Cost Accounting Manager Jobs in California
Cost Accounting Manager jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in manufacturing, technology, defense contracting, and life sciences across a seniority range from entry-level cost accountants stepping into management to senior directors of cost and inventory accounting. Los Angeles, San Jose, and San Diego are the largest hiring metros, where anchors like Northrop Grumman, Intel, and Johnson & Johnson consistently maintain cost accounting teams. Demand is strongest for candidates with expertise in standard costing, inventory valuation, and variance analysis tied to complex production environments. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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About Harbinger
Harbinger is an American commercial electric vehicle (EV) company on a mission to transform an industry starving for innovation. Harbinger’s best-in-class team of EV, battery, and drivetrain experts have pooled their deep experience to bring a first-of-its-kind EV platform to support the growing demand for medium-duty EVs and Hybrids. Harbinger: Familiar Form, Revolutionary Foundation.
Job Overview
Harbinger Motors is looking for an experienced Cost Accounting Manager with a strong background in cost accounting and inventory management. This role involves developing, implementing, and maintaining cost accounting systems, analyzing manufacturing costs, preparing reports, and providing valuable insights to support business decision-making. This role requires advanced analytical skills, extensive experience in inventory and cost accounting, and the ability to develop and implement standard cost accounting and effective inventory management systems.
What You’ll Do
- Design, implement, and maintain the company's cost accounting policies, procedures, and systems.
- Ensure the accuracy and integrity of cost data within the ERP system or other relevant software.
- Continuously evaluate and improve cost accounting processes to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
- Analyze standard costs and actual production costs, identifying variances and providing explanations.
- Prepare regular and ad-hoc cost reports, including cost of goods sold (COGS), gross margin analysis, and variance analysis.
- Develop and analyze product costing information, including material, labor, and overhead costs.
- Track and analyze manufacturing expenses, identifying trends and potential areas for cost reduction.
- Oversee the costing of inventory, including raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods.
- Participate in physical inventory counts and cycle count programs to ensure inventory accuracy.
- Own the inventory lines on the balance sheet, ensuring accuracy and completeness of raw materials, WIP, and finished goods balances.
- Perform monthly work-in-progress (WIP) reconciliation, investigating and resolving variances to maintain sub-ledger to general ledger integrity.
- Manage inventory reserves, including E&O (excess and obsolete) and lower of cost or net realizable value (LCNRV) analyses.
- Collaborate with Accounts Payable, Production, Operations, Engineering and Logistics departments to ensure accurate recording of inventory data.
- Assist with the financial audits and provide recommendations for procedural improvements to ensure accounting procedures and reporting conform to generally accepted accounting principles.
Who You Are
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business with an emphasis in Accounting.
- 5+ years of relevant accounting experience.
- Proven experience in establishing and maintaining inventory reconciliation processes.
- Experience in a manufacturing company; hands-on exposure to standard costing in a production environment.
- Start-up or high-growth company experience, with comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-changing environments.
- Self-starter and builder mindset – willing to “roll up their sleeves” and work below their level when needed to get the job done.
- Demonstrated experience building, developing, and retaining a strong team of high performers.
- NetSuite experience preferred.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, capable of managing multiple projects with tight deadlines.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
- Advanced proficiency in MS Excel and ERP/MRP systems.
Key Benefits & Perks
- Comprehensive Health, Dental & Vision (HDV) – 100% employee covered
- Early-stage Stock Options
- Robust Retirement Savings (401k, HSA, FSA)
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) & Parental Leave
- Annual Vacation Bonus
- Wellness & Fertility Benefits
- Cell Phone Stipend
- Complimentary Meals & Stocked Kitchens
California Pay Range $130,000—$160,000 USD
Equal Opportunity
Harbinger is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. Harbinger is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at info@harbingermotors.com.
Candidate Data Privacy
Harbinger may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Harbinger may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law. Harbinger may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our HR, legal, and finance teams, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Harbinger affiliates; and (iii) Harbinger’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services. Harbinger may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions. Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services. Any unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles submitted in response to our job posting shall be considered the property of Harbinger and are not subject to payment of referral or placement fees if any such candidate is later hired by Harbinger unless you have a signed written agreement in place with us which covers the applicable job posting.
About Harbinger
Harbinger is an American commercial electric vehicle (EV) company on a mission to transform an industry starving for innovation. Harbinger’s best-in-class team of EV, battery, and drivetrain experts have pooled their deep experience to bring a first-of-its-kind EV platform to support the growing demand for medium-duty EVs and Hybrids. Harbinger: Familiar Form, Revolutionary Foundation.
Job Overview
Harbinger Motors is looking for an experienced Cost Accounting Manager with a strong background in cost accounting and inventory management. This role involves developing, implementing, and maintaining cost accounting systems, analyzing manufacturing costs, preparing reports, and providing valuable insights to support business decision-making. This role requires advanced analytical skills, extensive experience in inventory and cost accounting, and the ability to develop and implement standard cost accounting and effective inventory management systems.
What You’ll Do
- Design, implement, and maintain the company's cost accounting policies, procedures, and systems.
- Ensure the accuracy and integrity of cost data within the ERP system or other relevant software.
- Continuously evaluate and improve cost accounting processes to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
- Analyze standard costs and actual production costs, identifying variances and providing explanations.
- Prepare regular and ad-hoc cost reports, including cost of goods sold (COGS), gross margin analysis, and variance analysis.
- Develop and analyze product costing information, including material, labor, and overhead costs.
- Track and analyze manufacturing expenses, identifying trends and potential areas for cost reduction.
- Oversee the costing of inventory, including raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods.
- Participate in physical inventory counts and cycle count programs to ensure inventory accuracy.
- Own the inventory lines on the balance sheet, ensuring accuracy and completeness of raw materials, WIP, and finished goods balances.
- Perform monthly work-in-progress (WIP) reconciliation, investigating and resolving variances to maintain sub-ledger to general ledger integrity.
- Manage inventory reserves, including E&O (excess and obsolete) and lower of cost or net realizable value (LCNRV) analyses.
- Collaborate with Accounts Payable, Production, Operations, Engineering and Logistics departments to ensure accurate recording of inventory data.
- Assist with the financial audits and provide recommendations for procedural improvements to ensure accounting procedures and reporting conform to generally accepted accounting principles.
Who You Are
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business with an emphasis in Accounting.
- 5+ years of relevant accounting experience.
- Proven experience in establishing and maintaining inventory reconciliation processes.
- Experience in a manufacturing company; hands-on exposure to standard costing in a production environment.
- Start-up or high-growth company experience, with comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-changing environments.
- Self-starter and builder mindset – willing to “roll up their sleeves” and work below their level when needed to get the job done.
- Demonstrated experience building, developing, and retaining a strong team of high performers.
- NetSuite experience preferred.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, capable of managing multiple projects with tight deadlines.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
- Advanced proficiency in MS Excel and ERP/MRP systems.
Key Benefits & Perks
- Comprehensive Health, Dental & Vision (HDV) – 100% employee covered
- Early-stage Stock Options
- Robust Retirement Savings (401k, HSA, FSA)
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) & Parental Leave
- Annual Vacation Bonus
- Wellness & Fertility Benefits
- Cell Phone Stipend
- Complimentary Meals & Stocked Kitchens
California Pay Range $130,000—$160,000 USD
Equal Opportunity
Harbinger is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. Harbinger is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at info@harbingermotors.com.
Candidate Data Privacy
Harbinger may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Harbinger may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law. Harbinger may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our HR, legal, and finance teams, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Harbinger affiliates; and (iii) Harbinger’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services. Harbinger may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions. Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services. Any unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles submitted in response to our job posting shall be considered the property of Harbinger and are not subject to payment of referral or placement fees if any such candidate is later hired by Harbinger unless you have a signed written agreement in place with us which covers the applicable job posting.
See All 9 Cost Accounting Manager Jobs in California
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Find Cost Accounting Manager JobsCost Accounting Manager Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Cost Accounting Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Bloom Energy1
- CBRE1
- Cerebras1
- Cerebras Systems1
- Harbinger1
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals2
- Construction & Real Estate2
- Electronics & Hardware2
- Technology & Software2
- Artificial Intelligence1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in cost accounting manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field required
- CPA credential preferred or actively pursued by most California employers
- Five or more years of cost accounting experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment
- Proficiency in ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics
- Strong knowledge of standard costing, bill of materials, and inventory valuation methods
- Experience preparing cost variance analysis and supporting month-end close processes
Cost Accounting Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a cost accounting manager in California?
The concrete path in California starts with a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, followed by several years in staff or senior cost accounting roles within manufacturing, tech, or defense. California employers strongly favor candidates who hold or are pursuing a CPA, issued through the California Board of Accountancy. Demonstrated experience with standard costing systems, inventory control, and cost variance reporting in a complex production environment is what typically moves candidates from senior accountant to manager.
How much do cost accounting managers make in California?
Cost accounting managers in California earn a median of about $97,050 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $61,770 for the lowest 10% to over $160,520 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire cost accounting managers in California?
Employers hiring cost accounting managers in California right now include Bloom Energy, CBRE, and Cerebras, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's deep manufacturing and defense industrial base, particularly in Southern California and the Bay Area, means large, established employers in those sectors represent a consistent share of open roles.
Which California cities have the most cost accounting manager jobs?
Garden Grove, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale have the most cost accounting manager openings in California. Los Angeles and its surrounding submarket drive volume through aerospace and defense manufacturers, while San Jose sits at the center of semiconductor and electronics firms that rely heavily on cost accounting for complex component inventories, and San Diego draws from its concentration of biotech and life sciences companies with significant production operations.
Are there remote cost accounting manager jobs in California?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely analytical finance roles because cost accounting managers frequently work directly with plant operations, warehouse teams, and inventory systems that require on-site presence. About 0% of cost accounting manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and when remote options do exist, they tend to cover the financial reporting and analysis portions of the role rather than the production-floor-facing work.
How can I get hired as a cost accounting manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is landing a cost accountant or manufacturing accountant role at a mid-size California industrial company, then building hands-on experience with standard costing and ERP systems over several years. Large California employers in aerospace and electronics, including firms headquartered in the Los Angeles and South Bay corridors, regularly hire junior cost accountants from accounting programs at California State University campuses. Pursuing the CPA through the California Board of Accountancy while working in a staff role is the credential that most consistently accelerates the move into management.
Where can I find and apply to cost accounting manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to cost accounting manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly to each one.
See All 9 Cost Accounting Manager Jobs in California
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