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Manager, Cost Accounting
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Based on California data
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What they do
A Cost Accounting Manager manages the accounting process of reducing and control of costs for a company or organization. Advises leadership in actions to maximize cost efficiency and control future costs.
$167,362 / year median in California
+6% projected growth
Job Description
Manager, Cost Accounting
Long Wall Accounting & Finance
• Full-time Long Beach, CA, USA USD 130k-170k / year Posted on Aug 29, 2026 Long Wall Company was created in 2024 to accelerate missile defense technology for the U.S. and our allies. We specialize in ballistic missile defense and are developing Cyclops, a low-cost, mass-producible interceptor. We also produce containerized launchers and offer low-cost targets for threat replication. The future of global security depends on defensive technology that redefines cost, magazine depth, and distribution to deter and defend against evolving threats. Join us.
WHAT WE LOOK FOR
Mission-Driven Problem Solvers - The problems in missile defense demand ingenuity. We want engineers who approach challenges with curiosity, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, and stay focused on delivering the best solution for the mission. Total Ownership - We seek engineers who take full responsibility for delivering flight-ready work while recognizing that no one succeeds alone. The best engineers make their teammates better, king that complementary skills create force multiplication and drive mission success. Manager, Cost Accounting
DESCRIPTION
The Manager, Cost Accounting will own and lead the cost accounting and inventory accounting functions within the Accounting team. This role will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of manufacturing costs and inventory balances, supporting the month-end close and budgeting processes, and providing financial insights to support operational and business decision-making. Reporting directly to the Controller, the Manager, Cost Accounting will work closely with the broader Finance and Accounting team and partner cross-functionally with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and other teams throughout the organization. We are looking for someone with strong cost accounting and manufacturing experience who can both manage day-to-day accounting activities and help develop and scale our processes as the organization grows. The ideal candidate is highly analytical, comfortable working with detailed operational data, and able to translate complex cost information into meaningful financial insights. Experience within aerospace & defense, automotive, or another complex manufacturing environment is preferred.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Own all manufacturing cost accounting activities, including month-end close, inventory accounting, cost maintenance, labor and overhead absorption, and related account reconciliations
Develop and maintain effective cost accounting processes, policies, controls, and documentation to support accurate and timely financial reporting
Perform and communicate manufacturing cost and variance analyses, including purchase price, material usage, labor, overhead, work order, cost revaluation, and invoice-to-PO variances
Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, and Engineering to develop a strong understanding of manufacturing processes, inventory flows, cost drivers, and operational performance
Partner with Operations and Finance to evaluate labor and overhead rates, absorption, utilization, and other manufacturing cost drivers
Work closely with the inventory and operations teams to monitor and improve cycle count processes, physical inventory procedures, and overall inventory accuracy
Ensure the accuracy and integrity of cost and inventory information within the ERP system through detailed analysis and coordination with inventory, purchasing, receiving, production, and work order processes
Identify and lead improvements to cost accounting and ERP processes as the Company's manufacturing operations and reporting requirements continue to scale
Partner with Engineering and Operations to support the accuracy of bills of material, routings, work orders, and other inputs impacting product costs
Collaborate with FP&A to identify key cost drivers and provide cost accounting data and analysis to support budgeting, forecasting, and business planning
Provide financial analysis and insights to support cost reduction initiatives, sourcing decisions, manufacturing efficiency, and other operational decision-making
Support the design and execution of internal controls over inventory and cost accounting
Support financial statement audits and other compliance activities related to inventory, manufacturing costs, and cost accounting
Support and develop members of the Accounting team involved in cost and inventory accounting activities
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
5+ years of progressive experience in cost accounting, inventory accounting, or manufacturing accounting
REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES
Strong understanding of
U.S. GAAP
applicable to inventory and manufacturing cost accounting
Experience working with ERP systems and analyzing detailed transactional and operational data
Experience with physical inventories, cycle counts, inventory reserves, and inventory-related internal controls
Experience developing and maintaining labor and manufacturing overhead rates, allocation methodologies, and cost pools
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and Engineering
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES
Experience within aerospace & defense, automotive, industrial manufacturing, or another complex manufacturing environment
Experience establishing or improving cost accounting processes in a growing or evolving manufacturing organization
Experience supporting budgeting, forecasting, and operational cost analysis
Experience implementing, enhancing, or scaling ERP cost accounting and inventory functionality
Experience managing or developing accounting team members
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
CPA, CMA, or other relevant professional certification is a plus
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time
- Ability to use a computer to complete assignments
- Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone, and via telepresence
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in an office environment
- Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
- ITAR Requirement
This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, genetics, or citizenship status (when otherwise legally authorized to work and access export-controlled data) and will not be discriminated against on the basis of such characteristics or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We encourage applicants of all ages. 130000 - 170000 USD a year The compensation range for this role is $130,000 - $170,000/yr This is the lowest-to-highest compensation range we reasonably and in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. In addition to base pay and equity, we offer: Heavily employer-subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
Long Wall paid life insurance and LTD coverage
4% 401k match
Student loan repayment assistance program
Paid parental leave
Family planning assistance program
Long Wall paid financial wellness program
Paid time off for non-exempt employees and flexible vacation policy for exempt employees See more open positions at Long Wall
Benefits
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Financial Aid/Assistance
- 401(k) Plans
- Health and Wellness Programs