Finance & Accounting Manager (Manufacturing)

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

We are seeking a Finance & Accounting Manager to lead day-to-day accounting and financial operations for a growing manufacturing company in San Diego.

This is an opportunity for an experienced accounting professional who wants broader ownership and the ability to help build and improve accounting processes as the company grows. The successful candidate will work closely with the Site General Manager and operations team, providing accurate financial information and practical insight to support business decisions.

The position is particularly focused on cash-flow management, manufacturing cost accounting, inventory and costing, forecasting, and financial reporting/month-end close.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Close

• Own and manage the monthly close process.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements and management reporting.
• Maintain strong financial data integrity and supporting reconciliations.
• Identify and communicate significant financial variances and trends.

Cash Flow & Working Capital

• Actively manage and forecast cash flow and short-term cash requirements.
• Monitor working capital and provide visibility into cash needs.
• Partner with leadership on AR, AP, collections, payment timing, and other factors affecting cash.
• Support banking, credit-line, and financing activities as needed.

Manufacturing Cost Accounting

• Manage manufacturing cost accounting, including job costing and cost reporting.
• Analyze material, labor, overhead, and other manufacturing cost drivers.
• Identify cost variances and work with operations to understand root causes.
• Provide management with visibility into product/job profitability and margins.

Inventory & Costing

• Partner with operations to maintain accurate inventory and costing information.
• Support inventory reconciliation, valuation, controls, and reporting.
• Investigate discrepancies between operational and accounting records.
• Help improve inventory processes and costing accuracy as the organization grows.

Forecasting & Business Support

• Develop and maintain budgets, financial forecasts, and financial models.
• Update forecasts as business conditions and operating assumptions change.
• Analyze actual performance against forecasts and explain material variances.
• Translate financial information into practical information leadership can use to make decisions.

Additional Accounting Responsibilities

• Provide oversight of AR, AP, payroll, and general accounting activities.
• Support internal and external audits.
• Manage fixed assets, RoU assets, and equipment leases.
• Coordinate with external CPA resources regarding tax filings and compliance.
• Support insurance, benefits, regulatory filings, and other business administration activities as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Professional accounting experience with demonstrated responsibility beyond transactional accounting.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment, including practical exposure to manufacturing cost accounting.
• Demonstrated ability to manage or meaningfully contribute to cash-flow management and forecasting.
• Hands-on experience with cost accounting, job/product costing, and inventory accounting.
• Experience with month-end close and preparation or review of financial statements.
• Experience developing budgets and/or financial forecasts.
• Working knowledge of GAAP and experience with ERP or accounting systems.
• Ability to work effectively with both accounting and operations teams.
• Comfortable working in a smaller organization where responsibilities are broad and hands-on.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as an Accounting Manager, Assistant Controller, Cost Accounting Manager, Controller.
• Experience with job-based manufacturing environments.
• Experience improving accounting processes, controls, reporting, or ERP utilization.
• Previous responsibility for banking, credit lines, audits, or external CPA relationships.
• CPA, CMA, MBA, or other advanced education/certification.