Cost Accounting Manager

HRB; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Publicly Traded Aerospace & Defense Technology Company in Arlington, VA is seeking a Cost Accounting Manager to own project cost accounting across active government programs. You will report to the Director of Finance and Accounting and independently manage your book of projects after ramp-up.

The role focuses on month-end close, cost forecasting (EAC/ETC), and analyzing margin risk. You will support milestone-based billing and ASC 606, presenting results to Finance leadership and program

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 4+ years in cost accounting, project accounting, or program finance.
• Experience with month-end close: journal entries, accruals, reconciliations.
• Experience building EAC/ETC forecasts and identifying project margin risk.
• Familiarity with milestone-based billing and ASC 606.

Responsibilities

• Maintain project cost-accounting structures across government programs.
• Reconcile project ledgers to the general ledger and resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare journal entries, accruals, and cost transfers for month-end close.
• Build EAC/ETC forecasts integrating costs, commitments, staffing plans and risk.
• Analyze cost trends against budget and flag margin risk and cost-to-complete pressure.
• Support milestone-based billing and revenue recognition tied to project progress.
• Present financial results and recommendations to Finance leadership and Program Managers.

Skills

Advanced Excel

ERP experience

Cost accounting

Month-end close

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

Unanet

Deltek Costpoint

Deltek Vantagepoint

SAP

Oracle

NetSuite

Job description

Publicly Traded Aerospace & Defense Technology Company

Cost Accounting Manager

$140k-$160k + Bonus

Location – Arlington, VA – Hybrid (2-3x)

The Role

Our client, is hiring a Cost Accounting Manager to own project cost accounting and independent financial analysis across active government programs. You'll report to the Director of Finance and Accounting, and be trusted to run your book of projects independently after ramp-up.

What You'll Do

• Maintain project cost-accounting structures and financial master data across multiple concurrent government programs
• Reconcile project ledgers to the general ledger; investigate and resolve labor, AP, procurement, and billing discrepancies
• Prepare journal entries, accruals, and cost transfers as part of month-end close
• Build and maintain Estimate at Completion (EAC) / Estimate to Complete (ETC) forecasts, integrating actual costs, commitments, staffing plans, and risk
• Analyze cost trends against budget; flag margin risk and cost-to-complete pressure before it shows up in final results
• Support milestone-based billing and revenue recognition (ASC 606) by validating that billing support ties to documented project progress
• Present financial results and recommendations to Finance leadership, Program Managers, and Program Controls

What You'll Need

• Bachelor's in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 4+ years in cost accounting, project accounting, or program finance
• Hands-on month-end close experience: journal entries, accruals, reconciliations
• Experience building EAC/ETC forecasts and identifying project margin risk
• Familiarity with milestone/deliverable-based billing and ASC 606
• Advanced Excel (PivotTables, XLOOKUP, SUMIFS); ERP experience a plus (Unanet, Deltek Costpoint/Vantagepoint, SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite)