Cost & Inventory Accounting Consultant

Conexus; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Conexus in Los Angeles seeks a senior cost accounting leader to elevate the cost function in a high-SKU, low-volume manufacturing environment, launching thousands of new items each month. You will partner with accounting leadership to move the team from transactional work to strategic deliverables and own the standard cost processes across materials, labor, and overhead.

The role requires hands-on expertise in standard costing, strong inventory accounting fundamentals, and the ability to

Qualifications

• Deep cost accounting experience in manufacturing.
• Hands-on standard costing across material, labour and overhead.
• Senior-level Controller/Director experience with strategic view.
• Strong inventory accounting fundamentals and reconciliation.
• Collaborative leadership with operations and managers.
• On-site work in Los Angeles is required.

Responsibilities

• Partner with accounting leadership to elevate cost accounting to strategic deliverables.
• Own and improve standard cost processes across material, labor, and overhead.
• Lead monthly cost accounting close and support month-end activities.
• Analyze inventory valuations and reconcile to the general ledger.
• Oversee annual physical inventory and correct errors.
• Develop product cost updates for high-volume SKUs with complex configurations.
• Support audit preparation and resolve findings and compliance issues.
• Drive process improvement across costing and inventory functions.

Skills

Cost accounting

Standard costing

Variance analysis

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

CPA or CMA

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Job description

Our client is an established, consumer products manufacturer based in Los Angeles. They are seeking a senior cost accounting leader to elevate the output and capability of their cost accounting function. The business operates in a high-SKU, low-volume manufacturing environment, launching thousands of new items each month, which makes for a uniquely complex and engaging costing environment.

What You'll Do

• Partner with accounting leadership to elevate the cost accounting function, moving the team beyond transactional work and into higher-value strategic deliverables
• Own and improve standard cost processes across material, labor, and overhead; evaluate and resolve unusual variances and reconcile standards to actual costs
• Lead the monthly cost accounting close and support overall month-end close activities
• Analyze inventory valuations, identify and correct misstatements, and reconcile detailed inventory reports to the general ledger
• Oversee the annual physical inventory and develop corrective action processes that reduce inventory errors going forward
• Evaluate and create product cost updates for new inventory items in a high-volume SKU environment with significant configuration complexity
• Support annual audit preparation and resolve findings, discrepancies, and compliance issues
• Drive process improvement across the costing and inventory function, including defining roles, responsibilities, and deliverables in partnership with operations
• Build strong cross-functional relationships with operations and department managers, communicating financial information clearly at all levels of the organization

What You Bring

• Deep cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment; backgrounds in consumer products, heavy manufacturing, and aerospace and defense are all welcome
• Hands-on standard costing expertise across material, labor, and overhead, including variance analysis
• Senior-level experience operating at the Controller or Senior Director level, with the ability to elevate deliverables and bring a strategic perspective; Controllers with strong hands-on manufacturing and costing backgrounds are encouraged to apply
• Strong inventory accounting fundamentals, including perpetual inventory, inventory valuation, physical inventory oversight, and reconciliation of inventory detail to the general ledger
• A collaborative leadership style and the ability to partner effectively with an established team and leadership
• Ability to work fully on-site in Los Angeles

Preferred Qualifications

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience
• CPA or CMA
• Background in luxury goods, consumer products, or apparel manufacturing
• Experience building or redesigning cost accounting processes, not just maintaining them
• Experience partnering with operations to define the scope and deliverables of an inventory accounting function
• High-SKU, low-volume manufacturing experience