Cost Accounting Manager

Job Title: Corporate Cost Accounting Manager

Location: Dallas, Texas (4 days on-site)

Overview:

The Corporate Cost Accounting Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing cost accounting activities across the organization at our client's Dallas, Texas office, with a strong focus on manufacturing, R&D, and supply chain operations within a regulated biotechnology environment. This role ensures accurate product costing, inventory valuation, margin analysis, and financial reporting in compliance with US GAAP and internal controls. The position partners closely with Operations, Supply Chain, R&D, FP&A, and senior leadership to drive cost visibility, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.

Key Responsibilities:

Cost Accounting & Financial Reporting

• As the Corporate Cost Accounting Manager, own and manage the company’s cost accounting function, including standard costing, variance analysis, inventory valuation, and cost of goods sold (COGS).
• Ensure accurate and timely month-end and year-end close processes related to inventory, manufacturing costs, and capitalization.
• Maintain and enhance standard cost systems; lead annual cost roll-ups and periodic updates.
• Prepare detailed cost and margin analyses by product, process, and site; provide actionable insights to leadership.
• Ensure compliance with US GAAP, internal accounting policies, and SOX/internal control requirements.

Manufacturing, Supply Chain & R&D Support

• Partner with manufacturing, supply chain, and R&D teams to understand cost drivers and support operational decision-making.
• Analyze labor, overhead, material, scrap, yield, and absorption variances; identify trends and recommend corrective actions.
• Support make-versus-buy analyses, pricing decisions, capacity planning, and capital investment evaluations.
• Collaborate on inventory management practices, including cycle counts, physical inventories, reserves, and obsolescence analysis.
• Support cost accounting implications of new product introductions, process changes, and scale-up activities.

Leadership & Process Improvement

• Lead, mentor, and develop cost accounting staff; establish best practices and standardized processes across the organization.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and scalability of cost accounting operations.
• Improve reporting tools, dashboards, and KPI tracking related to cost, inventory, and manufacturing performance.
• Support ERP system enhancements and implementations related to costing, inventory, and manufacturing modules.

Cross-Functional & Strategic Support

• Act as a key finance partner to FP&A, providing inputs for budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning.
• Prepare presentations and analyses for executive leadership, including cost trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Support internal and external audits; serve as the primary point of contact for cost accounting–related audit inquiries.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 7 years of progressive cost accounting experience, preferably within biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or regulated manufacturing.
• Ideally a Corporate Cost Accounting Manager already
• Strong knowledge of standard costing, inventory accounting, and manufacturing cost structures.
• Demonstrated experience with US GAAP, internal controls, and audit support.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and experience working with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, JDE, NetSuite, or similar).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to partner effectively with operations and senior leadership.
• Ability to be on-site in Dallas, Texas

Preferred

• CPA, CMA, or MBA.
• Prior experience in a biotech, pharmaceutical, or FDA-regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting multi-site or rapidly scaling organizations.
• Exposure to capital project accounting and R&D cost treatment.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic and detail-oriented with a strong ownership mindset.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
• Able to translate complex cost data into clear business insights.
• Strong people leadership, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.

What’s On the Table

• Competitive salary $105-135k
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits
• 401(k) with company match
• Career growth within a high-impact biotechnology organization