Director, Global Cost Accounting
The Director of Cost Accounting will provide enterprise-wide leadership over cost accounting and global inventory, with accountability for driving accuracy, transparency, and operational excellence across all manufacturing and warehouse locations. This role serves as a key business partner to Operations, Finance, and Accounting leadership, delivering insights that influence cost structure, margin performance, and strategic decision-making.
Responsibilities
Lead the enterprise-wide inventory and COGS close process, ensuring accuracy, strong controls, and continuous improvement in close efficiency and financial integrity.
Serve as a strategic finance partner to Operations leadership, driving insights into manufacturing performance, cost drivers, and margin optimization opportunities.
Own and evolve the standard cost framework, including the annual cost roll, validating material, labor, and overhead assumptions and aligning with budget and forecast.
Drive cross-functional planning alignment with FP&A and Operations, integrating cost accounting into forecasting for materials, labor, and overhead.
Deliver executive-level gross margin analysis, translating product line performance and variances into actionable strategies for profitability improvement.
Establish governance over inventory controls, including physical inventory and cycle count programs, strengthening accuracy and SOX compliance.
Lead ERP (SAP) cost accounting strategy and enhancements, improving automation, scalability, and decision-support capabilities.
Oversee global inventory analytics and reporting, partnering with international teams to ensure consistency, visibility, and risk management while driving inventory targets and attainment with supply chain.
Act as primary liaison with external auditors, ensuring efficient audits and a strong internal control environment for inventory and cost accounting.
Lead M&A integration for cost accounting, standardizing inventory processes and enabling scalable growth across acquired entities.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; CPA and/or MBA preferred
10+ years of progressive cost and inventory accounting experience in a manufacturing environment, including leadership responsibilities
Deep expertise in standard costing, inventory valuation, and manufacturing operations, with the ability to translate complexity into financial insight
Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, particularly as it relates to inventory and cost of goods sold
Proven ability to lead, develop, and scale high-performing teams, fostering accountability and continuous improvement
Strategic business partner with strong communication skills, capable of influencing cross-functional and senior leadership decisions
Advanced analytical and technical skills, including expert Excel capabilities and experience working with large datasets
Demonstrated expertise in SOX compliance and ERP systems (SAP preferred), including control oversight and driving process/system enhancements