Senior Cost & Inventory Specialist

Confidential; Kentucky; On-site; MXN 1,532,000 - 2,213,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential is seeking a Senior Cost & Inventory Specialist to support manufacturing operations across North America. This role partners with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Commercial and Plant Leadership to drive profitability, inventory accuracy, cost control and operational performance.

The ideal candidate has strong manufacturing finance experience, can translate financial analysis into actionable business decisions and influence stakeholders across functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in Cost Accounting, Inventory Accounting, Plant Finance, or Manufacturing Finance.
• Strong experience with: Standard Costing, Inventory Valuation, Cost Variance Analysis, BOMs and Product Costing, Manufacturing Finance, Budgeting and Forecasting, Advanced Excel skills.
• Experience in manufacturing environments; automotive, industrial, metals, or similar industries preferred.
• Exposure to multi-site operations and U.S.-based manufacturing environments is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost accounting, inventory valuation, and month-end close activities.
• Manage standard costing, absorption, and manufacturing variance analysis.
• Analyze inventory performance, material costs, labor, and overhead variances.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve profitability.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and annual operating planning processes.
• Review and maintain product costing structures and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Develop financial analyses and reporting for plant and leadership teams.
• Support audits, process improvements, and ERP/system enhancement initiatives.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, Engineering, or a related field

Tools

Oracle

QAD/MFG-Pro

SAP

JD Edwards

Microsoft Dynamics

Job description

Location: Kentucky, USA (preferred) or Monterrey, Mexico

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Cost & Inventory Specialist to support manufacturing operations across North America. This position will serve as a key business partner to Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Commercial, and Plant Leadership teams, driving profitability, inventory accuracy, cost control, and operational performance.

The ideal candidate combines strong manufacturing finance expertise with the ability to influence stakeholders and translate financial analysis into actionable business decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cost accounting, inventory valuation, and month-end close activities.


• Manage standard costing, absorption, and manufacturing variance analysis.


• Analyze inventory performance, material costs, labor, and overhead variances.


• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve profitability.


• Support budgeting, forecasting, and annual operating planning processes.


• Review and maintain product costing structures and Bills of Materials (BOMs).


• Develop financial analyses and reporting for plant and leadership teams.


• Support audits, process improvements, and ERP/system enhancement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, Engineering, or a related field.


• 7+ years of experience in Cost Accounting, Inventory Accounting, Plant Finance, or Manufacturing Finance.


• Strong experience with:


• Standard Costing


• Inventory Valuation


• Cost Variance Analysis


• BOMs and Product Costing


• Manufacturing Finance


• Budgeting and Forecasting


• Advanced Excel skills.


• Experience in manufacturing environments; automotive, industrial, metals, or similar industries preferred.


• Exposure to multi-site operations and U.S.-based manufacturing environments is a plus.

Preferred Systems

Experience with ERP platforms such as Oracle, QAD/MFG-Pro, SAP, JD Edwards, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar.

Language

Candidates must be comfortable presenting analyses, leading discussions, and interacting with stakeholders across the United States.

Travel & Mobility

• Travel as required to support manufacturing operations.


• Candidates may be based in Kentucky or surrounding areas.


• Candidates located in Monterrey, Mexico, should be open to future relocation opportunities to the United States.

Ideal Profile

• Highly analytical and data-driven.


• Strong business acumen and problem-solving skills.


• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.


• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive results.


• Comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior manufacturing finance professional looking to make a direct impact on operational and financial performance while supporting a growing North American manufacturing footprint.