Cost Control Manager

Title: Cost and Budgeting Manager

Industry: Food Production

Location: San Marcos, CA (San Diego Area)

The Ideal candidate will have 5 YOE in Cost and Budget focused finance and accounting in a manufacturing, production, agricultural or construction environment.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary performance-based incentives

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) with company match

• Professional development & career growth opportunities

• Hybrid or flexible work environment (if applicable)

Lead Responsibilities:

Cost Analysis and Control

• Analyze cost structures across production, operations, and supply chain, including materials, labor, and overhead.
• Monitor and evaluate cost trends, variances, and cost drivers to improve cost efficiency.
• Develop and maintain standard costing models for recurring processes and activity-based costing (ABC) for unique operations.
• Identify and implement cost-reduction strategies while maintaining quality and operational efficiency.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Lead the annual budgeting process, collaborating with operations, finance, and leadership teams.
• Conduct variance analysis, explaining cost deviations due to factors such as supply chain delays, weather impacts, and market fluctuations.
• Continuously refine financial forecasts based on operational changes and external market conditions.
• Assist in profitability analysis for different product lines, services, and business segments.

Operational & Financial Reporting

• Prepare and present monthly financial and cost performance reports to senior management.
• Develop real-time financial dashboards to track KPIs such as production yield, labor efficiency, and cost per unit.
• Ensure accurate financial reporting for cost accounting, inventory valuation, and operational expenses.
• Support month-end and year-end financial closing processes, ensuring accurate cost allocation and compliance.

Inventory and Process Optimization

• Oversee inventory valuation and reconciliation across different production stages.
• Work with operations teams to optimize inventory levels and minimize waste.
• Conduct cycle counts and audits to maintain accurate inventory records.
• Improve cost allocation methodologies and integrate financial data with ERP systems.

Systems and Automation

• Optimize and automate cost tracking, forecasting, and reporting within ERP and financial systems (e.g., NetSuite, Power BI, Tableau).
• Collaborate with IT and operations teams to improve data accuracy and financial reporting capabilities.
• Ensure that costing methodologies align with industry standards and compliance requirements.
• Strategic Financial Support
• Provide financial insights to support decision-making in production, procurement, and resource allocation.
• Assist in evaluating pricing strategies and cost-benefit analyses for business initiatives.
• Work closely with leadership on financial planning, budgeting strategies, and operational efficiency improvements.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Operations Finance, or a related field.
• 5 years of experience in cost accounting, financial analysis, or budgeting (preferably in manufacturing, agriculture, or logistics).
• Strong knowledge of cost accounting principles, budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Proficiency in ERP systems, financial reporting tools, and data visualization platforms (Power BI, Tableau, NetSuite, etc.).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and financial modeling skills.
• Strong communication skills to work effectively with finance, operations, and leadership teams.
• Ability to drive cost control initiatives, budgeting improvements, and financial automation projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in agriculture, manufacturing, or supply chain finance.
• Knowledge of activity-based costing (ABC), standard costing, and inventory valuation.
• Familiarity with financial compliance and regulatory reporting requirements.