Accounting Salary - Manager, Cost Accounting

Established in 1919 and traded on the NYSE, Standard Motor Products, Inc. (SMP) is a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of premium automotive replacement parts utilized in the maintenance, repair, and service of vehicles in the automotive aftermarket. Additionally, SMP provides customized solutions for vehicle control and thermal management products in diversified end markets represented by its Engineered Solutions segment.

Globally, SMP employs over 6,000 employees across nearly 40 manufacturing, distribution, and engineering facilities and offices located in North America, Europe and Asia. SMP sells its products primarily to automotive aftermarket retailers, program distribution groups, warehouse distributors, original equipment manufacturers, and original equipment service part operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Mexico, and other Latin American countries.

Position Summary

The Cost Accounting Manager will own inventory accounting, reconciliations, reserves, standard costing, and management reporting, reviewing supporting analyses and accounting conclusions, and resolving complex issues. This role works closely with Supply Chain, Procurement, Logistics, Operations, Pricing, Sales, Product Management, and Joint Ventures to translate changing product and landed costs into timely sourcing and customer pricing decisions.

Bring your curiosity, analytical judgment, and improvement mindset to a role that combines hands-on cost accounting with the opportunity to shape smarter, more scalable accounting processes. We are looking for an independent thinker who asks thoughtful questions, develops well-supported recommendations, and takes ownership of turning ideas into action.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Accounting & Inventory Management Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual cost accounting close activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and management reporting. Manage inventory accounting for raw materials, work in process, finished goods, cores, and inventory in transit. Maintain the standard cost system and perform new product, quarterly and annual standard cost roll activities.

Ensure inventory is valued consistently according to company accounting policies. Oversee inventory reserve calculations for excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory and resolve significant valuation matters. Review inventory movement, aging, usage, and valuation trends and coordinate corrective actions with business partners.

Standard Costing & Manufacturing Variance Analysis Analyze purchase price variance, material usage, labor efficiency, overhead spending, and overhead absorption. Validate bills of material, routings, labor rates, machine rates, overhead assumptions, and other inputs used in product costs. Investigate significant cost variances, identify root causes, and provide actionable recommendations to Finance and Operations leaders.

Prepare concise management reporting on plant performance, product costs, inventory turns, and manufacturing margin drivers. Support budgeting and forecasting with current cost assumptions, operational trends, and variance explanations. Tariff Changes, Cost Simulations & Pricing Partner with Supply Chain and IT to evaluate proposed and enacted tariff changes and determine the affected suppliers, components, countries of origin, tariff classifications, and product families.

Quantify the effect of tariff and duty changes on purchase costs, total landed cost, inventory valuation, simulated costs, gross margin, and future cost forecasts. Provide Pricing and Sales teams with timely cost simulations that clearly identify the amount, timing, and product-level impact of tariff-driven cost changes.

Present results of cost simulation to Finance, Supply Chain, Pricing, Sales, and executive leadership. Audit, Compliance & Special Projects Prepare quarterly and annual audit schedules and provide clear support to internal and external auditors. Support internal control requirements related to inventory, costing, reserves, ERP data, and management review controls.

Participate in system implementations, acquisitions, sourcing projects, new product launches, and other strategic initiatives. Systems, Controls & Process Improvement Identify opportunities to standardize, simplify, and automate cost accounting and tariff simulation processes. Partner with Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and IT to improve ERP functionality, data mapping, reporting, and workflow controls.

Establish documented testing procedures to validate system reports, cost-model inputs, data completeness, and mapping changes. Maintain clear process documentation, model assumptions, approval evidence, and audit trails for material cost and pricing analyses. Lead improvement initiatives from problem definition through implementation, adoption, and measurement of results.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. 8–10 years of substantial cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment. Experience with remanufacturing a plus. Strong knowledge of standard costing, inventory valuation, manufacturing variances, landed-cost modeling. Experience analyzing tariffs, duties, freight, foreign exchange, and sourcing changes for product costing and commercial pricing decisions.

Advanced proficiency with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, Net. Suite, etc.) and Excel. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to frame ambiguous issues, analyze financial and operational data, evaluate alternatives, and recommend practical solutions. Communicate findings clearly and build cross-functional support for action.

Strong analytical judgment, attention to detail, project ownership, and ability to manage competing priorities under tight deadlines. Standard Motor Products is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.