Senior Manager, Cost Accounting

SCN BestCo; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 172,000 - 258,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with employer matching

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

SCN BestCo seeks a Senior Manager, Cost Accounting to lead the cost accounting function in a dynamic manufacturing environment. You will drive budgeting, standard costing, month-end close, variance analysis, and forecasting while partnering with Operations and Supply Chain to ensure accurate cost data and inventory controls.

You will mentor and develop a cost accounting team, lead performance dashboards, and influence strategic decisions with actionable financial insights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field.
• 12 years’ professional experience in cost accounting, supply chain finance, or similar function.
• 6 years’ professional management and leadership experience.
• Prior manufacturing industry experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all cost accounting activities, including budgeting and standard cost development.
• Publish weekly performance dashboards for operational decision-making.
• Maintain cycle count and inventory accuracy.
• Lead inventory reserve reviews and CapEx alignment.
• Analyze costs to identify trends and opportunities.
• Partner cross-functionally to implement cost improvements.
• Continuously improve costing methodologies and controls.
• Maintain and enhance financial processes for accuracy and efficiency.

Skills

Leadership

GAAP cost accounting

Analytical skills

Communication

Forecasting

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field

12 years’ professional experience in cost accounting

6 years’ professional management and leadership experience

Tools

ERP systems (SAP/ Oracle)

Excel

General Ledger software

Job description

We believe being healthy should not require tradeoffs. SCN BestCo is a leading innovator, developer and manufacturer of Vitamin, Mineral & Supplement (VMS), Over-the-Counter (OTC) and prebiotics/probiotics in enjoyable forms such as gummies, lozenges and chews. With over 50 years of excellence, our team leads the way in changing how consumers make healthier choices. With unique food science expertise and proprietary processes, we’ve pioneered many firsts. The fire in our belly to create new to the world products has guided and continues to be core to our mission of making health and wellness more enjoyable. Come join us and become a part of our winning formula!

The Senior Manager, Cost Accounting oversees a team responsible for providing financial and business partner support to Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality. This role manages financial systems, processes, and controls to ensure accurate and timely costing and inventory information for senior management and key stakeholders. The Senior Manager, Cost Accounting requires a strong understanding of manufacturing finance along with the ability to lead, influence decision-making, and support accountability for financial and operational performance. This position requires hands-on leadership, including active contribution to the work, building trust, developing team capability, and fostering a culture of ownership and accountability. The Senior Manager, Cost Accounting serves as a trusted business partner, translating financial insights into actionable recommendations that support improved results within a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Estimated starting annual base salary is $171,876.15 - $257,814.23 per year less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi-weekly basis. Please note that the actual compensation offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined by the Company, which may include, but is not limited to, location, experience, qualifications, education, skillset, and market conditions. The target base compensation for this role is in the low to middle of the range, with the top of the range reserved for only exceptional circumstances. In addition, this role is eligible for a discretionary, variable annual incentive, paid based on Company performance factors. SCN BestCo offers a competitive benefits package to eligible full-time employees, which currently includes medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with employer matching contributions, life insurance, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more, as well as paid sick leave in accordance with applicable law. Each benefit is subject to eligibility requirements as specified in plan documents, and the Company reserves the right to modify the benefits it offers from time to time.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Oversee all cost accounting activities, including annual budgeting and standard cost development, month-end close, variance analysis, and forecasting; ensure strong financial controls and clear insights into key performance drivers.
• Publish weekly performance dashboards that highlight key trends, risks, and recommended actions to support operational decision-making.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to maintain a robust cycle count program, reinforcing accountability for inventory accuracy and supporting audit requirements.
• Lead inventory reserve reviews, clearly communicating drivers of changes and ensuring alignment with business conditions.
• Partner with Operations to evaluate performance against the capital expenditure (CapEx) plan, support investment decisions, and reinforce accountability for results; ensure accurate fixed asset accounting in coordination with General Accounting.
• Analyze labor, material, and overhead costs to identify trends, risks, and opportunities, and recommend actions to improve performance.
• Partner cross-functionally to identify and implement efficiency and cost improvement initiatives.
• Continuously improve costing methodologies, systems, and controls.
• Maintain and enhance financial processes and procedures to support accuracy, efficiency, and scalability.

People Leader Responsibilities

The position carries out People Leader responsibilities in accordance with the Company’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include:

• Lead, coach, and develop the cost accounting team by setting clear expectations and fostering a culture of accountability and ownership.
• Build trust and engagement within the team through consistent communication, feedback, and support.
• Conduct performance reviews and proactively manage individual performance and development
• Organize training and development opportunities for direct reports.
• Recommend personnel actions.
• Communicate personnel actions following HR and department head approval.
• Ensure safety and quality standards are upheld by the team
• Partner with Human Resources to recruit, interview, and onboard talent.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field.
• 12 years’ professional experience in cost accounting, supply chain finance, or similar function.
• 6 years’ professional management and leadership experience.
• Prior manufacturing industry experience.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs)

• Thorough understanding of all generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) cost accounting concepts (e.g., Period vs. inventoriable costs, E+O, LCM).
• Strong leadership, analytical, attention to detail, organization, prioritization, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Strong enterprise resource planning (ERP) system knowledge including understanding of the interdependency of various subledgers/modules (e.g., order entry, production planning, perpetual inventory, accounts payable/receivable, general ledger, fixed assets).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Must have the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, with internal staff and management.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.
• Must be able to demonstrate practical problem solving and trouble shooting skills. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or graduate degree in a related field.
• Accounting certification (CPA, CMA, etc.).
• ERP implementation experience.