Director, Cost Accounting

Location: Alhambra CA (Onsite)

Job Summary

Responsible for leading and directing the global corporate cost accounting function in an SAP environment. The Director will set strategic direction for cost accounting operations, drive process improvements, and ensure the integrity of financial data across all manufacturing and business units. Primary duties include developing and mentoring a high-performing team, ensuring accurate and timely financial close activities related to cost accounting, enforcing compliance with accounting policies, internal controls, and regulatory requirements, and delivering actionable gross margin and inventory insights to senior and executive leadership to support strategic business decisions. This role provides executive oversight of SAP Product Costing and COPA activities and serves as a key cross-functional partner to Operations, FP&A, and Supply Chain leadership.

Responsibilities

Accounting and Financial Reporting

• Establish, govern, and continuously improve standard material, labor, and overhead costing methodologies across the enterprise
• Direct the preparation of complex journal entries and oversee reconciliation of inventories to the balance sheet
• Provide strategic oversight of inventory reserve policies and ensure adjustments align with accounting standards and business conditions
• Lead the analysis and executive-level presentation of gross margin, cost of sales, inventory trends, turnover ratios, and production yield data
• Direct the preparation of audit schedules, footnote disclosures, and responses to external auditor inquiries
• Serve as a strategic advisor to business unit and manufacturing leadership on cost, manufacturing efficiency, and inventory optimization
• Ensure full compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements; own the design and effectiveness of cost accounting-related internal controls
  
  

Inventory Accounting and Control

• Partner with Manufacturing and Operations leadership to plan, govern, and execute physical inventories across all applicable locations
• Oversee the reconciliation of physical inventories to Mesa/SAP systems and drive resolution of discrepancies
• Establish policies and controls to minimize inventory risk and ensure accurate valuation across the enterprise
  
  

Management Accounting, Reporting & Analysis

• Validate and present GAAP and non-GAAP P&L results through detailed executive-level analysis of cost of sales and operating expense functional areas
• Direct product and customer margin analysis by overseeing the review, correction, and reconciliation of SAP transactions that drive corporate and business unit P&L reporting across P&L accounts, profit centers, and profitability segments
• Lead the analysis of variances arising from production and purchasing activities and drive root-cause resolution in partnership with Operations and Procurement
• Provide strategic guidance on cost reduction initiatives, make-vs-buy decisions, and new product introduction costing
  
  

Business Process & Systems

• Ensure timely and accurate month-end close, including settlement of production orders, CIP orders, and WBS elements
• Direct the monthly allocation process and ensure results accurately reflect business unit agreements and organizational structure
• Oversee the collection, processing, and governance of cost center plan data on a periodic basis
• Ensure timely updates to Activity Type rates, including direct labor and engineering labor rates
• Champion SAP Product Costing and COPA system integrity; partner with IT and system owners on enhancements, upgrades, and process automation initiatives
  
  

Leadership & People Development

• Lead, develop, and retain a team of cost accounting managers and staff; establish clear performance expectations and development plans
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration
• Represent the Cost Accounting function in executive and cross-functional forums, influencing business strategy through financial insight
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, or related field required; CPA, CMA, or MBA strongly preferred
• 12 years of progressive cost accounting experience, including 4 years in a people leadership role managing managers and professional staff
• Demonstrated experience driving cost accounting strategy in a complex, multi-site manufacturing environment (semiconductor industry or similar electronics manufacturing environment preferred)
• 7 years of hands-on SAP experience, with deep expertise in Product Costing and COPA modules
• Proven ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to executive and non-finance audiences
• Strong track record of process improvement, system optimization, and internal control design
• Experience working in a public company environment with SOX compliance requirements
  
  

The intent of this job description is to describe the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be required to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically included in this description.

All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

A reasonable estimate of the pay range for this position is $195,000 - $235,000. There are several factors taken into consideration in determining base salary, including but not limited to: job-related qualifications, skills, education and experience, as well as job location and the value of other elements of an employee’s total compensation package.