Manager, Inventory and Operations Accounting

Vaxcyte; San Carlos (CA); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 169,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaxcyte, a clinical-stage vaccine company, seeks a Manager of Inventory and Operations Accounting to own standard costing, inventory valuation, and manufacturing variance analysis. This role also leads the full manufacturing accrual process and collaborates with Supply Chain and FP&A to improve margins and internal controls.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years of cost accounting in biotech manufacturing, SAP S/4HANA expertise, advanced Excel skills, and CPA/CMA preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive cost accounting experience in biotech/manufacturing.
• Experience with product costing in SAP S/4 Hana.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and update standard costs for materials, labor, and overhead.
• Analyze and report on manufacturing variances and partner with Supply Chain.
• Own the manufacturing accrual process end to end, including trackers.
• Prepare monthly accruals for manufacturing vendors and ensure proper period recording.
• Prepare journal entries related to manufacturing accruals, inventory, COGS, and variances.
• Manage inventory valuation, reserves, scrap and obsolescence, and reconcile.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

GAAP knowledge

Cost accounting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

Job description

Join our Mission to Protect Humankind!

Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company engineering high-fidelity vaccines to protect humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases, which have serious and costly health consequences when left unchecked. Working to eradicate or treat bacterial infections such as invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, and Shigella is just the beginning. Our path to success is clear and well-defined, and Vaxcyte is set up to go the distance.

What we do is every bit as important as how we do it! Our work together is guided by four enduring core values:

• RETHINK CONVENTION: We bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work we do in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered.
• AIM HIGH: We embody our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind.
• LEAD WITH HEART: Everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives.
• MODEL EXCELLENCE: The magnitude of our challenge requires our shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.

Summary

The Manager, Inventory and Operations Accounting role will help manage Vaxcyte’s cost accounting functions, including standard costing, inventory valuation, and manufacturing variance analysis. This role also owns the full manufacturing accrual process for the Manufacturing Accounting Team — maintaining accrual trackers, preparing monthly accrual journal entries, reconciling manufacturing general ledger accounts, and preparing manufacturing flux analysis. The Manager, Inventory and Operations Accounting role partners closely with Supply Chain and FP&A to ensure accurate cost data, drive margin improvement initiatives, and maintain strong internal controls over inventory and cost of goods sold (COGS). The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting skills with the ability to translate cost data into actionable business insights.

Essential Functions

• Maintain and update standard costs for materials, labor, and overhead.
• Analyze and report on manufacturing variances (purchase price, usage, labor, and overhead) and partner with Supply Chain to explain and resolve root causes.
• Own the manufacturing accrual process end to end, including maintaining accrual trackers by key vendors.
• Prepare monthly accruals for manufacturing vendors, ensuring costs are recorded in the appropriate period.
• Prepare journal entries related to manufacturing accruals, inventory, COGS, and manufacturing variances.
• Manage inventory valuation, reserves, scrap and obsolescence, and reconciliation processes across all locations.
• Reconcile manufacturing and cost-related general ledger accounts and ensure timely, accurate month-end close.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly flux analysis for inventory, COGS and manufacturing accrual accounts.
• Maintain and execute internal controls over inventory, standard costing, COGS and manufacturing accruals in compliance with GAAP and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX).
• Support quarterly external audits and SOX testing related to manufacturing, inventory, and cost accounting; manage requests, remediate deficiencies, and track corrective action plans.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies identified in physical inventory counts and cycle counts.
• Support ERP and system enhancements related to inventory and cost accounting.
• Additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive cost accounting experience in a biotech manufacturing environment, including contract manufacturing. Other combinations of education and/or experience may be considered.
• Experience with product costing in SAP S/4 Hana required.
• Strong understanding of standard costing, variance analysis, and inventory accounting under GAAP.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• CPA or CMA certification preferred.
• Experience working in a public company (SEC-reporting) environment preferred.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong business acumen and ability to translate data into insights.
• Cross-functional collaboration and influence.
• Process improvement mindset.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.

Reports to

Associate Accounting Director, Manufacturing

Location

San Carlos, CA

Work Arrangement (may be adjusted based on business needs, job responsibilities, or changes to company policy)

Hybrid (minimum of 3 days per week onsite)

Compensation

The compensation package will be competitive and includes comprehensive benefits and an equity component.

Salary Range

$145,000 – $169,000 (SF Bay Area). Salary ranges for non-California locations may vary.

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.