Strategic Cost Accounting Manager - Automotive & Hardware

Tensor Auto; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Tensor is seeking a Cost Accounting Manager to build and own the cost accounting function as hardware production scales. You will establish standard costing, inventory accounting, and manufacturing cost controls across vehicle, LiDAR, and compute hardware programs.

The role requires 8+ years of cost accounting experience, leadership ability, and deep US GAAP knowledge to ensure auditable, decision-ready product costs. Collaboration with engineering, supply chain, and operations is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive cost accounting experience, including 3+ years in a lead or management role, in automotive, hardware, EV, robotics, or similar discrete manufacturing environments.
• Deep command of US GAAP for inventory and cost of revenue (ASC 330), standard costing, overhead absorption, and variance analysis.
• Hands-on experience with ERP manufacturing/costing modules (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite Advanced Manufacturing, Plex) and strong Excel skills.
• Experience operating with contract manufacturers and multi-site or international supply chains.
• Demonstrated ability to build processes from scratch in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills with engineering, supply chain, and operations partners.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and own the standard cost system for vehicles, sensors, and hardware components, including material, labor, and overhead rates, and periodic cost roll-ups.
• Own all inventory accounting: raw materials, WIP, finished goods, in-transit, and consigned inventory across contract manufacturers and suppliers, including cycle count and physical inventory programs.
• Establish and maintain reserves for excess and obsolete inventory, lower of cost or net realizable value (ASC 330), warranty, and firm purchase commitment losses, with audit-ready methodologies.
• Analyze and report manufacturing variances (purchase price, usage, absorption, scrap, rework) and drive root-cause resolution with supply chain and manufacturing engineering.
• Build BOM cost-accuracy processes with engineering and supply chain; govern ECO-driven cost changes and should-cost analyses.
• Own month-end close for inventory and cost of revenue, including journal entries, reconciliations, and gross margin flux analysis, on the corporate close calendar.
• Capitalize appropriate costs (tooling, pre-production, NRE) in line with US GAAP and coordinate with technical accounting on policy decisions.
• Design audit-ready controls over the inventory and costing cycle and support the external audit with schedules and walkthroughs.
• Partner with FP&A on product cost forecasts, margin bridges, and cost-down roadmaps.
• Support ERP costing module design, implementation, and data governance (item master, routings, cost centers).

Skills

Cost accounting

Leadership

Cross-functional communication

US GAAP

Variance analysis

Manufacturing costing

Process design

Supply chain collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

SAP

Oracle

NetSuite Advanced Manufacturing

Plex

Excel

Job description

Tensor is seeking a Cost Accounting Manager to build and own the cost accounting function as hardware production scales. You will establish standard costing, inventory accounting, and manufacturing cost controls across vehicle, LiDAR, and compute hardware programs.

The role requires 8+ years of cost accounting experience, leadership ability, and deep US GAAP knowledge to ensure auditable, decision-ready product costs. Collaboration with engineering, supply chain, and operations is essential.