Senior Manager / Associate Director, Cost Accounting

The Senior Manager / Associate Director, Cost Accounting will lead cost accounting activities for manufacturing and operational functions within a biotechnology or pharmaceutical organization. This role is responsible for overseeing product costing, inventory valuation, COGS reporting, and cost-related controls, while supporting business scaling from clinical-stage through commercialization. The position requires strong leadership, cross-functional partnership, and deep expertise in manufacturing cost structures.

Essential Duties & Key Responsibilities

• Cost Accounting & Analysis
• Develop, own and oversee standard costing, variance analysis, and cost allocations across manufacturing operations
• Establish and maintain cost accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Lead and review monthly close activities related to inventory, COGS, and manufacturing variances
• Support cost-of-goods-sold (COGS) analysis for clinical and commercial products
• Inventory & Manufacturing Accounting
• Maintain accurate inventory valuation for raw materials, WIP, and finished goods
• Account for complex manufacturing processes, including batch-based and patient-specific production, where applicable
• Partner with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and R&D to understand cost drivers and improve cost accuracy
• Lead physical inventory counts and cycle count programs
• Ensure proper capitalization and expensing of manufacturing-related costs
• Financial Reporting & Compliance
• Support monthly close activities related to inventory, COGS, and manufacturing variances
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, SOX (if applicable), and internal controls
• Assist with audit requests related to inventory, cost accounting, and manufacturing transactions
• Support implementation and maintenance of ERP and cost accounting systems
• Serve as a primary point of contact for auditors on cost accounting and inventory-related matters
• Budgeting & Forecasting
• Assist in manufacturing cost forecasts and annual budgets
• Monitor actual costs versus budget and provide variance analysis
• Support long-range planning related to scale-up, tech transfer, and commercialization

Minimum Experience, Education, Certifications, Licenses

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field
• 5+ years of progressive cost accounting experience in a manufacturing, biotech, or pharmaceutical environment
• Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, and variance analysis
• Experience working with ERP systems - NetSuite is highly desirable
• Strong Excel skills and data analysis capabilities
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work cross-functionally with manufacturing and operations teams
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in cell therapy, gene therapy, or biologics manufacturing
• Knowledge of GMP manufacturing environments
• CPA preferred but not required
• Experience supporting clinical stage to commercial transition