Plant Cost Analyst – Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Job Summary
IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products.
Our Global Business Services organization is committed to delivering standardized, efficient, and innovative finance processes that enable better business decisions across our global operations. Within Plant Cost Analysis (PCA), we drive excellence in product costing, inventory valuation, manufacturing reporting, and continuous process improvement to support sustainable business growth.
The role may be based in Asturias, Budapest, China or Mexico. Be part of a collaborative, innovative, high-performing, and globally connected team where together we can achieve greatness and make a real impact. Your potential is our inspiration.

Global Business Services (GBS) PCA Subject Matter Expert (SME)

The Plant Cost Analysis (PCA) Subject Matter Expert (SME) serves as the recognized authority for manufacturing finance and product costing processes within the organization. The SME provides deep expertise in inventory valuation, product costing, variance analysis, manufacturing reporting, and related systems to support business decision-making, transformation initiatives, and process excellence.

The role acts as a trusted advisor to Global Business Services, Operations Finance, Plant Controllers, Business Units, Controllership, and IT teams, driving standardization, continuous improvement, automation, and governance across the PCA workstream

Where You'll Make a Difference

Guidance and Consultancy

- Serve as the functional expert for Plant Cost Analysis processes, inventory valuation, and product costing.
- Provide in-depth knowledge of costing methodologies, manufacturing finance, Material Ledger, standard costing, actual costing, and variance reporting.
- Support workshops, business process design sessions, user story development, testing activities, and solution validation.
- Advise stakeholders on best practices related to costing, inventory accounting, manufacturing performance reporting, and financial controls.
- Act as the go-to resource for resolving complex costing and inventory-related issues.

Continuous Improvement: Process and Technology

- Evaluate, develop, and coordinate the implementation of PCA best practices globally.
- Identify opportunities for process simplification, standardization, automation, and digitalization.
- Drive initiatives that improve costing accuracy, reporting quality, operational efficiency, and financial control.
- Partner with technology teams to implement system enhancements and analytical capabilities.
- Promote the use of automation, reporting tools, dashboards, and data analytics to support manufacturing finance decision-making.

Be a Referential Partner

- Partner with GBS, Operations Finance, Supply Chain Finance, Controllership, Consolidations, and Business Finance teams.
- Support timely resolution of priority issues impacting inventory valuation, costing, month-end close, and reporting activities.
- Facilitate collaboration between business users and technology teams.
- Provide training, process documentation, knowledge-sharing, and guidance to support adoption of new processes and ways of working.

Initiative and Change Champion

- Champion PCA transformation initiatives and continuous improvement programs.
- Support system implementations, integrations, and finance transformation projects.
- Communicate progress, key developments, risks, and opportunities to PCA leadership, Process Owners, and stakeholders.
- Drive organizational readiness through effective change management activities.

Governance and Leadership Support

- Act as backup or proxy for the PCA Global Process Expert (GPE) where required.
- Assume ownership of designated deliverables, project activities, and governance decisions.
- Support the definition, maintenance, and enforcement of global PCA standards and process documentation.
- Ensure consistency in the application of costing policies and procedures across the organization.

Communication and Expectations Alignment

- Communicate project progress, milestones, issues, risks, and achievements to stakeholders.
- Align expectations across business functions, regions, and project teams.
- Support business case development and tracking of efficiency gains, cost savings, and process improvements.
- Facilitate decision-making through clear communication and data-driven insights.

Quality Assurance and Data Integrity

- Validate costing calculations, inventory valuation methodologies, reports, and project deliverables.
- Fact-check process documentation, financial data, reporting outputs, and system requirements.
- Ensure compliance with accounting standards, internal controls, and company policies.
- Support root cause analysis and corrective actions for costing, inventory, and manufacturing finance issues.

What Makes You the Right Fit

Education

- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Information Systems, or related field.

Knowledge & Skills

- Strong understanding of Plant Cost Analysis, Product Costing, Inventory Valuation, and Manufacturing Finance.
- Knowledge of SAP and financial reporting systems.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to lead initiatives, influence without authority, and execute through others.
- Strong collaboration, time management, and continuous improvement mindset.

Experience

PCA SME

- Minimum 3 years of experience in Plant Controlling, Cost Analysis, Manufacturing Finance, or Product Costing.
- Experience supporting global processes, reporting, and system improvements.

How Would You Stand Out?

- Functional Expertise
- Business Partnership
- Change Leadership
- Process Improvement & Automation
- Data Accuracy & Governance
- Stakeholder Management
- Training & Knowledge Sharing
- Strategic Thinking and Execution

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more