Cost Analyst

Rocket Lab USA; Auckland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA in Auckland seeks a Cost Analyst to own costing accuracy, inventory valuation, and financial reporting across NZ and US teams.

You will work within our ERP costing framework, reconcile inventories, update project costs, and develop reports for management and statutory purposes. The role requires strong GL and cost accounting experience, GAAP/IFRS knowledge, and advanced Excel proficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or relevant equivalent experience.
• At least five years' experience in general ledger and cost accounting.
• Experience with GAAP or IFRS compliance.
• Advanced Excel proficiency; strong Microsoft Office skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accuracy of costing and inventory data in the ERP system.
• Update project cost details with planning team.
• Reconcile production orders, WIP, cycle counts, and inventory variances.
• Review standard costs and MAUC for valuation and reporting.
• Build and refine costing reports for management and statutory reporting.
• Run monthly sub-ledger inventory reports and reconcile to the general ledger.
• Deliver quarterly obsolete and slow-moving inventory reserve analysis.
• Assist with SOX controls such as inventory reconciliations and production variances.
• Support month-end processing with engineering and project cost data.
• Collaborate with NZ and US finance teams on costing methodology and policies.
• Support ERP testing, deployments, and user training.

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Variance analysis

GAAP IFRS

Advanced Excel

General ledger

Cost accounting

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

CMA certification

Tools

Infor LN

Oracle

JD Edwards (JDE)

SAP

Job description

Cost Analyst

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

If you love digging into data, solving complex puzzles, and turning financial insights into real business impact, this role will keep you energised.

As our Cost Analyst, you'll sit at the heart of our manufacturing and finance ecosystem, ensuring the accuracy of our costing, inventory valuation, and financial reporting so our teams can make confident, informed decisions.

This is an opportunity to work across multiple functions, influence key processes, and help strengthen our cost accounting framework. You'll collaborate with teams in New Zealand, the US, and across the wider business while owning critical costing and inventory controls within our ERP environment.

What You'll Get To Do:

• Maintain the accuracy and integrity of all costing and inventory data in the ERP system.
• Work with the planning team to update project cost details.
• Reconcile production orders, work-in-progress, cycle counts, and annual inventory counts, including reviewing and recording count variances.
• Review standard costs and Moving Average Unit Costs (MAUC) to ensure accurate valuation and reporting.
• Build, improve, and refine costing reports that support both management and statutory reporting.

• Run monthly sub-ledger inventory reports and reconcile them to the general ledger.
• Deliver quarterly obsolete and slow-moving inventory reserve analysis.
• Analyse cycle count coverage and prepare required SOX controls such as inventory reconciliations, production order aging, closing errors, and production variances.
• Support month-end processing, including engineering cost and project cost to support project accounting.

• Partner closely with the NZ Finance team to explain costing methodology and ensure clarity around financial impacts.
• Work with the US cost accounting team to align activities with corporate standards and policies.
• Collaborate with ERP teams to support testing, deployments, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide training and user guides to finance and business users on costing processes, system functionality, and controls.

What You'll Bring:

• Strong analytical skills and a natural ability to interpret and explain complex information.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisational capability, and prioritisation skills.
• Proven variance analysis and independent problem-solving skills.
• Experience ensuring compliance with GAAP or IFRS.
• Advanced Excel proficiency and solid Microsoft Office capability.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting (or relevant equivalent experience).
• At least five years' experience in general ledger and cost accounting.

These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have:

• CMA certification.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment, aerospace or defence industry experience is a bonus.
• Hands-on ERP experience with Infor LN, Oracle, JDE, SAP, or similar.