Manager, Cost Accounting

Job Description:

The Manager, Cost Accounting will be based in Hyderabad, India. In this position, you will report to the MEIAT Controller. The Manager, Cost Accounting will be a key leader within Nextpower’s Corporate Controllership organization, supporting manufacturing cost accounting, inventory valuation, plant finance operations, financial controls, and cost analytics for solar tracker manufacturing operations. This role will partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, FP&A, Engineering, Procurement, and Global Finance teams to drive cost visibility, inventory accuracy, and operational efficiency. The Manager will be responsible for ensuring accurate standard costing, cost absorption, inventory valuation, variance analysis, excess and obsolete inventory analysis, and month-end close activities in compliance with company policies, internal controls, and applicable accounting standards.

The ideal candidate will bring strong manufacturing cost accounting expertise, advanced analytical capability, ERP experience, and the ability to translate complex cost and operational data into actionable insights for business leaders. Watch “Culture is our Passion” to learn more about us

We are looking for someone who demonstrates:

• Passionate drive to innovate and create
• Integrity to the core
• Enthusiastic customer focus
• Consistent interactive teamwork
• Desire for continuous improvement and top performance.

Here is a glimpse of what you will do:

Cost Accounting, Inventory, and Manufacturing Finance

• Own day-to-day plant finance and cost accounting operations, including inventory accounting, manufacturing cost analysis, standard costing, inventory valuation, and cost of goods sold reporting.
• Lead month-end and quarter-end close activities related to inventory, cost accounting, manufacturing variances, cost absorption, reserves, and related balance sheet accounts.
• Monitor, analyze, and explain key manufacturing variances, including material price variance, usage variance, labor variance, overhead variance, yield variance, purchase price variance, freight, scrap, and cost absorption.
• Review and maintain standard costs, bill of material cost assumptions, routing assumptions, overhead rates, landed cost components, and inventory valuation methodologies.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain teams to assess production performance, yield trends, inventory movements, scrap, rework, cycle count results, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Support inventory controls, including cycle counts, physical inventory observations, inventory adjustments, slow-moving inventory reviews, and reconciliation of inventory subledger to general ledger.
• Lead excess and obsolete inventory analysis, including trend analysis, reserve calculations, risk assessment, aging analysis, and management reporting.
• Ensure accurate accounting treatment for inventory, cost capitalization, reserves, write-offs, purchase commitments, and other manufacturing-related accounting matters.
• Coordinate with internal and external auditors on inventory, costing, reserves, and manufacturing finance audit requirements.

Cost Analytics, KPI Reporting, and Business Insights

• Develop, enhance, and maintain recurring and ad hoc cost reports that highlight cost trends, operational variances, margin drivers, and cost optimization opportunities.
• Build analytical models to evaluate manufacturing cost performance, inventory turns, production yield, absorption rates, material cost trends, scrap, freight, labor productivity, and overhead utilization.
• Develop and track key performance indicators for plant finance and manufacturing operations, including inventory accuracy, production variances, cost per unit, yield, scrap, absorption, cycle count accuracy, E&O exposure, and working capital efficiency.
• Translate cost accounting results into clear business insights and recommendations for operational leaders and senior management.
• Support cost reduction initiatives by identifying drivers of unfavourable variances and partnering with cross-functional teams to implement corrective actions.
• Prepare dashboards, executive summaries, and management presentations that clearly communicate cost performance, risks, and opportunities.

Financial Modelling and Decision Support

• Build and maintain financial models to support manufacturing cost forecasts, inventory projections, cost optimization initiatives, and business case evaluations.
• Analyse cost impacts of changes in material pricing, supplier terms, freight rates, tariffs, production volume, labour assumptions, overhead rates, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Partner with FP&A to support budget, forecast, and long-range planning processes for cost of goods sold, inventory, reserves, and plant operating expenses.
• Provide scenario analysis and sensitivity modelling to evaluate operational and financial outcomes under different production, sourcing, and cost assumptions.
• Support global finance projects by providing cost accounting expertise, analytical support, process documentation, and financial control recommendations.
• Assist in developing standardized reporting packages and analytical frameworks that can be scaled across global manufacturing and supply chain operations.

Financial Controls, Compliance, and Process Improvement

• Ensure compliance with company accounting policies, internal controls, and applicable regulatory requirements related to cost accounting, inventory, and manufacturing finance.
• Own and review balance sheet reconciliations related to inventory, reserves, accruals, purchase price variance, standard cost adjustments, and other cost accounting accounts.
• Support revenue recognition and financial reporting accuracy by ensuring cost of goods sold, inventory, and margin-related accounts are complete and accurate.
• Identify control gaps, reporting inefficiencies, and process improvement opportunities within cost accounting and plant finance processes.
• Drive automation and standardization of cost accounting reports, close processes, reconciliations, and analytical tools.
• Partner with IT and business process teams on ERP improvements, system implementations, master data governance, and reporting enhancements.
• Support implementation of best practices in manufacturing finance, including Lean, Six Sigma, process automation, and continuous improvement initiatives.

People and Team Leadership

• Supervise, coach, and develop accounting and finance team members, ensuring accountability, accuracy, technical excellence, and professional growth.
• Establish clear expectations, review work product, provide feedback, and promote a culture of ownership and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate effectively across FP&A, Tax, Treasury, Legal, Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Procurement, IT, and Corporate Accounting.
• Serve as a trusted finance partner to operational leaders by providing timely, accurate, and actionable financial insights.
• Promote strong communication, cross-functional collaboration, and disciplined execution across local and global teams

Here is some of what you will need (required):

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or a related field required.
• CPA is required, MBA, or equivalent professional qualification strongly preferred.
• Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in cost accounting, manufacturing finance, inventory accounting, plant controllership, or accounting operations.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing cost structures, standard costing, inventory valuation, cost absorption, variance analysis, and cost control mechanisms.
• Experience in manufacturing environments required; experience in solar, renewable energy, industrial products, electronics, automotive, or engineered products preferred.
• Strong understanding of month-end close, balance sheet reconciliations, internal controls, audit support, and financial reporting requirements.
• Advanced analytical and financial modelling skills, with the ability to work with large datasets and translate data into meaningful business insights.
• Strong ERP experience required; experience with Oracle, NetSuite, or similar ERP systems preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supporting ERP implementations, system enhancements, reporting automation, or finance transformation initiatives.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including advanced formulas, pivot tables, data modelling, scenario analysis, and large-volume data analysis.
• Experience with BI, analytics, and automation tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Alteryx, SQL, or similar platforms preferred.
• Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex cost accounting and financial concepts to non-finance stakeholders.
• Experience managing, mentoring, and developing accounting or finance staff.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, or manufacturing process improvement methodologies is a plus.

Here are a few of our preferred experiences

• Deep understanding of standard cost accounting and inventory controls in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to connect operational metrics with financial outcomes.
• Strong business partnering mindset with a focus on value creation and cost optimization.
• High degree of ownership, accountability, and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to challenge assumptions, investigate variances, and recommend practical corrective actions.
• Strong systems orientation and ability to improve processes through automation and reporting enhancements.
• Comfortable working across global teams, time zones, and cross-functional business groups.
• Ability to operate effectively in both detailed accounting activities and broader strategic analysis.

At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we’re building the foundation for the world’s next generation of clean energy infrastructure.