Sr. Manager, Inventory Cost Accounting

Position Overview

The Senior Manager, Inventory Cost Accounting will lead all aspects of inventory and cost accounting within a pharmaceutical manufacturing and supply chain environment. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate product costing, inventory valuation, variance analysis, and financial reporting in compliance with U.S. GAAP. The individual will partner closely with Supply Chain, Procurement, Manufacturing, Quality, and FP&A teams to support operational and strategic initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in NetSuite ERP, pharmaceutical industry accounting practices, standard costing methodologies, and inventory controls

Key Responsibilities
•    Lead all inventory and cost accounting activities including standard costing, inventory valuation, and variance analysis.
•    Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes related to inventory, cost of goods sold (COGS), reserves, and manufacturing variances.
•    Partner closely with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Operations teams to establish and maintain accurate product costing methodologies.
•    Analyze purchase price variances (PPV), manufacturing variances, labor variances, overhead absorption, and inventory adjustments to identify operational and financial trends.
•    Oversee inventory reconciliations, cycle count programs, physical inventory counts, and inventory reserve analyses.
•    Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and internal controls related to inventory accounting and cost accounting processes.
•    Drive continuous improvements in inventory accounting processes, ERP system utilization, and reporting automation.
•    Serve as the subject matter expert for NetSuite inventory and costing functionality, including system enhancements, integrations, and process optimization.
•    Support external audits, internal audits, and SOX compliance activities related to inventory and cost accounting.
•    Develop and maintain inventory-related accounting policies, procedures, and documentation.
•    Collaborate with FP&A to support budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling related to manufacturing and inventory costs.
•    Provide financial analysis and operational insights to senior leadership regarding inventory performance, margin analysis, and supply chain efficiency.
•    Lead, mentor, and develop accounting staff as the organization grows.

Qualifications
•    Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; CPA and/or CMA strongly preferred.
•    10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience with significant focus on inventory and cost accounting.
•    Minimum 5 years of experience within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences industry.
•    Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP related to inventory, manufacturing, and cost accounting.
•    Extensive hands-on experience with NetSuite ERP, including inventory costing modules and reporting capabilities.
•    Experience supporting manufacturing operations, supply chain finance, and inventory management functions.
•    Demonstrated expertise in standard costing, variance analysis, and inventory controls.
•    Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills with the ability to interact effectively across all organizational levels.
•    Experience managing audits and supporting internal control environments.
•    Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills preferred.

Preferred Qualifications
•    Experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, clinical supply accounting, contract manufacturing (CMO/CDMO) environments, 
•    FDA-regulated operations, 
•    inventory management for controlled or highly regulated products is highly preferred.