Senior Cost Analyst

Apera; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

Apera is seeking a Senior Cost Analyst for a 3-month contract in San Jose, CA. You will develop and maintain standard costs in SAP, analyze manufacturing costs, and provide insights to optimize spending.

The role requires 3-5+ years of cost accounting in multi-plant environments; proficiency with SAP/ERP, Excel, and data analysis; ability to communicate results to senior stakeholders. This contract offers a fast-paced, collaborative setting with cross-functional partners and a focus on

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CMA preferred).
• 3-5+ years of cost accounting experience in complex manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on experience with SAP/ERP systems.
• Strong Excel/Google Sheets data analysis skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and communicate effectively with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain standard costs in SAP.
• Manage processes for cost updates and communicate impacts to senior management.
• Establish standard costs for materials, labor, and overhead; track variances.
• Analyze material and labor variances with engineering and operations teams.
• Support data-driven decision-making with historical cost analysis.
• Assist FP&A with Budgets vs Standards vs Actuals analyses.
• Collaborate to improve processes, reporting, and automation.
• Participate in month-end and quarter-end close and provide variance explanations.
• Perform inventory valuation and reconciliation, including cycle counts and obsolescence reviews.
• Drive cost accounting process improvements through cross-functional projects.

Skills

Cost accounting

SAP

Excel

Google Sheets

Data analysis

Communication skills

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

CMA preferred

Tools

SAP

Excel

Google Sheets

ERP systems

Job description

Senior Cost Analyst - Aerospace Engineering / Manufacturing - 3 month contract

In this crucial role, you will leverage your expertise in SAP and cost accounting principles to support manufacturing costs. As a key contributor, you will play an important role in developing and maintaining cost accounting processes, analyzing financial data, and providing insights to optimize costs.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain standard costs in SAP
• Manage and establish processes for periodic cost updates and communication of impacts to senior management
• Establish and manage standard costs for materials, labor, and overhead, track and report variances
• Partner with engineering and operations teams to analyze and explain material and labor variances
• Analyze historical costs, provide actionable insights, and support data-driven decision-making
• Work with the FP&A business partners to help analyze and explain Budgets vs Standards vs Actuals
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve processes, reporting, and automation
• Participate in month-end and quarter-end close processes and provide flux explanations
• Prepare quarterly inventory reserve analysis
• Conduct inventory valuation and reconciliation, including cycle counts and obsolescence reviews
• Drive initiatives for system improvements and efficiencies by participating in UAT and cross-functional projects
• Partner with cross-functional operational teams and special projects as it pertains to Cost Accounting
• Work closely with the Finance Teams and internal and external Auditors from time to time
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to scale cost accounting

What you need

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, CMA preferred
• 3-5+ years of cost accounting experience, preferably in complex multi-plant, manufacturing operations
• Hands-on experience with SAP or ERP preferred
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to work with complex datasets within Excel and Google Sheets
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities
• Effective communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders