Senior Cost Analyst

Brilliant®; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

Bonus potential

Long-term growth opportunities

Job summary

Brilliant® is seeking a Senior Cost Analyst to drive product costing, margin analysis, and inventory controls across multiple manufacturing facilities. This role partners with Operations, Supply Chain, plant leadership, and Finance to improve cost visibility, profitability, and operational performance.

Travel about 50% to facilities; you will support monthly close, cost modeling for new products and process changes, and identify cost-reduction opportunities within a trusted U.S.-based

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• CPA, CMA, or MBA is a plus.
• 5+ years of progressive cost accounting or manufacturing finance experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain product costs, including material, labor, and overhead.
• Analyze manufacturing cost variances and provide insights to Finance and Operations leadership.
• Support new products, process changes, and other initiatives through accurate cost modeling.
• Identify cost-reduction and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Travel approximately 50% to manufacturing facilities to understand operations, validate cost drivers, and partner with plant teams.
• Support monthly close activities related to manufacturing costs, inventory, and cost of goods sold.

Skills

Cost accounting

Manufacturing finance

Variance analysis

Excel advanced

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field

Tools

ERP costing systems

Job description

Our client is a well-established U.S.-based manufacturer entering an exciting phase of growth and transformation under a new leadership team.

This role offers strong visibility across Finance, Operations, plant leadership, and senior executives, with the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on cost visibility, profitability, and operational performance.

The company offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, bonus potential, and long-term growth opportunities.

***This role requires approximately 50% travel to manufacturing facilities***

Position Summary:

The Senior Cost Analyst will be responsible for product costing, margin analysis, and inventory management across multiple manufacturing facilities.

This individual will partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, plant leadership, and Finance to improve cost visibility, strengthen inventory controls, support profitability initiatives, and provide actionable financial insights.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain product costs, including material, labor, and overhead.
• Analyze manufacturing cost variances and provide insights to Finance and Operations leadership.
• Support new products, process changes, and other initiatives through accurate cost modeling.
• Identify cost-reduction and continuous improvement opportunities.

Margin Analysis & Business Support

• Perform margin and profitability analysis by product, customer, and manufacturing location.
• Identify drivers of margin improvement or erosion.
• Support pricing decisions and profitability reviews.
• Present cost and margin insights to leadership.

Inventory Management & Controls

• Support inventory valuation for raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods.
• Monitor inventory levels, turns, obsolescence, and reserves.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to improve inventory accuracy, cycle counts, and physical inventories.
• Ensure appropriate controls related to inventory and cost accounting.

Manufacturing & Operational Partnership

• Travel approximately 50% to manufacturing facilities to understand operations, validate cost drivers, and partner with plant teams.
• Work with plant leadership to improve cost transparency and financial accountability.
• Support monthly close activities related to manufacturing costs, inventory, and cost of goods sold.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• CPA, CMA, or MBA is a plus.
• 5+ years of progressive cost accounting or manufacturing finance experience.
• Strong manufacturing background with experience in product costing, variance analysis, inventory accounting, and COGS.
• Experience partnering directly with plant and operations leadership.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP/manufacturing costing systems.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 50%.

Our client is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to any status protected by applicable law.