Senior Cost Accountant & FP&A Analyst

Tempo Communications; Vista (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Tempo Communications, based in Vista, California, seeks a Senior Cost Accountant & FP&A Analyst to own manufacturing cost accounting, inventory valuation, budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning. You will analyze data, model scenarios, consolidate reports, and present insights to leadership while driving automation and AI-enabled improvements.

Responsibilities include maintaining standard costs in GP/Dynamics, performing variance analyses, and supporting audits, month-end close, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or economics.
• 5+ years of cost accounting/FP&A experience in manufacturing finance.
• Experience with standard costing, variance analysis, and inventory valuation.
• Hands-on knowledge of BOM, labor routing, and MO workflows.
• Advanced Excel skills, and ability to present complex data clearly.
• Experience using AI-enabled tools to automate financial processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain financial models for budgeting, forecasting, profitability, and strategic planning.
• Develop and implement automated reporting using AI-enabled tools.
• Train finance staff on modeling, consolidation, and automation.
• Gather data from subsidiaries, prepare schedules, and present executive reports.
• Lead financial data consolidation and assist audits and month-end close.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting, analysis, and data accuracy.
• Maintain standard costs in GP/Dynamics and coordinate with Operations.
• Analyze MO variances, labor and overhead variances, and report findings.

Skills

AI-enabled tools

Excel advanced

PowerPoint advanced

Leadership

Collaboration

Financial modeling

Variance analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or economics

Tools

GP/Dynamics

Python

SQL

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Tempo Communications builds the test, measurement, and tooling products that technicians rely on to install and maintain communications networks across copper, fiber, PoE, and underground utility location. Our brands are Tempo, Paladin Tools, and KingFisher.

We are an independent, closely held, owner-led company of roughly 130 people, headquartered in Vista, California, with operations in Wales, Hungary, and Australia.

Position Summary

The Senior Cost Accountant & FP&A Analyst will be responsible for manufacturing cost accounting, inventory valuation analysis, financial reporting, financial planning and analysis, budgeting and forecasting, and business performance analysis. This position will analyze financial and operational data, support financial modeling and financial consolidation activities, and provide meaningful insights to support management decision-making. The position will also identify opportunities to improve financial processes through automation and the appropriate use of AI-enabled tools.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain financial models to support budgeting, forecasting, profitability analysis, business planning, and strategic decision-making.
• Develop and implement efficient financial reporting and analytical processes using approved automation and AI tools.
• Provide training and guidance to Finance team members on financial modeling, consolidation processes, and approved AI and automation tools.
• Support the preparation of company-wide budgets and forecasts by collecting, analyzing, and organizing financial and operational data from various business units and subsidiaries. Prepare variance analyses, supporting schedules, and executive-level reports and presentations.
• Serve as a finance lead in obtaining, compiling, validating, and analyzing financial data and reports from the Company's subsidiaries. Support financial reporting and consolidation processes by ensuring financial information is accurate, complete, and timely
• Identify opportunities to improve financial reporting, analysis, modeling, and data consolidation through automation and AI-enabled tools.
• Maintain and update standard costs in the ERP system (GP/Dynamics); coordinate timing with Operations and Purchasing.
• Prepare and distribute standard cost analysis reports to the Director of Operations, CFO, and Controller for review.
• Perform Excess & Obsolete (E&O) inventory analysis; document assumptions and present findings to management.
• Perform Labor and Overhead analysis; identify variances from standard and communicate findings to Operations.
• Review Manufacturing Order (MO) variances; investigate root causes and communicate findings to Operations.
• Compile and analyze commissionable sales data. Process POS reports to ensure accurate commission calculations for both external sales reps and employees.
• Prepare and analyze sales margin reports.
• Support internal and external audits.
• Support month-end closing activities, including preparing balance sheet data for reconciliations and posting journal entries.
• Drive process improvements, write and/or update procedures, and implement best practices.
• Prepare accounting analyses and support special projects or ad hoc requests to assist senior leadership in decision-making.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or economics.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience using AI-enabled tools and automation to improve financial reporting, analysis, modeling, or business processes.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in cost accounting, manufacturing finance, financial planning and analysis, or a combination of these areas, including hands-on experience with standard costing, variance analysis, and inventory valuation.
• Deep working knowledge of Bills of Material (BOM), labor routing, and Manufacturing Order workflows.
• Experience supporting internal and external financial audits.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, PivotTables, data analysis, and financial modeling.
• Experience preparing general ledger reconciliations and posting journal entries.
• Advanced PowerPoint skills for management and executive-level presentations.
• Experience in maintaining the strict confidentiality of all company financial data and sensitive information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with financial modeling, business intelligence, reporting automation, Python, SQL, Power BI, or similar data analysis and automation tools.
• Familiarity with telecommunication instrument manufacturing a plus.
• Ability to provide leadership and collaborate effectively across departments.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail and the ability to deliver insightful financial data and reports tailored to the needs of end users.
• Detail-oriented, self-starter, team player, and ability to work with minimal supervision.

Tempo Communications, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age (40 and over), disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, reproductive health decision-making, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities and for religious practices. Individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.