Cost Analyst

PangeaTwo; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

PangeaTwo in Birmingham, AL seeks a Cost Analyst to partner with operations, accounting, and leadership to influence profitability and operational excellence. You will analyze inventory, COGS, and gross margin to drive actionable insights and support budgeting and forecasting initiatives.

This hands-on role focuses on cost drivers, variance analysis, and process improvements, empowering you to shape strategic decisions and performance metrics across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Understanding of inventory management, product costing, standard costing, and gross margin analysis.
• Experience analyzing large data sets and translating findings into actionable business recommendations.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, Power Query, and financial analysis.
• Power BI experience preferred.
• At our clients' request, only individuals with required experience will be considered.
• Please note - if you have recently submitted your resume to a PangeaTwo posting, your qualifications may be considered for other open opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Analyze inventory valuation, inventory turns, working capital, and manufacturing performance.
• Investigate and explain manufacturing variances, including material, labor, overhead, scrap, and yield impacts.
• Develop detailed gross margin reporting and identify opportunities to improve profitability.
• Partner with operations, engineering, purchasing, and supply chain teams to understand cost drivers and recommend improvements.
• Support month-end close activities related to inventory, cost of goods sold, reserves, and manufacturing variances.
• Trace financial results back to operational activity and system transactions to identify root causes and recommend corrective actions.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and management reporting initiatives.

Skills

Data analysis

Financial analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

Excel

Pivot tables

Power Query

Power BI

Job description

Our client is seeking a Cost Analyst to join a growing manufacturing organization and serve as a key finance partner across operations, accounting, supply chain, and leadership teams. This role is ideal for a hands‑on professional who enjoys digging into data, understanding business processes, and uncovering the operational drivers behind financial results.

The Cost Analyst will play a highly visible role focused on inventory, costing, gross margin performance, and operational analytics. This position offers the opportunity to influence business decisions, improve processes, and provide meaningful insights that drive profitability and operational excellence.

What You'll Do:

Analyze inventory valuation, inventory turns, working capital, and manufacturing performance.

Investigate and explain manufacturing variances, including material, labor, overhead, scrap, and yield impacts.

Develop detailed gross margin reporting and identify opportunities to improve profitability.

Partner with operations, engineering, purchasing, and supply chain teams to understand cost drivers and recommend improvements.

Support month‑end close activities related to inventory, cost of goods sold, reserves, and manufacturing variances.

Trace financial results back to operational activity and system transactions to identify root causes and recommend corrective actions.

Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and management reporting initiatives.

What We're Looking For:

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.

Understanding of inventory management, product costing, standard costing, and gross margin analysis.

Experience analyzing large data sets and translating findings into actionable business recommendations.

Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, Power Query, and financial analysis.

Power BI experience preferred.

At our clients' request, only individuals with required experience will be considered.

Please note - if you have recently submitted your resume to a PangeaTwo posting, your qualifications may be considered for other open opportunities.

Your resume will never be submitted to a client without your prior knowledge and consent to do so.