Senior Cost Accountant

Signia Aerospace is a global, integrated provider of high-performance systems and specialized components for the aerospace industry.  Signia designs, manufactures, and services a wide range of products, that include mission equipment, thermal management systems, engine technology, and propellers. The Signia brands are leaders in their respective markets and provide a compelling value proposition to both aerospace and defense OEMs and end-users.

Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch, located in Anaheim, CA is one of the world’s leading providers of Search & Rescue (SAR) and Human External Cargo (HEC) advanced mission equipment for civil, commercial, and military helicopters.

Position Overview 

Location: Anaheim, CA (On-site) 

Schedule: Monday - Friday 

Pay: $90,000 - $120,000 per year 

The Senior Cost Accountant is responsible for maintaining the integrity of manufacturing costs, inventory valuation, job costing, and financial reporting within a fast-paced aerospace manufacturing environment. This position partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management to develop accurate product costs, support pricing proposals, analyze manufacturing performance, and ensure compliance with company policies and accounting standards.

What You’ll Do

Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Finance

• Maintain and analyze standard costs for manufactured products and purchased components.
• Develop, maintain, and update labor and overhead rates used for inventory valuation, quoting, and financial reporting.
• Perform detailed job cost analysis for production work orders and customer programs.
• Analyze manufacturing variances including:
  • Material Price Variance (PPV)
  • Material Usage Variance
  • Labor Efficiency
  • Labor Rate Variance
  • Manufacturing Overhead Variance
• Monitor work-in-process (WIP), ensuring costs are accurately accumulated and relieved.
• Review production orders for cost accuracy and investigate unusual manufacturing costs.
• Assist in inventory valuation, excess and obsolete inventory analysis, and reserve calculations.
• Partner with Operations to improve inventory accuracy and manufacturing cost performance.

Proposal & Bid Support

• Develop detailed cost estimates supporting customer quotations and proposals.
• Calculate direct labor, material, burden, and overhead rates used in pricing.
• Work with Engineering, Program Management, and Supply Chain to develop competitive cost proposals.
• Analyze estimated versus actual costs on completed programs to improve future pricing accuracy.
• Support customer audits related to pricing, cost build-up, and manufacturing rates.

Month-End Close & Financial Reporting

•  Prepare monthly journal entries related to:
  • Inventory
  • Manufacturing variances
  • Cost allocations
  • Accruals
  • Intercompany transactions
• Perform account reconciliations ensuring timely resolution of reconciling items.
• Complete month-end inventory and cost accounting close activities.
• Prepare supporting schedules for financial statement reviews.
• Analyze manufacturing results and explain month-over-month variances.
• Assist in preparation of monthly management reporting packages.

Inventory & Operational Support

• Participate in physical inventories and cycle count programs.
• Assist in wall-to-wall inventory planning and reconciliation.
• Investigate inventory discrepancies and recommend corrective actions.
• Support inventory reserve calculations including slow-moving and obsolete inventory.
• Monitor inventory transactions for accuracy and compliance.

Financial Analysis

• Prepare margin analysis by product line, customer, and program.
• Analyze manufacturing efficiencies and recommend process improvements.
• Support annual budgeting and forecasting activities.
• Assist in capital expenditure analysis and fixed asset accounting.
• Develop dashboards and KPI reporting related to manufacturing performance.

Compliance & Internal Controls

• Ensure compliance with GAAP and company accounting policies.
• Maintain strong internal controls over inventory and manufacturing accounting.
• Support internal and external audits.
• Assist with customer and government audit requests when applicable.
• Document accounting procedures and recommend process improvements.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
• CPA or CMA preferred
• 5–8+ years of progressive accounting experience
• Minimum 3 years of manufacturing or cost accounting experience
• Aerospace, defense, or other highly engineered manufacturing experience preferred
• Strong understanding of:
  • Standard costing
  • Job costing
  • Inventory accounting
  • Manufacturing variances
  • Cost allocations
  • Financial statement preparation
• Experience developing labor and overhead rates.
• Experience supporting customer proposals and pricing.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including Pivot Tables, Power Query, XLOOKUP, and financial modeling.
• ERP experience such as IFS, SAP, Oracle, Costpoint, or similar manufacturing systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work cross-functionally.

What’s In It for You

Benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, disability

Paid time off and holidays 

401(k) plan with employer contribution matching

In addition to offering competitive wages and benefits, Onboard Systems also offers the opportunity to increase your future earnings tied to growth in company performance. We recognize employee contributions toward growing the business through our unique Growth Participation Unit program (GPU). GPUs are tied directly to company growth and reward all eligible employees with cash when the business grows over time. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status