Job Title: Senior Manager, Global Cost & Operations Accounting
Reports To: VP/Corporate Controller
Location: Vernon Hills, IL
Work Type: Hybrid
About the Job: The Senior Manager, Global Cost & Operations Accounting will lead the development, implementation, and ongoing governance of standardized operations accounting practices across a diverse, global manufacturing network. This role owns standard costing methodology, inventory valuation and reserves, and the monthly variance capitalization and standard cost roll process ("Cap & Roll"), and is responsible for driving consistency in cost accounting, variance analysis, and inventory reporting across multiple entities, ERP systems, and production environments.
In addition, this role will design and implement standardized inventory reporting and controls to improve transparency, strengthen the internal control environment, and support disciplined working capital management. The position also supports operations leadership on capital expenditures, ensuring alignment with corporate policies and processes from project approval through asset capitalization. The position partners closely with supply chain, site leadership, corporate accounting, and FP&A segment analysts to ensure cost accuracy, valuation integrity, and audit readiness.
The ideal candidate is an experienced operations accountant who combines deep technical expertise in standard costing and inventory accounting with a systems mindset and the ability to drive alignment across international manufacturing operations.
How You Will Contribute:Global Cost Accounting Standardization & Cap and Roll- Develop and implement global standard costing policies and methodologies across all manufacturing sites.
- Establish consistent standards for material, labor, and overhead cost structure, rates, and allocation.
- Own the Cap & Roll process - capitalization of variances and roll of new standard costs across all sites and ERP systems - including timeline, methodology, cross-site coordination, and analysis of P&L and balance sheet impacts.
- Standardize variance analysis frameworks and reporting formats globally.
- Harmonize cost accounting practices across ERP systems and manufacturing environments.
- Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and applicable international accounting standards.
Inventory Valuation, Reserves & Controls- Own month-end inventory valuation and subledger-to-general-ledger reconciliation across all sites.
- Own global inventory reserve methodology (excess, obsolete, slow-moving, and lower of cost or net realizable value) - policy, calculation consistency across sites, quarterly governance reviews, and audit support.
- Develop and implement standardized global inventory reporting packages, including inventory turns, days inventory on hand (DIOH), excess and obsolete analysis, and aging by SKU and site.
- Standardize cycle count and physical inventory processes and controls across sites.
- Strengthen internal controls around inventory transactions, adjustments, and system access.
- Ensure consistent bill of materials (BOM) and routing governance processes.
- Improve visibility into raw materials, work in process (WIP), and finished goods balances in partnership with supply chain and operations.
- Support audit readiness and documentation standards globally.
Variance Discipline & Operational Alignment- Implement standardized monthly variance reporting (purchase price variance, material usage, labor efficiency, and overhead absorption).
- Ensure root-cause analysis and corrective action tracking across sites.
- Partner with segment and plant leadership to account for scrap, yield, and production efficiency.
- Maintain accurate product cost structures that serve as the system of record for margin and pricing analysis performed by FP&A and commercial teams.
Capital Expenditures & Fixed Asset Support- Support operations leadership through the capital expenditure request (CER) process, including financial review and compliance with the Global CapEx Policy and approval authority matrix.
- Guide proper capitalization versus expense treatment for operations projects under U.S. GAAP.
- Coordinate with operations and corporate finance on project-to-asset conversion at go-live, including asset componentization, in-service dates, and depreciation commencement.
- Advise operations leadership on CapEx budgeting to drive improved alignment on CapEx, OpEx, and one-time EBITDA add-back projects.
Systems & Reporting Infrastructure- Partner with IT and finance teams to improve ERP cost modules, inventory subledgers, and reporting tools across multiple ERP platforms.
- Serve as an active member of the team developing and implementing a data lake across all entities for better analysis and visibility.
- Standardize cost and inventory data governance across systems.
- Implement automated reporting solutions to reduce manual analysis.
- Drive integration of acquired entities into standardized cost, inventory, and fixed asset frameworks.
What Success Looks Like in the First 12 Months:- A global standard costing policy and variance analysis framework is published and adopted at every manufacturing site.
- A coordinated Cap & Roll is executed across all sites and ERP systems on a single published timeline, with a clear read on P&L and balance sheet impact.
- One global inventory reserve methodology is in force, with documented quarterly governance and clean audit support.
- A standardized global inventory reporting package - turns, DIOH, excess and obsolete, aging by SKU and site - is delivered on a reliable monthly cadence.
- Cycle count and physical inventory standards are consistent across sites, with measurable improvement in count accuracy.
What You'll Bring That Excites Us:- Bachelor's degree in Accounting.
- CPA, CGMA, or CMA a plus, but not required with relevant experience.
- 8+ years of progressive cost and operations accounting experience in a manufacturing environment, including multi-site or global scope.
- Demonstrated experience leading standardization, integration, or process harmonization efforts across sites or ERP systems.
- Deep understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, absorption costing, and manufacturing variance analysis.
- Hands-on experience with month-end close, inventory subledger reconciliation, and reserve calculations.
- Experience running or supporting monthly cost capitalization and periodic standard cost roll (Cap & Roll) in a multi-site, multi-ERP environment.
- Working knowledge of fixed asset accounting and capital project treatment under U.S. GAAP.
- Strong working knowledge of manufacturing cost drivers, bills of materials, and routings.
- Experience developing standardized reporting; advanced Excel and strong data skills, with Power BI experience preferred.
- Ability to influence and align cross-functional global teams and lead through relationships.
- Strong communication skills across operational and executive audiences.
- Process-oriented with a continuous improvement mindset.
What We Offer:- Competitive Salary: Range: $150k - $175k depending on location, experience, and qualifications.
- Annual-Incentive Plan (AIP): 15%
- Benefits coverage begins day 1, including the following:
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) company match
- Paid Time Off (15 days annually)
- Paid Holiday time (10 company-designated days)
- Tuition Assistance
- Additional benefits available with company package
This position has not been approved for Relocation Assistance.The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities associated with it.
