Manager, Cost Accounting

Anduril Anduril · Defense · Costa Mesa, CA · Finance & Accounting : Finance : Finance

Manager, Cost Accounting at Anduril, a defense technology company. This role focuses on managing and executing full-stack cost accounting for products, ensuring accuracy, insight, and control across development, manufacturing, and production operations. Responsibilities include leading a team, overseeing standard costing, managing the cost accounting close process, supporting internal controls, administering inventory programs, interfacing with auditors, partnering with operations and engineering, supporting government contracts (FAR/CAS), and contributing to IPO readiness.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead, mentor, and develop a regional team of cost accountants and analysts dedicated to supporting the specific products and their associated production sites.
  2. Oversee and continuously improve standard costing practices to ensure accurate product costing, variance analysis, and margin reporting.
  3. Responsible for a portion of the Company’s cost accounting close process, including cost roll-ups, variance analysis, absorption reporting, and reconciliations of inventory and work-in-process.
  4. Support the Director with the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal controls to strengthen financial accuracy and compliance; identify and remediate control deficiencies as needed.
  5. Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, and Engineering to analyze manufacturing performance, cost drivers, and production efficiency opportunities.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
  • 5-7 years of progressive cost accounting experience in manufacturing
  • Proven experience with standard costing in complex, low-volume, high-dollar manufacturing environments
  • Strong knowledge of U.S. government contracting cost principles (FAR/CAS)
  • Demonstrated experience with designing and maintaining effective internal controls and supporting external audits
  • Advanced proficiency with ERP systems (e.g., Oracle, SAP, or similar) and data analysis tools
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, communicate effectively across functions, and influence senior leadership
  • Exceptional analytical, organizational, and leadership skills

Nice to have

  • CPA or CMA strongly preferred
  • Experience in a privately held company preparing for an IPO is highly desirable
  • focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence

What the JD emphasized

  • standard costing
  • internal controls
  • U.S. government contracting cost principles (FAR/CAS)
  • external auditors
  • IPO readiness