Senior Cost Accountant

Planet; Berlin; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Wellness program

Home office reimbursement

Phone and internet reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement

Equity

Volunteer time off

Job summary

Planet is seeking a Senior Accountant to bridge our Berlin manufacturing facility with US financial operations. You will own cost accounting for the German entity, ensure HGB compliance, and drive standard costing and inventory integrity across locations.

The role also supports global cost accounting, intercompany reconciliations, and capex tracking. The position is full-time and hybrid, requiring 3 days in the Berlin office.

Qualifications

• 4 to 6 years of cost accounting experience in manufacturing/high-tech environments.
• Experience with inventory controls and multi-entity global structures.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration (or German Ausbildung)
• Proficiency with ERP systems and advanced Excel/Google Sheets.
• Fluency in English and German.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost accounting workflows for the German GmbH and support global cost accounting tasks.
• Manage monthly close for inventory (raw materials, WIP, finished goods) and cycle counts.
• Ensure German GAAP (HGB) compliance and prepare cost breakdowns for R&D tax incentives and government grants.
• Oversee PCard reconciliations and analyze CIP vs. Opex classifications.
• Back up US cost accounting during peak periods and support US month-end workflows.
• Review intercompany transfer orders and movements between subsidiaries.
• Track labor capitalization and variances (PPV, production variance, E&O).
• Support audits for US GAAP, German GAAP, and SOX.

Skills

Cost accounting

Inventory controls

US GAAP

German GAAP (HGB)

Excel

Google Sheets

English fluency

German fluency

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting/Finance/Business Administration

German Ausbildung (Industriekaufmann/-frau)

Tools

NetSuite ERP

Excel

Job description

About the Role:

We are seeking a versatile Senior Accountant to serve as a key bridge between our newly established Berlin manufacturing facility and our US financial operations. In this dual-impact role, you will lead the cost accounting workflows and local compliance for our German entity (GmbH) while simultaneously supporting global cost accounting tasks, cross-border subsidiary reconciliations, and capital expenditure tracking. You will partner with operational leaders to establish scalable standard costing methodologies, maintain inventory integrity across multiple locations, and ensure seamless financial alignment between EMEA and US teams. Ideal candidates are detail-oriented professionals with background in multi-entity global structures who thrive in cross-functional environments.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our Berlin office 3 days per week.

Impact You’ll Own:

• Partners with Berlin Operations to establish scalable cost accounting workflows, standard costing methodologies, and manufacturing time-tracking for our local production line.
• Leads monthly close processes for GmbH inventory, including raw materials, WIP, and finished goods reconciliations, while overseeing physical cycle counts and analyzing adjustments.
• Ensures local accounting activities comply with German GAAP (HGB), prepares cost breakdowns for German R&D tax incentives (e.g., Forschungszulage), and manages financial documentation for local government grants and subsidies.
• Manages PCard reconciliations for lab equipment and flight materials while reviewing capital expenditure vs. operational expenses (CIP/Expense classifications) for the German entity.
• Serves as the dedicated backup for US cost accountants during time-off, high-volume periods, and initial US-hours coverage through cross-training on US month‑end workflows.
• Reviews and clears consolidated transfer orders between international subsidiaries, managing movements between locations for both PBC and GmbH entities.
• Maintains costs associated with satellite materials, launch, and build processes while tracking movements across inventory, WIP, and internal fixed asset materials.
• Assists in labor capitalization tracking across internal software development, satellite construction, and commissioning efforts.
• Performs purchase price variance (PPV), production variance, scrap, and Excess & Obsolete (E&O) analysis while preparing balance sheet reconciliations, journal entries, and accrued purchases/prepaid manufacturing schedules for US and EMEA operations.
• Supports internal and external audits across US GAAP, local German GAAP, and SOX controls.

What You Bring:

• 4 to 6 years of relevant cost accounting experience in a manufacturing or high-tech operational environment.
• Experience with inventory controls and multi-entity global structures.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration (or a relevant German Ausbildung, e.g., Industriekaufmann/-frau, with specialized focus on accounting/controlling).
• Proficiency with modern ERP systems and advanced capability in Excel or Google Sheets.
• Professional fluency in both English and German.

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Working knowledge of both US GAAP and German GAAP (HGB).
• Direct hands-on experience with NetSuite ERP.

Application Deadline:

November 13, 2026 at 11:59p PT

Export Control Requirements:

Planet Labs Germany GmbH is authorized to receive U.S. export-controlled information at Planet under an export license issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security. This position requires access to U.S. and German/EU export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by German, EU, or U.S. authorities.

Benefits While Working at Planet:

• Paid time off including vacation, holidays and company-wide days off
• Employee Wellness Program
• Home Office Reimbursement
• Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
• Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
• Equity
• Volunteering Paid Time Off

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

EEO statement:

Planet is committed to building a community where everyone belongs and we invite people from all backgrounds to apply. Planet is an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Know Your Rights.

Accommodations:

Planet is an inclusive community and we know that everyone has their own needs. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the hiring process, please reach out to [e-mail] or contact your recruiter with your request. Your message will be confidential and we will be happy to assist you.

AI in Our Interviewing Process

Planet is committed to providing an exceptional interview experience for all candidates. We currently use Metaview to better focus on candidates and less on trying to capture notes. As such, with the candidate's consent, select interviews may be recorded and include a "Planet AI Notetaker" for transcription and summarization purposes. Should an interview involve use of AI interview technologies, the candidate will receive notification and have the ability to opt out both in advance and/or real-time. Opting out will not affect one's candidacy.

Candidate AI Policy

Planet embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, and we encourage its responsible use. We understand that candidates may use various resources, including AI tools, to prepare for interviews and assessments. However, during any live interview stage or when actively completing assessments for this position, the use of AI tools—e.g. Large Language Models (LLMs), deep fake technology, etc—is strictly prohibited unless explicitly prompted by an interviewer or assessment instructions. If you are unsure about acceptable use, please contact your recruiter for clarification. If an AI tool or similar technology is desired as an accommodation, please contact [e-mail] with your request for assistance. Your message will be confidential, and we will be happy to assist you. Violation of this policy may result in disqualification of your application.