🧾 Senior Manager, Cost Accounting

The Company

Astra's mission is to improve life on Earth from space by creating a healthier and more connected planet. Astra delivered its first commercial payload into Earth orbit in 2021, making it the fastest company in history to reach this milestone, just five years after being founded in 2016. By achieving monthly, weekly, then daily launches, we'll create the infrastructure services our customers need in space to build a healthier and more connected planet. If you're excited by a sense of possibility, the chance to innovate, and make a difference here on Earth, we think you should work here too.

The Opportunity

The Senior Manager of Cost Accounting will provide analytical insight into R&D projects, manufacturing and operational expenses, product costing / pricing (unit economics), and product line profitability. You will support customer and R&D related project costs and schedule performance.

You will work closely with management and key stakeholders to craft and implement inventory and manufacturing cost accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls to lower the cost of access to space while ensuring compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Government Accounting Standards. The key to success in this role is actively driving process improvement and leading projects to streamline while automating workflows. 

How You'll Fulfill Your Mission

• Design and implement process and controls for capturing project costs for multiple research & development projects
• Work with Engineering teams on development of BOM structures for accurate product costing methodologies
• Play an integral role in ERP and other enterprise system implementations to ensure all product costing is accurately captured
• Develop cost standards and lead periodic updates
• Perform monthly close processes, including cost accounting accruals, inventory costing, obsolescence, balance sheet reviews and account reconciliations
• Design and implement processes and controls for physical inventories and cycle counts
• Serve as an expert on cost accounting issues and related best practices and procedures
• Develop and provide consistent and accurate reporting of key supply chain metrics (e.g. utilization, efficiency)
• Maintain company fixed asset register and accounting policies and work with other departments to track and forecast capital projects
• Prepare various financial analyses related to R&D costs, manufacturing costs, inventory, and expense information as needed for decision making support
• Develop and document policies and procedures, including system requirements and internal controls
• Assist with the coordination and deliverables for audits, including maintaining comprehensive internal control documentation
• Perform additional duties as needed

Qualifications

• 10+ years relevant experience in a high growth manufacturing company with in-depth knowledge of GAAP, cost accounting, and financial reporting
• Experience with multiple costing standards (average, standard etc.) and designing and implementing controls around total cost capitalization
• Experience in a large-scale ERP implementation process required
• Must be proactive, detail-oriented, and able to prioritize critical deadlines
• High degree of initiative, exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills, and commitment to a high level of accuracy
• Bachelor’s degree with concentration in accounting, finance, or related business field

Desired Multipliers

• Experience working in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
• Extensive hands-on experience working with Microsoft Dynamics, Coupa, Odoo and/or systems integrations/implementations

ITAR Requirements: This position requires compliance with U.S. Government space technology  trade restrictions, specifically the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and additional regulations governing satellite, launch vehicle, missile, and other related technologies.  All jobs restricted by these regulations will be contingent upon the applicant’s status as a documented U.S. Person or their ability to receive a trade license from the cognizant government agency; in addition to any required company background checks and in compliance with applicable U.S. and California laws.  Similarly, positions requiring the ability to work on government contracts or a security clearance are also contingent upon the applicants ability to receive the appropriate clearance and be allowed to work on U.S. government contracts.

You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Astra, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.

San Francisco Applicants: Astra will consider applicants with arrest and conviction records (criminal histories) in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.