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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Looking for a Senior Cost Accountant in the Loma Linda area!
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare and review journal entries
- Reconcile accounts, summarize activity, and resolve reconciling differences
- Understand the Balance Sheet and P&L, including how account activity affects them and how line items are classified
- Analyze and clearly communicate operational performance
- Partner with company departments to help them understand their financial reports
- Recommend improvements to processes, practices, and policies
- Support and help drive the decision-making process
- Consistently strive to exceed goals and expectations
- Contribute to a timely, accurate month-end close in compliance with GAAP and company accounting policies
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- BS/BA in Accounting
- 10 years of experience
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
Pay: $95,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Relocation assistance
Work Location: In person
Looking for a Senior Cost Accountant in the Loma Linda area!
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare and review journal entries
- Reconcile accounts, summarize activity, and resolve reconciling differences
- Understand the Balance Sheet and P&L, including how account activity affects them and how line items are classified
- Analyze and clearly communicate operational performance
- Partner with company departments to help them understand their financial reports
- Recommend improvements to processes, practices, and policies
- Support and help drive the decision-making process
- Consistently strive to exceed goals and expectations
- Contribute to a timely, accurate month-end close in compliance with GAAP and company accounting policies
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- BS/BA in Accounting
- 10 years of experience
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
Pay: $95,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Relocation assistance
Work Location: In person
See All 59 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
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Staffing & Recruiting
- Electronics & Hardware
- Construction & Real Estate
- Consulting & Professional Services
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 Augmentis, Tesla, and Jobot, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 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?
Irvine, Los Angeles, and Fremont 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 55% of cost accounting manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 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 59 Cost Accounting Manager Jobs in California
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