Cost & Inventory Manager

MacLean Power Systems; Fort Mill (SC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

MacLean Power Systems in Fort Mill, SC, seeks a detail‑driven Cost & Inventory Manager to lead product costing, inventory control, and working capital performance across the organization. You will establish governance, standards, and processes to ensure accurate costing and transactional integrity while partnering with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Finance leadership.

Responsibilities include owning costing architecture, managing standard cost updates, validating cost inputs, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or related field.
• CMA, CPIM, CSCP, Lean Six Sigma or relevant certification preferred.
• 7-10+ years of progressive manufacturing accounting experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in costing and inventory control.
• Strong business systems, investigative, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience leading multiple sites with high-volume transactions.
• Strong knowledge of standard absorption-based costing.
• JD Edwards or similar ERP familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture and governance of product costing systems.
• Lead annual standard cost updates and forecast cost processes.
• Establish validation processes for cost inputs including material, labor, burden, and routing structures.
• Provide structured visibility into manufacturing variances and cost drivers through standardized analytical frameworks.
• Identify targeted cost improvement opportunities and lead cost reduction initiatives.
• Establish governance over bills of material, routings, and manufacturing master data to ensure cost integrity.
• Design and maintain an inventory control framework that integrates transactional controls, reconciliation processes, and robust monitoring systems.
• Establish and enforce inventory control policies, procedures, and accountability structures across the organization.
• Govern inventory accuracy, movement, aging, and valuation through structured KPI frameworks and reporting.
• Lead root-cause analysis of inventory discrepancies and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Define thresholds, escalation protocols, and performance expectations for inventory control effectiveness.
• Drive continuous improvement of inventory accuracy and reliability through disciplined control practices.
• Lead initiatives to optimize inventory levels and improve working capital performance across the organization.
• Align inventory strategies with service levels, production requirements, and financial objectives.
• Oversee inventory valuation, inventory turns, days on hand, obsolescence risk, and associated reserves.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to slow-moving or obsolete inventory through structured analysis and action planning.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Operations to embed inventory optimization practices into planning and execution processes.
• Establish performance targets and accountability for inventory reduction and working capital improvement.

Skills

Costing

Inventory control

Governance

Leadership

ERP systems

Analytical skills

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

JD Edwards

Job description

Headquartered in Fort Mill, South Carolina, MacLean Power Systems (MPS) is a leading manufacturer of mission-critical and engineered components for the electric utility, telecommunications, and civil markets. Established in 1986 as a subsidiary of a larger parent company, MPS has grown substantially and now operates as a standalone company. A dedicated workforce of over 2,000 team members worldwide, MPS is renowned for its commitment to quality, responsiveness, and safety. Our focus on vertical integration ensures the highest standards across our product lines. We operate seventeen production facilities across North America and continually invest in our manufacturing capabilities to better serve our customers.

At MPS, we strive to create a workplace that embodies respect, openness, collaboration, personal growth, and entrepreneurship. We are committed to achieving excellence in Environmental, Health & Safety through our Mission Zero initiative.

MPS – is seeking a detail‑driven and motivated Cost & Inventory Manager to serves as the Group leader for product costing, inventory control, and working capital performance across the organization. This role is responsible for establishing and maintaining the processes, controls, governance frameworks, and performance expectations that ensure accurate product costing, transactional integrity, and effective management of inventory cycles. The position partners closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, Accounting, and Finance leadership to embed disciplined costing and inventory practices into daily operations.

What You’ll Do

Costing Leadership & Governance

• Own the architecture and governance of product costing systems, ensuring alignment between operational processes and financial valuation.
• Lead annual standard cost updates and periodic forecast cost processes, ensuring current and projected manufacturing costs are accurately reflected in planning, forecasting, and business decision-making.
• Establish validation processes for cost inputs including material, labor, burden, and routing structures.
• Provide structured visibility into manufacturing variances and cost drivers through standardized analytical frameworks.
• Identify targeted cost improvement opportunities and lead cost reduction initiatives aligned with operational and financial objectives.
• Establish governance over bills of material, routings, and manufacturing master data to ensure cost integrity.

Inventory Control & Performance

• Design and maintain a comprehensive inventory control framework that integrates transactional controls, reconciliation processes, and robust monitoring systems.
• Establish and enforce inventory control policies, procedures, and accountability structures across the organization.
• Govern inventory accuracy, movement, aging, and valuation through structured KPI frameworks and reporting.
• Lead root-cause analysis of inventory discrepancies and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Define thresholds, escalation protocols, and performance expectations for inventory control effectiveness.
• Drive continuous improvement of inventory accuracy and reliability through disciplined control practices.

Inventory Optimization

• Lead initiatives to optimize inventory levels and improve working capital performance across the organization.
• Align inventory strategies with service levels, production requirements, and financial objectives.
• Oversee inventory valuation, inventory turns, days on hand, obsolescence risk, and associated reserves.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to slow-moving or obsolete inventory through structured analysis and action planning.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Operations to embed inventory optimization practices into planning and execution processes.
• Establish performance targets and accountability for inventory reduction and working capital improvement.

What You’ll Need To Excel In This Role

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or related field required
• CMA, CPIM, CSCP, Lean Six Sigma or relevant certification preferred
• 7-10+ years of progressive manufacturing accounting experience
• Demonstrated expertise in costing and inventory control
• Strong business systems, investigative, and problem-solving skills
• Experience leading multiple sites with high-volume transactions
• Strong knowledge of standard absorption-based costing
• JD Edwards or similar ERP familiarity

Total Rewards Offering

MPS offers a competitive compensation package; including a bonus potential based on company performance and a dynamic work environment that encourages creativity, innovation, and professional growth. A comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, and Vision, 401k with employer match, employer-paid disability and more...

For Us, For Family. Surround yourself with fun, energetic, and hard-working professionals who are dedicated to achieving Mission Zero; zero safety or environmental incidents.

EOE-Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran

Various agencies of the United States Government require employers to maintain information on applicants pertaining to factors such as race, sex, and type of position for which an individual applies. The information requested is voluntary and for compliance with certain record keeping requirements. MacLean Power, LLC has a long-standing commitment to equal employment opportunity for all its associates and applicants for employment. MacLean Power, LLC believes all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants for employment because of race, color, gender, affectional or sexual orientation, domestic partnership status, ancestry, religion, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, disability, veteran status, age or any other protected group status.

All job offers are conditional, upon successful completion of pre-employment screening, including criminal checks, drug testing, employment, and education verification.