Manager, Inventory and Operations Accounting

Summary: 

The Manager, Inventory and Operations Accounting role will help manage Vaxcyte’s cost accounting functions, including standard costing, inventory valuation, and manufacturing variance analysis. This role also owns the full manufacturing accrual process for the Manufacturing Accounting Team — maintaining accrual trackers, preparing monthly accrual journal entries, reconciling manufacturing general ledger accounts, and preparing manufacturing flux analysis. The Manager, Inventory and Operations Accounting role partners closely with Supply Chain and FP&A to ensure accurate cost data, drive margin improvement initiatives, and maintain strong internal controls over inventory and cost of goods sold (COGS). The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting skills with the ability to translate cost data into actionable business insights. 

Essential Functions: 

• Maintain and update standard costs for materials, labor, and overhead.
• Analyze and report on manufacturing variances (purchase price, usage, labor, and overhead) and partner with Supply Chain to explain and resolve root causes.
• Own the manufacturing accrual process end to end, including maintaining accrual trackers by key vendors. 
• Prepare monthly accruals for manufacturing vendors, ensuring costs are recorded in the appropriate period. 
• Prepare journal entries related to manufacturing accruals, inventory, COGS, and manufacturing variances. 
• Manage inventory valuation, reserves, scrap and obsolescence, and reconciliation processes across all locations. 
• Reconcile manufacturing and cost-related general ledger accounts and ensure timely, accurate month-end close.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly flux analysis for inventory, COGS and manufacturing accrual accounts.
• Maintain and execute internal controls over inventory, standard costing, COGS and manufacturing accruals in compliance with GAAP and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX). 
• Support quarterly external audits and SOX testing related to manufacturing, inventory, and cost accounting; manage requests, remediate deficiencies, and track corrective action plans. 
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies identified in physical inventory counts and cycle counts.
• Support ERP and system enhancements related to inventory and cost accounting.  
• Additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned. 

 Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field. 
• 7+ years of progressive cost accounting experience in a biotech manufacturing environment, including contract manufacturing.  Other combinations of education and/or experience may be considered. 
• Experience with product costing in SAP S/4 Hana required. 
• Strong understanding of standard costing, variance analysis, and inventory accounting under GAAP. 
• Advanced Excel skills. 
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. 
• CPA or CMA certification preferred. 
• Experience working in a public company (SEC-reporting) environment preferred. 
• Attention to detail and accuracy. 
• Strong business acumen and ability to translate data into insights.
• Cross-functional collaboration and influence. 
• Process improvement mindset. 
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.