Cost Accounting Finance Analyst

Job Description

This role is a senior individual contributor position within the Worldwide Cost Accounting (WWCA) organization. The incumbent will serve as a senior finance, cost accounting, and digital enablement partner, providing end-to-end cost accounting support, advanced variance analysis, and actionable insights to global stakeholders.

The role places strong emphasis on the use of digital applications, data analytics, automation, ERP tools, and emerging technologies to enhance reporting quality, strengthen controls, improve process efficiency, and support scalable finance transformation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical & Functional Mastery

• Own complex cost and inventory accounting activities with minimal supervision.
• Perform advanced variance analysis, root‑cause investigation, and business impact assessment.
• Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for cost accounting processes and policies.
• Ensure strong compliance with US GAAP, SOX, and Agilent internal controls, including audit support.

2. Problem Solving & Judgment

• Resolve non‑routine, ambiguous accounting and data issues.
• Assess multiple solution paths and recommend the most effective business outcome.
• Anticipate downstream impacts on financial reporting, controls, and operations.

3. Business Partnering & Influence

• Act as a trusted finance partner to global stakeholders.
• Translate financial and data insights into clear, decision‑ready recommendations.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and informal leadership to junior analysts.

4. Digital Applications, Automation & Process Transformation

• Identify, design, and lead process improvements across cost accounting, inventory accounting, reporting, and reconciliation workflows.
• Apply digital tools and automation solutions to improve reporting speed, data accuracy, control effectiveness, and user experience.
• Develop, enhance, or support digital applications such as Power BI dashboards, Power Automate workflows, advanced Excel models, MS Access tools, and other finance automation solutions.
• Partner with IT, finance, and business teams to translate process requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Promote adoption of digital tools by documenting solutions, training users, and supporting change management.

Qualifications

Education & Certification

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Information Systems, Statistics, or related fields.

Experience

• 8 years of relevant experience in cost accounting, finance operations, or financial analysis, preferably in:
  • Multinational corporations (MNCs), or
  • Shared service / global business services environments, or
  • Public accounting with strong cost or manufacturing exposure.
• Proven experience handling complex inventory and cost accounting topics with minimal supervision.

Digital, Technical & Analytical Skills

• Strong hands-on experience with ERP systems, preferably SAP, including inventory, costing, finance, and reporting modules.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications and finance productivity tools, including Excel, Power Query, Power Pivot, SharePoint, Teams, and Copilot-enabled ways of working where applicable.
• Practical experience building or supporting digital reporting and automation solutions using tools such as Power BI, Power Automate, MS Access, VBA, SQL, or Python.
• Ability to work with large and complex datasets, perform data validation, identify trends, and translate data into clear business insights.
• Good knowledge of cost accounting principles, inventory accounting, standard costing, and variance analysis.
• Strong interest in continuous learning and applying emerging digital tools to improve finance operations, controls, and decision support.

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset.
• High attention to detail with the ability to see the “big picture”.
• Effective communication skills (written and verbal English).
• Proactive, self-driven, and comfortable operating in a global, fast-paced environment.
• Digital-first mindset with curiosity to explore, adopt, and scale new applications, automation solutions, and technical tools.

Additional Details

This job has a full time weekly schedule. It includes the option to work remotely.

Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. During the hiring process, a recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for a preferred location. Pay and benefit information by country are available at: https://careers.agilent.com/locations

Agilent Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other protected categories under all applicable laws.

Travel Required:

Occasional

Shift:

Day

Duration:

No End Date

Job Function:

Finance