Product Costing Consultant - Remote Eligible

Product Costing Consultant Expert

Fully Remote - CST or EST only

6-month contract + extension

$80+/hr

The Product Costing Consultant Expert is responsible for leading product costing initiatives, ensuring accurate cost accounting, and providing strategic insights to support business decision-making. This role requires deep expertise in cost accounting methodologies, ERP systems (preferably SAP), and the ability to analyze complex costing scenarios. The consultant will work closely with cross-functional teams including Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to optimize product costs, improve margin analysis, and support pricing strategies. This is a critical role that combines technical accounting expertise with business partnership to drive informed decision-making and financial performance across the organization.

Core Responsibilities

• Costing Process Leadership
• Lead and manage product costing processes including standard cost development, cost roll-ups, and variance analysis
• Configure and maintain product costing functionality within ERP systems (SAP CO-PC Product Costing module preferred)
• Develop and implement cost accounting policies, procedures, and best practices aligned with organizational standards and regulatory requirements
• Conduct detailed cost analysis including material costs, labor costs, overhead allocation, and manufacturing variances
• Financial Reporting & Controls
• Support month-end and year-end close activities related to inventory valuation and cost of goods sold (COGS)
• Analyze and reconcile manufacturing variances (price, usage, volume, efficiency) and provide actionable insights
• Support transfer pricing, intercompany transactions, and multi-entity costing scenarios
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards (US GAAP, IFRS) and internal control requirements
• Business Partnership & Strategic Insights
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing teams to understand cost drivers and identify cost reduction opportunities
• Provide costing expertise for new product launches, product transitions, and make-vs-buy decisions
• Develop and maintain cost models, tools, and reporting dashboards to support business planning and decision-making
• Deliver insights on margin analysis, profitability, and pricing strategies to support executive decision-making
• System Implementation & Continuous Improvement
• Lead system implementations, upgrades, and enhancements related to product costing functionality
• Drive adoption of best practices and standardized processes across the organization
• Leverage technology and automation to improve efficiency and accuracy of costing processes
• Train and mentor finance team members and business stakeholders on costing methodologies and systems

Requirements

Education:

• Required: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field
• Preferred: Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, or MBA
• Certifications: CPA, CMA, or other relevant professional accounting certification (preferred)

Experience:

• 8+ years of progressive experience in product costing, cost accounting, or management accounting
• Extensive hands-on experience with ERP systems, preferably SAP CO (Controlling) module with focus on Product Cost Controlling (CO-PC)
• Proven experience in manufacturing or consumer goods industry with understanding of production processes and cost flows
• Strong experience with standard costing, actual costing, and variance analysis
• Demonstrated experience with month-end close processes, inventory valuation, and COGS calculations

Key Deliverables & Value

This role will deliver significant value to the organization through:

• Cost Accuracy & Integrity: Ensures product costs are accurate, compliant, and reflective of actual business operations
• Strategic Insights: Provides data-driven recommendations to optimize costs, improve margins, and support pricing decisions
• Process Excellence: Establishes scalable, efficient costing processes that support business growth
• System Optimization: Maximizes value from ERP investments through expert configuration and continuous improvement
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Strengthens collaboration between Finance and Operations to drive better business outcomes
• Compliance & Control: Maintains robust internal controls and ensures adherence to accounting standards