Senior Manager, Cost Accounting

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Manager, Cost Accounting 

Location: Alpharetta, GA

Manufacturing Area: Engineer Building Solutions and Performance Polymers

Work Arrangement: Hybrid schedule with regular on-site collaboration.

Department: Finance / Cost Accounting

Reports To: Director, Global Inventory and Cost Accounting

Travel: Travel may be required periodically (up to 25%) to support other sites, strategic business initiatives, and leadership responsibilities across the organization.

About Arclin

You can find Arclin everywhere. Our technologies make homes and transportation safer, help crops flourish, keep water clean, protect first responders and members of the military, and preserve the purity of essential pharmaceuticals. These vital, everyday products can't fail, and we’re here to give the world an extra layer of performance and peace of mind.

With ~4,000 team members across more than 30 global manufacturing facilities, we operate with the scale to make a global impact and the agility to solve complex challenges at the molecular level. Rooted in scientific discovery and innovation, Arclin’s materials redefine performance across industries - from Firepoint®’s patented intumescent technology that helps stall flames and save lives to the iconic Kevlar® and Nomex® brands trusted to protect those who serve, strengthen aerospace and industrial systems, and perform where reliability and safety are top of mind.

As we expand our mission‑critical materials portfolio and shape the next era of performance technologies, we’re looking for people who want to grow, lead, and solve the challenges others can’t. Together, we’ll advance the innovations that keep the world moving. Because at Arclin, our people are truly Vital Beyond Measure.

Position Summary

The Senior Manager, Cost Accounting is a strategic finance leader within Arclin's Inventory Center of Excellence (COE), responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and governance of inventory valuation, cost accounting, and related financial reporting across the organization.

This role serves as a key business partner to Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain, and Commercial leadership, ensuring that inventory and product costs are accurately reflected in accordance with U.S. GAAP while providing actionable insights that drive operational performance and profitability.

The position will lead a team of Plant Cost Accountants and work closely with manufacturing leadership to strengthen financial controls, improve inventory accuracy, enhance cost visibility, and support business decision-making. The Senior Manager will champion standardization, process improvement, and governance initiatives while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

As a key member of the Inventory Center of Excellence, this role will help establish and sustain standards, governance, processes, and best practices related to inventory accounting, inventory control, and cost accounting. The successful candidate will serve as a strategic leader and trusted advisor, influencing operational and financial decisions, developing talent, and driving a culture of operational excellence, financial integrity, and partnership across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

COST ACCOUNTING LEADERSHIP
• Lead and oversee all aspects of cost accounting and inventory accounting activities across manufacturing operations.
• Ensure inventory valuation, product costing, manufacturing variances, and cost accounting processes are accurate, timely, and compliant with U.S. GAAP.
• Serve as the primary subject matter expert for inventory accounting, standard costing, manufacturing accounting, and inventory valuation methodologies.
• Establish standardized cost accounting practices, policies, and governance processes across all manufacturing locations.
• Provide strategic leadership for inventory accounting, cost accounting governance, and standard costing processes.
• Serve as a leader within the Inventory Center of Excellence, driving standardization, governance, and best practices.
• Drive accurate, timely, and compliant inventory valuation and cost accounting processes across the business manufacturing locations.

INVENTORY GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL CONTROLS
• Maintain a robust control environment over inventory, standard costs, manufacturing variances, and inventory-related financial reporting.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, corporate policies, and external reporting requirements.
• Partner with Internal Audit and External Audit teams.
• Collaborate with the Inventory Center of Excellence to promote consistent inventory control procedures and governance standards.
• Partner with Inventory Control team to support continuous improvement of inventory accuracy, control compliance, and audit readiness.

BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
• Act as a trusted business partner to Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Plant Leadership teams.
• Provide insights and recommendations to improve manufacturing performance, inventory management, working capital, and profitability.
• Establish Cost Accounting group as a valued and trusted business partner through timely analysis and decision support.

TEAM LEADERSHIP AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Plant Cost Accountants in multiple locations.
• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing team through coaching, succession planning, mentoring, and talent development.
• Champion Inventory Center of Excellence initiatives by sharing best practices and developing organizational capability.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and operational excellence.

FINANCIAL REPORTING AND ANALYSIS
• Oversee month-end and year-end close processes related to inventory and cost accounting.
• Oversee inventory reconciliations, variance analyses, BOM maintenance, standard cost updates, and related journal entries.
• Develop and review inventory and cost accounting KPIs.

PROCESS IMPROVEMENT AND SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP
• Lead automation, ERP enhancements, and continuous improvement initiatives that improve scalability and reporting quality.

Qualifications

EDUCATION
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline required.
• CPA, CMA, or advanced degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE
• 8+ years of progressive experience in cost accounting, manufacturing finance, inventory accounting, or related financial leadership roles.
• Minimum 3-5 years of people leadership experience.
• Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations required.
• Experience working within a global manufacturing organization preferred.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and ERP systems (JD Edwards preferred; SAP or Oracle experience a plus).

TECHNICAL SKILLS
• Deep understanding of standard costing, manufacturing accounting, inventory valuation, inventory controls, variance analysis, and cost allocation methodologies.
• Strong financial analysis and business partnership skills.

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