standard costing, actual costing, inventory valuation, manufacturing variances, overhead allocation, reserves, and product profitability
• Strong understanding of internal controls, SOX compliance, audit readiness, and financial reporting requirements
• Extensive knowledge of manufacturing business processes and cost drivers that are critical to the business
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to interpret complex data and drive actionable insights
• Demonstrated leadership, project management, team development, and continuous improvement capabilities
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence cross functional and senior stakeholders
• Ability to anticipate risks, evaluate complex issues, formulate decisions, and manage multiple priorities in a deadline driven environment
• Ability to operate a computer and supporting software packages, including advanced Excel and the ability to satisfactorily perform all SAP tasks associated with this role
• Experience with SAP product costing, production orders, inventory accounting, and material ledger preferred

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Work Environment

• This position will work at home and in our Nashville office on a hybrid schedule
• Must live within a reasonable distance to Nashville or willing to relocate to the greater Nashville area

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