Cost Accounting Manager
We are thrilled to be partnering with a long-time client of ours on a key addition to their Executive Leadership Team! This is a unique Cost Accounting leadership opportunity with a well-established manufacturing business here in the Twin Cities.
This is definitely not your run-of-the-mill cost accounting role. The position sits on the executive leadership team and offers significant visibility across the organization, with heavy crossover into operations and the opportunity to serve as a true business partner to manufacturing and operational leadership.
They are looking for someone who can not only own costing, inventory, and manufacturing accounting, but also help drive operational efficiencies, improve processes, and support stronger decision-making across the plant environment.
If you’re someone who enjoys having a seat at the table, partnering cross-functionally, and making a tangible impact on how a business operates rather than simply maintaining the status quo, this could be a really exciting opportunity.
Responsibilities
- Lead and maintain standard costing processes across products, including item setup, BOMs, labor and overhead allocations, material pricing, and yield analysis, while continuously identifying opportunities for cost improvement and operational efficiency.
- Analyze manufacturing and inventory-related variances, including purchase price fluctuations, freight impacts, and inventory discrepancies, to support operational and financial decision-making.
- Oversee key system workflows and transactional processes to ensure accurate and efficient movement of operational and financial data across business platforms.
- Ensure integrity of inventory controls and cycle count programs by investigating significant variances and partnering with operations on corrective actions.
- Partner closely with the broader accounting team to support timely month-end close and audit processes while driving process improvements focused on accuracy, scalability, and efficiency.
- Act as a financial and operational resource to teams across the business, helping solve problems and support day-to-day decision-making.
- Present financial insights and operational analysis to leadership teams to help drive performance improvements and business initiatives.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure costing methodologies and accounting practices support budgeting, forecasting, reporting, KPI tracking, and broader business analysis initiatives.
- Build strong relationships across internal teams and external partners while helping foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented environment.
Desired Skills and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance from a four-year accredited college or university, Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) a plus.
- 5+ years of financial accounting; preferably in a manufacturing environment
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) / Certified Management Account (CMA) preferred.
- Experience with multi-plant, multi-company environment, a plus
- Proven analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent organizational and verbal/written communication skills
Submit Your Resume
ABOUT SKYWATER SEARCH
Start with your Short List
Led by a group of seasoned search industry professionals, SkyWater Search Partners brings new focus to a novel concept, “Short List Search.” Our purpose is to leave a lasting impression on the clients we serve by providing individuals who will make a measurable difference in their business. We strive to consistently deliver great results to our clients in a very timely manner.
Practice Areas
Our practice areas are led by highly experienced executive recruiters who take great care in fully understanding client requirements and candidate qualifications.
• Accounting and Finance
• Information Technology
• Operations
• Engineering
• Sales
• Marketing
• Human Resources
• Legal
• Construction
• Supply Chain
• Consumer Package Goods (CPG)
Founded on long-standing relationships and hundreds of successful placements throughout the Twin Cities business community, SkyWater Search Partners is a proven resource for clients and candidates looking to quickly and confidently explore their “short list” of best choices. Count on us to find the best people – and the best fit.
