Senior Cost Accountant

Senior Cost Accountant

Department: Accounting

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Hawthorne, California

Compensation: $130,000 - $160,000 / year

Description

Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. We are singularly focused on designing, building, and operating a fleet of multi-purpose commercial planetary rovers to extend and enhance humanity's presence in the solar system. We are seeking motivated, creative, and exceptional people to join our world-class team.


Astrolab is seeking a hands-on, detail-oriented Senior Cost Accountant to manage and execute our day-to-day costing operations as we transition from design to the manufacturing and testing of our first-of-a-kind lunar service robotics.


You will be the financial eyes and ears on the floor-tracking engineering design changes, equipment procurement, third-party contractors, test-product quality, spares, and scrap. Crucially, you will ensure our costing structures maintain strict compliance with both US GAAP and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) .

What you'll do:

NetSuite Implementation & Daily Execution

• Implement, maintain, and customize NetSuite's costing modules to align with company accounting policies and reporting needs.
• Execute day-to-day cost accounting entries, labor distributions, and inventory reconciliations.
• Establish and maintain work centers, routing steps, and Bill of Materials (BOM) cost structures within NetSuite.

Cost Tracking & Analysis

• Track and analyze expenditures across multiple dimensions: by account, department, work station, and product segment.
• Monitor and report on variances (material, labor, and overhead) between budgeted estimates and actual build costs.
• Partner with Engineering and Supply Chain to accurately track and account for high-value scrap, rework, and spare parts inventory.

Technical & Regulatory Compliance

• Apply US GAAP principles to accurately distinguish between R&D expenses (pre-technical feasibility) and Capitalized Assets (flight hardware/PP&E).
• Ensure all cost accounting practices, labor logs, and overhead pools comply with FAR and government contracting requirements.
• Assist the Controller in preparing for external financial audits and government compliance reviews.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality Assurance teams to ensure accurate tracking of test-product costs and qualification units.
• Translate complex operational activities on the manufacturing floor into accurate financial data.

What you'll bring:

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 3-5 years of progressive cost accounting experience, including job-order or project-based costing
• 2+ years of experience using NetSuite, including manufacturing, inventory, or project costing modules
• Experience working in a FAR-compliant environment, including aerospace, defense, or government contracting
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) related to cost accounting
• Experience developing, maintaining, or improving accounting processes and internal controls
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including engineering, operations, or manufacturing

• Experience applying ASC 730 (Research and Development) and ASC 360 (Property, Plant, and Equipment) accounting guidance
• Experience supporting a NetSuite implementation, upgrade, or system customization
• Experience supporting manufacturing operations with low-volume, high-complexity products
• Experience with government contract accounting and compliance requirements
• Experience preparing financial analyses related to inventory, project costs, or capital expenditures
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation
• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• Experience in the aerospace or advanced manufacturing industry

Benefits and Perks

• Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
• Equity ownership in the company
• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Flexible PTO and parental leave
• Home office set up reimbursement
• Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
• Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks