Cost Accounting Manager

Description

We are looking for a Cost Accounting Manager to lead plant-level financial oversight in Calabasas, California. This position will guide budgeting, reporting, and cost analysis activities while providing leadership across accounting operations in a retail-linked manufacturing environment. The role will partner closely with operations and senior leadership to improve financial visibility, strengthen controls, and support profitable decision-making.

Responsibilities:

• Direct plant finance activities, including budgeting, accounting oversight, and regular financial reporting to monitor business performance.

• Lead product cost management by maintaining accurate costing methods, reviewing margin performance, and investigating manufacturing variances.

• Oversee accounts payable operations to support policy compliance, timely vendor payments, and reliable financial documentation.

• Manage monthly and quarterly close activities, including account reconciliations, review of cost-related entries, and preparation of financial statements.

• Build and refine standard cost models for materials, labor, and overhead to support accurate valuation and planning.

• Evaluate manufacturing spend and identify practical opportunities to reduce costs and improve overall profitability.

• Partner with production and operations leaders on process improvement efforts that enhance efficiency and financial performance.

• Prepare and deliver recurring cost reports, operational metrics, and variance commentary for senior leadership, including recommended corrective actions.

• Supervise inventory accounting through cycle counts, physical counts, and reconciliation processes to ensure accurate valuation.

• Develop and coach a small accounting team while promoting strong controls, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.

• At least 5 years of experience in cost accounting and financial operations within a manufacturing setting; food industry experience is strongly preferred.

• Minimum of 3 years of people management experience.

• Strong command of standard costing, inventory accounting, variance analysis, and manufacturing finance principles.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience working with enterprise resource planning systems.

• Demonstrated analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with close attention to accuracy.

• Effective communication and presentation skills, including the ability to translate financial results for operational stakeholders.

• CPA or a comparable certification is preferred.

Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles.

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Robert Half will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan. Visit roberthalf.gobenefits.net for more information.

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