Cost Accounting Manager

The role

You will build and lead the cost accounting function as the company scales space infrastructure products from development into production. You will establish strategy, policies, and controls for inventory, COGS, and hardware costs while partnering with Finance, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Program teams.

What you will do

• Build and lead the cost accounting function, defining policies, methodologies, controls, reporting, and team development priorities.
• Lead cost accounting activities across month-end and quarter-end close.
• Establish and oversee standard costing methodologies for purchased and manufactured hardware.
• Investigate material variances and guide cross-functional actions to improve cost accuracy and margins.
• Own inventory accounting policies and valuation across raw materials, WIP, and finished goods.
• Partner with operational teams to resolve discrepancies and maintain audit readiness.
• Serve as a financial partner to Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Program leadership.
• Lead cost accounting systems and process improvements, including setting ERP requirements and automating workflows.
• Build and mentor the cost accounting team as business needs grow.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 7+ years of progressive experience in cost accounting, inventory accounting, or manufacturing accounting
• Experience leading accounting processes, projects, or teams
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP and manufacturing cost accounting
• Knowledge of standard costing, inventory valuation and reserves, WIP, COGS, purchase price variances, overhead allocation, absorption, and manufacturing inventory flows within an ERP environment
• Demonstrated ability to lead cost accounting close and reporting
• Ability to establish accounting policies and controls
• Ability to review complex analyses and resolve discrepancies across financial and operational data
• Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills
• Advanced Excel proficiency
• Ability to build processes, prioritize competing needs, and influence cross-functional decisions in a fast-paced environment

Nice to have

• Experience in aerospace, defense, hardware, automotive, electronics, or another complex manufacturing environment, particularly within a startup or rapidly scaling organization
• Experience building or scaling a cost accounting function, including establishing standard costing methodologies, inventory controls, management reporting, and team responsibilities
• Experience partnering with operational leadership to drive measurable improvements in product costs, manufacturing efficiency, inventory management, and financial performance
• Experience leading ERP implementations or improvements across cost accounting and inventory workflows

Before you apply

• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligib

About the company

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company building a global network of phased array and parabolic ground stations. They use a vertically integrated approach to design, build, and deploy scalable systems for space missions.