Senior Cost Accountant

Worker Type

Regular
Job Description

Summary

The Senior Cost Accountant is responsible for overseeing and analyzing cost expenditures within the organization as well as the ongoing analysis of process constraints, target costing projects, margin analysis and tracing costs back to underlying activities. This role partners cross-functionally with Operations, Planning, and Supply Chain teams to trace root causes of variances, recommend process improvements, and ensure accurate financial reporting.

Position Responsibilities:

- Drives accounting process within the plant to ensure accurate books, records and compliance to key control requirements including Sarbanes Oxley.
- Act as an active financial advisor to the Operations management team. Support Operations staff in developing and interpreting financial and non-financial performance measurements.
- Collaborate across departments to identify, trace, and resolve inventory and cost anomalies. Must have hands-on knowledge of how manufacturing works operationally.
- Demonstrate ownership and proactive curiosity when addressing issues to identify and address problems before they escalate.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to promote better cost control discipline.
- Lead cross-functional meetings with Operations, SCM, and PLM, with a focus on continuous improvement.
- Monitor and collect inventory and cost data; review daily/weekly/monthly reports and investigate variances to ensure proper financial reporting.
- Build dashboards, business intelligence reports, and cost models in Oracle (Fusion preferred). Must understand how ERP settings impact cost behavior across supply chain transactions, labor routings, and WO closure rules.
- Lead Perpetual Inventory reviews, E&O Reserve analysis, inventory forecasting, operational data analysis, and ERP integrity audits.
- Thrive in environments where processes may be evolving, must have a continuous improvement mindset and comfort working through ambiguity.
- Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience):

- Bachelor's degree in Finance or related field is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
- Minimum of 8-12 years of experience in Finance, General Accounting and/or Cost Accounting in an aerospace manufacturing environment
- Working knowledge of GAAP
- Current expertise in: MS Office Suite (Advanced MS Excel required)
- ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) System Working knowledge (Fusion Preferred) and associated reporting tools.
- Experience supporting a high-tech internal manufacturing environment desired
- Strong Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
- Able to work in a team environment, and able to effectively shift focus to multiple priorities
- Readily adapt to changing circumstances
- Effectively manage time, and workflow and meet deadlines
- Produce high quality work and services
- Open to feedback and motivated to grow outside the comfort zone.​
- Is an experienced professional with a full understanding of area of specialization with ability to resolve a wide range of issues in creative and effective ways.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies:

- Advanced degree preferred
- Knowledge of Government Cost Accounting Principles (CAS) and FAR preferred
- Is a team player with good oral and written communication skills, and capable of working with various functional organizations to coordinate inputs and outputs
- Having wide-ranging experience, uses professional concepts and company objectives to resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways with little instruction
- Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
- Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
- Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products
- Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company
- Has effective problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills. Focuses on teamwork, collaboration and puts the success of the team above one's own interests

Physical Demands

- Ability to work in an office environment (Constant)
- Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)
- Hybrid Position

Clearance Level
No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:
$89,000 - $135,750

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits :  AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.  For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits .

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply.  NO agencies please.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or a person approved for an export license from the appropriate governing agency.