Cost Accountant

Job description

ILIA is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Cost Accountant to help support inventory and cost accounting activities in a fast-growing consumer goods environment. This role is responsible for maintaining accurate inventory and COGS reporting, supporting month-end close, and driving cost tracking related to production, freight, and warehousing. Working within a shared services structure, the Cost Accountant collaborates closely with Accounting, Supply Chain, and Operations to ensure accurate product costing, timely inventory reconciliation, and strong internal controls that scale with the business.

This role is hybrid, open to candidates based in Southern California and will report on-site at our Laguna Beach, CA office 1-2x week.

Key Responsibilities

Inventory & Cost Accounting

• Support month-end close activities related to inventory, COGS, and cost-related accruals; ensure accurate cut-off and proper classification of inventory-related spend

• Prepare and maintain inventory reconciliations between the ERP system (NetSuite preferred), 3PL reports, and the general ledger on a monthly basis

• Assist with landed cost tracking, including freight, duties, and other inbound logistics costs; ensure proper allocation to inventory

• Support cost updates and review standard costs, purchase price variances (PPV), and bill of materials (BOM) costing to ensure accuracy

• Track and analyze inventory adjustments, write-offs, and reserves for obsolete, slow-moving, or damaged inventory

• Partner with Supply Chain and Operations teams to validate inventory movements and ensure financial reporting reflects actual inventory positions

• Assist with cycle count and physical inventory processes, including variance investigation, root cause analysis, and reconciliation to the general ledger

General Accounting & Month-End Close:

• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes; prepare journal entries and supporting schedules related to inventory, COGS, accruals, and reserves

• Take ownership of miscellaneous month-end accounting tasks as assigned, including prepaid amortization, accrual true-ups, intercompany entries, and other general ledger close items to ensure completeness and accuracy of the financial close

• Prepare and review account reconciliations across assigned general ledger accounts; investigate and resolve reconciling items on a timely basis

• Flex to support the broader Accounting team during peak close periods, including assistance with journal entries, reconciliations, and ad hoc tasks across departments as needed

• Maintain organized documentation and supporting schedules to support external audits, internal reviews, and compliance requests

• Ensure compliance with GAAP, internal accounting policies, and Shared Services procedures; flag exceptions or control gaps to the Accounting Manager

• Assist with SOX-readiness, internal control documentation, and remediation of audit findings as applicable

Reporting & Analysis:

• Prepare cost and inventory variance analyses, including PPV, absorption variances, and freight cost trends; summarize findings for the Accounting Manager and Finance leadership

• Support analysis of obsolete inventory, slow-moving stock, and inventory reserve movements on a monthly basis

• Assist in the preparation of balance sheet reconciliations and P&L fluctuation commentary related to cost and inventory accounts

• Provide ad hoc cost and inventory reporting to support cross-functional teams including Operations, Supply Chain, and FP&A

Process Improvement, AI & Systems:

• Actively leverage AI tools and automation technologies to drive efficiencies across accounting workflows — including reconciliations, journal entry preparation, variance analysis, and close reporting — reducing manual effort and improving accuracy

• Identify opportunities to apply AI-assisted solutions to standardize and scale recurring accounting processes; champion adoption of new tools within the Shared Services team

• Use AI and data tools to improve team productivity — including building smarter reporting templates, automating routine data pulls, and accelerating the preparation of supporting schedules and close packages

• Partner with Accounting and IT teams to optimize ERP workflows and reporting (NetSuite preferred); support system enhancements, integrations, and data integrity initiatives

• Maintain and update SOPs and process documentation for inventory and general accounting procedures; ensure documentation reflects current AI-enabled workflows and supports scalability and audit readiness

Performance Metrics & KPIs:

• The Cost Accountant supports tracking and reporting of the following key performance indicators:

• Inventory reconciliation accuracy and timeliness (ERP vs. 3PL vs. GL)

• Month-end close task completion within established deadlines

• PPV and landed cost variance trends by supplier/freight lane

• Cycle count completion rates and variance resolution turnaround

• Inventory reserve adequacy – obsolete and slow-moving exposure

• Audit support schedule accuracy and on-time delivery

Job requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required

• 2–4+ years of accounting experience; prior exposure to inventory or cost accounting in a consumer goods, CPG, or manufacturing environment strongly preferred

• Experience with ERP systems (NetSuite preferred); advanced Excel skills required

• Working knowledge of GAAP; CPA or CMA pursuit a plus

• Experience in a Shared Services or high-volume transactional accounting environment a plus

• Demonstrated interest in or experience with AI tools, automation platforms, or data analytics in an accounting or finance context strongly preferred

What we would like to offer...

• $120,000-130,000 annually*

• Bonus Opportunity

• Health Benefits - 100% employer-paid medical, dental & vision coverage

• Flex Time Off - No cap on personal time off and paid company holidays

• Seasonal Flex Days - Flexible scheduling to enjoy extra time under the sun during the Spring & Summer season

• Parental Leave - Up to 18 weeks paid parental leave

• 401(k) - Save for your future with a 401(k) with a company match

• Flexibility & Wellness Stipends - Monthly stipends to support remote work & self-care

• ILIA Products - Quarterly stipend to replenish your favorite products and try new ones

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