Cost Accounting Manager

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 138,632 - 174,304; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental plan

Vision plan

Wellbeing program

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Learning opportunities

Rideshare program

Childcare support

Flexible schedule

Parental leave

Job summary

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena seeks a motivated cost accounting leader to head the Cost Accounting Group within Enterprise Accounting Services. You will guide major accounting functions, ensure policy compliance, and develop a high-performing team focused on cost analysis and reporting across projects and cost centers.

The role emphasizes leadership, deep cost accounting expertise, ERP experience, and collaboration with internal/external stakeholders in a federal contractor

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field with 9+ years of related experience, or advanced degrees with fewer years.
• Strong cost accounting expertise with project cost accounting and cost allocations.
• Experience with ERP systems.
• Proven ability to lead work groups and teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to function in a customer-focused, team-oriented environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage major accounting functions: project, property, manufacturing work in process and service center accounting.
• Ensure performance and productivity of staff under supervision.
• Build and maintain a high-performance team with clear direction.
• Ensure compliance with policies, procedures, regulations and prime contracts.
• Maintain safe, focused work environment.
• Hire and develop diverse, skilled staff with career coaching.
• Foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain internal controls to safeguard financial transactions.
• Develop and implement strategic goals for cost accounting and reporting.
• Apply industry best practices for success and compliance.
• Support internal and external audits and drive process improvements.

Skills

Project cost accounting

Cost allocations

Lead experience

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting

Master's in Accounting

PhD in Accounting

Tools

ERP systems

Automated project cost systems

Job description

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

We are seeking a motivated and analytical individual that can work well, both independently and in a team environment, to lead the Cost Accounting Group (CAG) in the Enterprise Accounting Services Section. This unique opportunity is part of the Accounting and Contracts Division, which supports the exploration and innovation of the laboratory's missions by performing professional accounting work. This position requires knowledge of the theory and practice of recording, classifying, examining, and analyzing costs across various projects and cost centers to guarantee compliance with the prime contract, various regulatory provisions and maintain the integrity of JPL's financials. The Division's functions encompass Enterprise Accounting Services, Payment & Travel Services and Contracts Management, Policy & Compliance Office. The Division ensures that the finance and accounting policy and procedures of the laboratory are efficient, effective and compliant with relevant regulations so that JPL can "Dare Mighty Things". We pride ourselves on providing innovative solutions to overcome business challenges facing JPL on a regular basis. Our collaborative teaming approach ensures us a unique window into the amazing work being accomplished at JPL.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the following major accounting functions: project, property, manufacturing work in process and service center accounting.
• Ensure the performance and productivity of employees under your supervision.
• Build and maintain a high-performance team, offering direction to meet organization objectives.
• Ensure employees are aware of and comply with Laboratory and Institutional policies, procedures, regulatory and prime contract requirements.
• Maintain a safe and focused environment.
• Hire, develop and retain a diverse, highly skilled staff, providing career coaching and personal growth opportunities.
• Cultivate effecting working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain adequate and effective internal controls to safeguard and properly record financial transactions.
• Develop and implement Strategic goals for the Group, promoting continuous improvement, best practices, and efficiency in cost accounting and reporting operations.
• Employ industry best practices to ensure success and compliance with the areas of responsibility.
• Support internal and external audits and reviews, regularly assessing and enhancing processes to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Required Skills

• Bachelors degree in Accounting, or related discipline with a minimum of 9 years of related experience; Masters degree in similar disciplines with a minimum of 7 years of related experience; or PhD in similar disciplines with a minimum of 5 years related experience. Minimum of 2 years of lead experience.
• Knowledge in the Accounting field with significant expertise in project cost accounting, cost allocations, integrated financial management systems and automated project cost systems discipline.
• Experience with ERP systems.
• Demonstrated experience in leading work groups and teams.
• Extensive understanding and wide application of advanced principles, theories, and concepts in accounting field of knowledge resulting in contributions to the development of new theories and methods.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex business system issues.
• Demonstrated communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate and/or work in a team environment and strong desire to manage in an organization dedicated to providing customer focused services.

Desired Skills

• Has wide-ranging experience and advanced knowledge in one or more related fields of knowledge with Federal government requirements including those in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), NASA FAR, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), and Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) Guidelines.
• Has complete knowledge of Laboratory policies and procedures, NASA policies and procedures, and government regulations across a range of applications.
• Considered an expert in Accounting Theory within own organization.
• MBA or equivalent with 10 years of progressive experience including three years as a supervisor of a project/cost accounting organization.
• Experience resolving internal and external audit findings.
• Experience in dealing with post implementation system and business process improvement issues.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

$138,632 - $174,304

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

EEO is the Law.

EEO is the Law Supplement

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.