Cost Accounting Analyst

Base pay range

$80,000.00/yr - $90,000.00/yr

A Life Science Cost Accounting Analyst supports biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics companies by analyzing manufacturing, R&D, and supply-chain costs. This role ensures accurate product costing, supports gross margin analysis, and provides insights that help optimize production efficiency and financial performance. It combines cost-accounting rigor with an understanding of life-science manufacturing processes, inventory flows, and regulatory requirements.

• Maintain and analyze standard costs for raw materials, intermediates, finished goods, and lab supplies.
• Monitor and reconcile manufacturing variances (PPV, labor, overhead, yield, scrap, etc.).
• Conduct cost roll-ups, BOM (bill of materials) validation, and routing analysis.
• Support periodic cost updates and annual standard cost setting.

• Perform monthly inventory reconciliations for raw materials, WIP, and finished goods.
• Partner with manufacturing, supply chain, and quality to track inventory movements and resolve discrepancies.
• Support cycle counts and physical inventory audits.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP/IFRS and internal controls for inventory valuation.
• Prepare and analyze COGS, gross margin, and manufacturing-related KPIs.
• Provide variance analysis between actual, standard, and forecasted manufacturing costs.
• Assist with month-end close activities, journal entries, and account reconciliations.
• Present cost trends, risks, and opportunities to FP&A and operations leadership.

• Collaborate with manufacturing, process engineering, R&D, supply chain, and quality to understand cost drivers.
• Evaluate cost impacts of new product introductions, process changes, and scale-up activities.
• Support capital projects and capacity planning with cost analysis.
• Participate in continuous improvement and Lean/Six Sigma initiatives.

• Ensure cost accounting processes comply with SOX, cGMP, and internal audit requirements.
• Maintain accurate cost documentation for FDA, EMA, or other regulatory audits when manufacturing or R&D data is reviewed.
• Support proper costing and tracking of clinical trial materials when applicable.

$80,000 to $90,000 annually

• Mid-Senior level

• Full-time

• Accounting/Auditing, Finance, and Analyst

• Public Health