About the Opportunity
Our client, a global manufacturing organization, is seeking a Senior Manager, Cost Accounting & FP&A to serve as a key finance leader within the organization. Professional fluency in both Japanese and English is required, as this role partners closely with U.S.-based operations and Japanese executive leadership. The position reports directly to senior finance leadership and plays a critical role in financial planning, cost accounting, business performance management, and strategic decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Finance
- Lead manufacturing cost accounting activities, including standard costing, inventory valuation, overhead allocation, and variance analysis.
- Analyze material, labor, overhead, usage, efficiency, and purchase price variances to identify opportunities for operational improvement.
- Manage product costing processes and support periodic standard cost updates.
- Partner with operations and supply chain teams to improve cost visibility and profitability.
- Oversee inventory accounting, cycle counts, physical inventories, and related controls.
Financial Planning & Analysis
- Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning processes.
- Develop financial models and business performance analyses to support strategic initiatives.
- Analyze sales performance, profitability trends, and key business drivers.
- Provide leadership with actionable financial insights, recommendations, and reporting.
- Support the development and execution of mid-term business plans and financial targets.
Executive Business Partnership
- Serve as a strategic finance partner to manufacturing, commercial, and executive leadership teams.
- Communicate financial performance, forecasts, risks, and opportunities to key stakeholders.
- Drive process improvements across financial planning, reporting, and performance management functions.
- Lead and develop members of the finance team while fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
Cross-Cultural Collaboration
- Act as a liaison between U.S.-based operations and Japanese leadership teams.
- Prepare and communicate financial information to stakeholders in both English and Japanese.
- Support effective collaboration across global teams while ensuring financial clarity and accuracy.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
- Professional fluency in both Japanese and English is required.
- 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience within a manufacturing environment.
- Strong experience in cost accounting, inventory accounting, standard costing, and manufacturing variance analysis.
- Proven FP&A experience including budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and business analysis.
- Experience leading and developing teams.
- Strong analytical and communication skills with the ability to translate operational performance into financial results.
- Experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities is highly preferred.
- Experience working with Japanese-owned or multinational manufacturing organizations is strongly preferred.
- CPA, CMA, MBA, or similar professional designation is a plus.
Location & Travel
- Hybrid schedule based in Teaneck, NJ.
- Travel between company facilities in Teaneck, NJ and Lakewood, NJ as needed. As well as occasional travel to Frankfurt, KY.
- Opportunity to work closely with domestic and international business leaders in a global manufacturing environment.