Senior Manager, Cost Accounting & FP&A

Selby Jennings; Lakewood Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15% annual bonus

Job summary

Selby Jennings, Teaneck, NJ-based global manufacturing client, seeks a Senior Manager, Cost Accounting & FP&A to lead cost accounting, standard costing, inventory valuation and variance analysis while partnering with U.S. operations and Japanese leadership.

This senior finance role drives budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and business performance analyses, develops financial models, analyzes sales and profitability, and communicates performance to executives in English and Japanese.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 7+ years of accounting/finance experience within manufacturing.
• Fluency in Japanese and English required.
• CPA/CMA/MBA or similar designation is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing cost accounting activities including standard costing, inventory valuation, overhead allocation, and variance analysis.
• Analyze material, labor, overhead, usage, efficiency, and price variances for operational insights.
• Manage product costing processes and support standard cost updates.
• Partner with operations and supply chain to improve cost visibility and profitability.
• Oversee inventory accounting, cycle counts, physical inventories and controls.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning processes.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Financial modelling

Cost accounting

Variance analysis

Cross-functional partnership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Job description

Senior Manager, Cost Accounting & FP&A (PR/609953) Lakewood, New Jersey

Salary: USD165000 - USD175000 per annum + 15% bonus

About the Opportunity

Our client, a global manufacturing organization, is seeking a Senior Manager, Cost Accounting & FP&A to serve as a key finance leader within the organization. Professional fluency in both Japanese and English is required, as this role partners closely with U.S.-based operations and Japanese executive leadership. The position reports directly to senior finance leadership and plays a critical role in financial planning, cost accounting, business performance management, and strategic decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Finance

• Lead manufacturing cost accounting activities, including standard costing, inventory valuation, overhead allocation, and variance analysis.
• Analyze material, labor, overhead, usage, efficiency, and purchase price variances to identify opportunities for operational improvement.
• Manage product costing processes and support periodic standard cost updates.
• Partner with operations and supply chain teams to improve cost visibility and profitability.
• Oversee inventory accounting, cycle counts, physical inventories, and related controls.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning processes.
• Develop financial models and business performance analyses to support strategic initiatives.
• Analyze sales performance, profitability trends, and key business drivers.
• Provide leadership with actionable financial insights, recommendations, and reporting.
• Support the development and execution of mid-term business plans and financial targets.

Executive Business Partnership

• Serve as a strategic finance partner to manufacturing, commercial, and executive leadership teams.
• Communicate financial performance, forecasts, risks, and opportunities to key stakeholders.
• Drive process improvements across financial planning, reporting, and performance management functions.
• Lead and develop members of the finance team while fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Act as a liaison between U.S.-based operations and Japanese leadership teams.
• Prepare and communicate financial information to stakeholders in both English and Japanese.
• Support effective collaboration across global teams while ensuring financial clarity and accuracy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Professional fluency in both Japanese and English is required.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong experience in cost accounting, inventory accounting, standard costing, and manufacturing variance analysis.
• Proven FP&A experience including budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and business analysis.
• Experience leading and developing teams.
• Strong analytical and communication skills with the ability to translate operational performance into financial results.
• Experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities is highly preferred.
• Experience working with Japanese-owned or multinational manufacturing organizations is strongly preferred.
• CPA, CMA, MBA, or similar professional designation is a plus.

Location & Travel

• Hybrid schedule based in Teaneck, NJ.
• Travel between company facilities in Teaneck, NJ and Lakewood, NJ as needed. As well as occasional travel to Frankfurt, KY.
• Opportunity to work closely with domestic and international business leaders in a global manufacturing environment.