Senior Cost Analyst (San Fernando)

Job Title: Senior Financial & Cost Analyst – SAP S/4HANA

Location: San Fernando, CA | Onsite

Employment Type: Temp-to-Hire (90-Day)

Schedule: Full-Time, M-F

Compensation: $85,000–$95,000 annually

Company Overview:

For over six decades, this organization has built a strong reputation as a trusted and innovative partner in the flavor and juice processing industry, remaining dedicated to understanding the unique needs of clients and delivering high-quality results through expertise and resources. As the company continues to grow, they stay committed to leading the industry in flavor and juice processing services.

Job Summary:

The Senior Financial & Cost Analyst plays a critical role in supporting the Finance organization during a multi-year SAP S/4HANA implementation while maintaining ongoing operations within a legacy Microsoft Dynamics environment. This position is highly hands-on and central to maintaining accounting accuracy, inventory integrity, and regulatory compliance throughout the system transformation. Upon successful completion of the SAP S/4HANA program, this role is expected to transition into a permanent position within the Finance organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Accounting & Close

• Prepare and review inventory- and overhead-related month-end journal entries
• Perform inventory reconciliations, transaction reviews, and reserve analyses
• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual close activities during system transition
• Ensure consistency and accuracy between SAP S/4HANA and Microsoft Dynamics during parallel operations

Product Costing & Pricing

• Maintain and analyze product costing and pricing models
• Support standard cost updates, variance analysis, and margin reporting
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to identify cost drivers and process improvements

Inventory Accounting

• Oversee inventory transactions, reserves, and adjustments
• Analyze slow-moving, obsolete, and excess inventory
• Ensure accurate valuation and reporting in compliance with GAAP

TTB & Regulatory Compliance

• Prepare and submit TTB drawback and excise tax filings
• Ensure compliance with Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau regulations
• Support audits and regulatory inquiries related to inventory and tax reporting

Reporting & Analysis

• Develop and maintain financial and operational reports
• Perform detailed variance analysis and provide insights to leadership
• Support management reporting during system cutover and stabilization

SAP S/4HANA Implementation Support

• Serve as a finance subject matter expert during SAP S/4HANA design, testing, and deployment
• Participate in UAT, data validation, and cutover activities
• Support future-state finance and inventory process design
• Prepare process flowcharts and accounting procedures for SAP S/4HANA and legacy systems

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
• Minimum of 10 years of accounting and finance experience
• Strong inventory and cost accounting experience within a manufacturing environment
• Hands-on SAP experience (S/4HANA strongly preferred)
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, macros, and complex formulas
• Experience operating in dual ERP environments during system implementations
• Ability to manage detailed accounting work while supporting large-scale system transformations
• Willingness to report to company facilities as needed, including same-day notice

Preferred:

• Background in food and beverage or regulated manufacturing environments
• Prior involvement in SAP implementations or finance transformation initiatives

Key Competencies:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• High attention to detail with the ability to meet tight deadlines
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Operations, IT, and Supply Chain
• Comfort operating in a changing, project-driven environment
• Ownership mindset with long-term leadership potential