Position Summary

The Senior Cost Accountant owns standard costing, inventory accounting, cost analysis, and manufacturing financial reporting for Cherry Aerospace. This role reports to the Controller and partners with Operations, Supply Chain, Production Leadership, and the General Manager to provide accurate cost information, inventory valuation, variance analysis, forecasting support, and financial insight that improves profitability, inventory performance, and operational decision-making.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Standard Costing & Inventory Accounting

• Own and maintain standard costs for manufactured products, including material, labor, and overhead standards.
• Analyze manufacturing, labor, material, burden, purchase price, and production variances and communicate key drivers.
• Ensure accurate inventory valuation, reconciliations, reserve analysis, and GAAP-compliant inventory transactions.
• Lead quarterly Excess and Obsolete inventory analysis and support physical inventory and cycle count programs.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to improve inventory accuracy, turns, cost controls, and profitability.

Financial Reporting & Month-End Close

• Prepare monthly journal entries, accruals, cost adjustments, account reconciliations, and assigned balance sheet support.
• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities within required deadlines.
• Prepare management reporting packages, variance explanations, and ad hoc financial analyses.

Operations & Manufacturing Finance Support

• Serve as a financial business partner to the Controller, General Manager, Operations, and Supply Chain teams.
• Analyze productivity, labor efficiency, staffing utilization, material consumption, and manufacturing cost trends.
• Support business cases, operational initiatives, production reviews, inventory reviews, and cross-functional meetings.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Analysis

• Develop and maintain budgets and forecasts for inventory, manufacturing costs, and Cost of Goods Sold.
• Support annual operating plan, quarterly forecast, trend analysis, and financial modeling activities.

Fixed Assets & Capital Projects

• Track capital projects and spending against approved budgets.
• Ensure proper fixed asset capitalization, depreciation, audit support, and accounting treatment.

Compliance & Internal Controls

• Support SOX compliance, internal controls, company policies, accounting procedures, and audit requirements.
• Maintain documented controls and procedures for inventory accounting and standard costing.

Required Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Standard costing, inventory accounting, manufacturing accounting, cost analysis, variance reporting, financial reporting, reconciliations, budgeting, forecasting, fixed assets, GAAP, SOX/internal controls, ERP systems, advanced Excel, and financial modeling.

Leadership & Professional Competencies

• Analytical thinking, business acumen, attention to detail, problem solving, continuous improvement mindset, organization, communication, cross-functional collaboration, accountability, results orientation, and ability to influence decisions through data.

Success Metrics (KPIs)

• 100% completion of close activities, reconciliations, reporting packages, and required analyses within established deadlines.
• No material audit findings related to inventory, costing, fixed assets, financial reporting, SOX, or internal controls.
• Accurate standard costs, variance reporting, inventory valuation, reserve calculations, and COGS forecasting.
• Improved inventory accuracy, cost visibility, reporting effectiveness, and reduction of manual processes through process improvements or automation.
• Meaningful financial analysis that supports operational decision-making, profitability, inventory turns, and cost control.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• CPA, CMA, or MBA preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of progressive accounting experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Standard costing and inventory accounting experience required; aerospace, industrial, or discrete manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience with month-end close, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, SOX compliance, internal controls, GAAP, and manufacturing accounting principles.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and support continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment.

Working Conditions

• Primarily office-based with regular interaction in manufacturing, inventory storage, and production floor areas.
• May be exposed to temperature variation, noise, manufacturing equipment, and required PPE in designated areas.
• Requires extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer use.