Senior Cost Accountant

Robert Half • Oakland, CA • 1h ago

Description

Position Summary:

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Cost Accountant to join our dynamic team at a growing public life sciences company. In this role, you'll oversee all aspects of cost accounting for our organization and serve as a critical bridge between finance and operations. This position will work closely with manufacturing and supply chain partners as well as key internal stakeholders to ensure financial excellence and operational efficiency. You'll focus on understanding production costs, identifying optimization opportunities, and driving savings while maintaining the product quality required for FDA regulatory compliance.

This is a hands-on role in an organization where manufacturing is entirely outsourced, requiring strong analytical and operational insight to ensure that product costs remain competitive without compromising quality.

Key Responsibilities:

Cost Accounting:

Develop and maintain robust cost accounting systems and procedures to accurately track and analyze the total cost of production, including materials, labor, and overhead allocations.

Perform routine cost variance analysis, investigating deviations between standard and actual costs.

Prepare detailed cost analysis reports to guide data-driven decision-making with respect to pricing, budgeting, forecasting, and inventory control.

Collaborate with the accounting team to ensure accurate month-end and year-end close processes, especially relating to inventory and cost of goods sold (COGS).

Operations Partnership:

Partner with manufacturing and supply chain teams to understand and analyze end-to-end production costs, including procurement, transportation, and third-party manufacturing costs.

Actively engage with external contract manufacturers to evaluate standards, identify inefficiencies, and assess opportunities to reduce costs without compromising quality or compliance.

Monitor the cost impact of design or process changes associated with FDA approval cycles or regulatory requirements.

Continuous Improvement:

Evaluate the cost structure of existing product lines to identify cost-reduction opportunities in collaboration with operational and quality teams.

Implement cost-saving initiatives where feasible, ensuring adherence to regulatory compliance standards and product quality benchmarks.

Assist in the development of financial models to evaluate the impact of process improvements or introductions of new product lines.

Compliance and Reporting:

Ensure compliance with FDA regulations by working cross-functionally to effectively document and understand cost data pertaining to regulated processes and manufacturing outcomes.

Prepare detailed financial documentation and analysis required for audits or external reporting to investors and regulators.

Requirements

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field is required.

CPA, CMA, or equivalent certification is a plus.

Experience:

Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in cost accounting, preferably in life sciences - biotech, and/or pharmaceutical environment.

Strong experience collaborating with operational teams and third-party manufacturers is required.

Knowledge of FDA regulations and their cost impact on product manufacturing is a plus.

Technical Skills:

Proficiency in ERP systems and advanced skills in Microsoft Excel for data analysis (e.g., pivot tables, VLOOKUPs).

Familiarity with cost accounting methodologies, including standard costing, job costing, and process costing.

Experience with financial modeling and variance analysis.

Strong analytical mindset with exceptional attention to detail.

Soft Skills:

Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate across functions and with external partners.

Ability to work independently in a fast-paced and dynamic environment while managing competing priorities.

Commitment to teamwork and delivering high-quality results within tight deadlines.

Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles.

Robert Half works to put you in the best position to succeed. We provide access to top jobs, competitive compensation and benefits, and free online training. Stay on top of every opportunity - whenever you choose - even on the go. Download the Robert Half app (https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/mobile-app) and get 1-tap apply, notifications of AI-matched jobs, and much more.

All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan. Visit roberthalf.gobenefits.net for more information.

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