Cost Manager at Bell & Associates, Inc

Group Cost Accounting Manager

We are seeking an experienced Cost Manager to lead product costing, inventory control, and working capital performance across our manufacturing operations. This role partners closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, Accounting, and Finance to ensure accurate product costing, inventory integrity, and continuous improvement of financial and operational performance. The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with a strong manufacturing accounting background and extensive experience in standard costing and inventory management.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the organization's product costing strategy, governance, and standard costing processes.
• Manage annual standard cost updates and periodic forecast cost revisions.
• Validate cost inputs including material, labor, overhead, routings, and bills of material to ensure accurate product costing.
• Analyze manufacturing variances and identify cost drivers to support operational improvements.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to identify and implement cost reduction initiatives.
• Establish and maintain inventory control policies, procedures, and best practices across multiple manufacturing locations.
• Monitor inventory accuracy, valuation, movement, aging, and key inventory performance metrics.
• Lead investigations into inventory discrepancies and implement long-term corrective actions.
• Drive inventory optimization initiatives to improve inventory turns, reduce obsolete inventory, and enhance working capital performance.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Operations to align inventory strategies with production schedules and customer demand.
• Develop reporting and performance metrics to support inventory control and cost management initiatives.
• Ensure the integrity of manufacturing master data, including bills of material and routing structures.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field required.
• 7-10+ years of progressive accounting experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Extensive experience with product costing, standard absorption costing, and inventory control.
• Experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities with high-volume inventory transactions.
• Strong analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with ERP systems such as JD Edwards or similar manufacturing ERP platforms.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple departments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Lean Six Sigma, or other relevant professional certification.
• Experience leading inventory optimization and working capital improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of manufacturing master data management, including bills of material, routings, and costing structures.