Senior Cost Accountant

Span

$110K — $130K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Experience with GAAP and accrual accounting principles.
  • 3-5 years in contract manufacturing and consignment inventory accounting.
  • Proficient in managing the accounting close process with communication skills.
  • Expertise in inventory accounting, balance sheet reconciliations, and variance analysis.
  • Advanced Microsoft Office Suite skills, particularly Excel, and familiarity with NetSuite.
  • Ability to articulate financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders.
  • Self-motivated team player comfortable in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

  • Analyze purchase price and manufacturing variances, resolving root causes with stakeholders.
  • Ensure accuracy of bills of materials and routing in ERP system with Cross-Functional collaboration.
  • Own inventory valuation and reconciliation for GAAP compliance across all inventory types.
  • Lead physical inventory counts and resolve discrepancies efficiently.
  • Manage full-cycle consignment accounting for customer and supplier inventory.
  • Co-manage the month-end close process with journal entry preparation.
  • Collaborate on budgeting and forecasting for COGS and inventory with FP&A.

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation with equity grants in a well-funded venture-backed company.
  • Comprehensive health benefits including 100% premium coverage for employees.
  • Flexible working hours and generous time-off policies.
  • Engagement in team-building activities and company culture initiatives.
  • Enjoy a sunny office location with easy access to public transportation.
Full Job Description
The Role

Span.io is seeking a Senior Cost Accountant to be part of our cost accounting function as we scale hardware manufacturing. This role is central to maintaining accurate product cost data, supporting financial close, and partnering with cross-functional teams to drive operational and financial performance. The ideal candidate brings deep manufacturing accounting expertise, hands-on experience with consignment arrangements, and the business acumen to work fluidly across Finance, Supply Chain, and Operations.

About You

Required Qualifications
  • Demonstrated experience and knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and accruals
  • Minimum 3-5 years hands-on experience with contract manufacturing and consignment inventory accounting in a manufacturing or hardware environment.
  • Must have experience running the accounting close process and managing expectations, communications and deadlines
  • Must have experience with month-end close, balance sheet reconciliations, and flux/variance analysis
  • Direct experience with inventory accounting and the associated controls and reconciliation processes
  • Experience with month-end close, balance sheet reconciliations, and flux/variance analysis
  • Must have a recent proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, with intermediate to advanced Excel skills
  • Must have proficiency with NetSuite. Experience with FloQast or Blackline and Boomi is a plus.
  • Demonstrated ability to build cross-functional relationships and communicate financial concepts clearly to non-finance partners
  • Agile, adaptable, and a fast learner, comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
  • High degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Proactive, self-motivated, takes initiative and ability to work with little supervision
  • Team player with a positive attitude; flexible to adapt to changing needs/priorities.
    Bonus Qualifications
    • Progressive cost accounting experience in a manufacturing or hardware environment
    • Public accounting experience preferred
    • CPA preferred

Responsibilities, Duties, and Expectations:

Cost Accounting & Standard Costing
  • Analyze and report purchase price variance (PPV), manufacturing variance, and overhead absorption variance; investigate root causes and partner with stakeholders to resolve
  • Maintain bill of materials (BOM) and routing accuracy within the ERP system; coordinate with Engineering and Operations to ensure cost data integrity

Inventory Accounting
  • Own inventory valuation and reconciliation across raw materials, WIP, and finished goods under GAAP
  • Coordinate and lead periodic physical inventory counts and cycle counts; investigate and resolve count discrepancies
  • Monitor and account for inventory reserves, including slow-moving, excess, and obsolete (SLOB) inventory; prepare aging analysis and recommend reserve adjustments
  • Reconcile inventory balances monthly; ensure accurate cut-off and proper period-end treatment
  • Support ERP enhancements, process improvements, and system implementations related to inventory and costing

Consignment Accounting
  • Manage full-cycle consignment accounting for both customer-held and supplier-held inventory arrangements
  • Maintain consignment inventory schedules, track transfers in and out, and ensure timely and accurate recognition of consignment sales and returns
  • Develop and enforce internal controls around consignment tracking; perform periodic reconciliations against counterparty records
  • Collaborate with Supply Chain and Legal to evaluate new consignment agreements and ensure accounting treatment aligns with contract terms and GAAP

Month-End Close & Reporting
  • Co-manage the close process, including preparation and posting of journal entries for COGS, inventory adjustments, and manufacturing variances
  • Prepare monthly management reports covering gross margin by product line, cost trends, and variance explanations for Finance leadership
  • Maintain supporting schedules and documentation to audit-ready standards.
  • Identify and implement close process improvements to reduce cycle time and improve accuracy

Cross-Functional Partnership
  • Partner with FP&A on annual budget and quarterly forecast for COGS, manufacturing overhead, and inventory; provide cost inputs and scenario analysis for margin modeling
  • Work with Supply Chain on supplier cost changes and new product introductions (NPI) cost builds
  • Collaborate with the broader Accounting team on process improvements, systems enhancements, and policy development
Life at SPAN

Headquartered in San Francisco's vibrant SoMa neighborhood, we are an eclectic group of creative thinkers who value open communication, teamwork, and a 'make it happen' approach to addressing complex challenges.

The Perks:

Competitive compensation + equity grants at a well-funded, venture-backed company

Comprehensive benefits: 100% employee premiums for base plans on medical, dental, vision with options for additional coverage. Parental leave up to twenty four (24) weeks depending on eligibility

Comfortable, sunny office space located near BART and Caltrain public transit

Strong focus on team building and company culture: Employee Resource Groups, monthly social events, SPANcakes recognition breakfast, lunch, and learns

Flexible hours, one holiday per month, and flexible time off

Interested in joining our team? Apply today and we'll be in touch with the next steps!

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