Enterprise Cost Governance Manager

Career Area:
Finance

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc. When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do - but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here - we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live.

Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it. As the Enterprise Cost Governance Manager, you will serve as Caterpillar's subject matter expert and trusted advisor for enterprise product costing, financial master data governance, and cost accounting processes.

Product Costing & Governance

• Serve as the enterprise subject matter expert for product costing governance and related financial master data.
• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve product costing standards, policies, and governance processes across the enterprise.
• Lead governance activities supporting enterprise product costing methodologies, inventory valuation, and cost accounting controls.
• Partner with manufacturing facilities, operations teams, and finance leaders to ensure consistent application of enterprise costing principles.

Enterprise Financial Master Data

• Provide governance and strategic oversight of financial master data, including cost centers, functional areas, routing structures, and related financial attributes.
• Guide the design and implementation of financial structures supporting accurate reporting, product costing, operational decision-making, and financial controls.
• Identify opportunities to improve enterprise master data quality, governance, and reporting effectiveness.

Enterprise Rate Setting & Cost Management

• Lead and continuously improve the enterprise Normals product cost rate-setting process.
• Analyze cost structures, manufacturing data, and financial information to ensure consistency and accuracy across facilities.
• Provide guidance regarding cost allocations, inventory valuation, manufacturing costs, and financial reporting implications.

Financial Analysis & Transformation

• Analyze financial and operational data to identify trends, risks, process gaps, and improvement opportunities.
• Utilize Power BI and enterprise reporting tools to develop meaningful insights and support business decision-making.
• Support finance transformation initiatives involving SAP, master data management, process standardization, automation, and reporting modernization.
• Drive simplification and automation initiatives to improve process efficiency, scalability, and data integrity.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing finance, cost accounting, product costing, or enterprise finance governance.
• Strong understanding of:
  Product Costing Manufacturing Accounting Inventory Valuation Financial Controls Cost Accounting P&L Cost Structures Financial Master Data Governance.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex projects with limited direction.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment across functions without direct authority.

• Advanced Power BI reporting and analytics experience.
• Strong SAP experience supporting product costing, manufacturing finance, financial master data, or enterprise accounting processes.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing cost structures and their impact on product cost, inventory valuation, and financial performance.
• Experience supporting enterprise master data governance and costing frameworks.
• Experience developing standardized processes, governance models, and internal controls.

• Demonstrated experience serving as a trusted advisor to Finance, Operations, Manufacturing, and Technology leaders.
• Experience leading finance transformation, automation, or enterprise process improvement initiatives.
• Proven ability to establish governance standards and drive compliance across a complex organization.
• Strong project leadership skills and the ability to independently manage multiple priorities.

The successful candidate will be recognized as Caterpillar's trusted advisor for enterprise product costing and cost governance. They will drive consistency across costing processes, strengthen financial…