Cost Financial Analyst

Cesna Recruitment invites you to consider a Cost Financial Analyst role based onsite in Reston, Virginia. This position partners with Manufacturing and Operations to illuminate cost visibility, sharpen forecast accuracy, and guide cost control and capital allocation decisions. You’ll translate production activity into actionable financial insights and collaborate across functions to support the company’s manufacturing initiatives and financial planning.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with manufacturing to dissect product cost composition — materials, labor, conversion overhead, and yield — and identify the key cost drivers that influence profitability.
• Own the monthly manufacturing variance analysis, covering volume, yield, cost rates, and mix, and interpret deviations from the annual operating plan and forecast.
• Support cost optimization efforts aimed at improving plant efficiency, yield, and sourcing decisions.
• Lead the annual operating plan and forecasting process for Operations, SG&A and capital, highlighting risks and opportunities and driving mitigating actions.
• Develop driver-based models that link volume, yield, and cost assumptions to financial outcomes.
• Participate in month-end close to ensure result accuracy and a clear understanding of variance drivers.
• Facilitate monthly reviews with stakeholders to ensure accountability and alignment on cost targets.
• Support the development of the annual capital plan and forecasts, providing analytical reviews of projects to ensure adherence to internal financial benchmarks.
• Lead capital planning and investment analyses for plants, including ROI, IRR, and payback assessments for manufacturing and operations initiatives.
• Partner with operations to evaluate capacity expansion, automation, and cost-reduction projects.
• Conduct ad hoc analyses and projects to support business management decisions.
• Lead monthly G&A meetings with cost center owners to ensure a clear understanding of results.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in FP&A, operations finance, manufacturing finance, or a similar role.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Finance, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of cost drivers such as materials, labor, overhead, and logistics.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills; experience with SAP HANA and Power BI is a plus.
• Prior work experience in industries such as Manufacturing or Food Manufacturing is preferred.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to multi-task, strong attention to detail, and self-motivation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, up to approximately 10%, to support plant visits and cross-functional collaboration.

Technologies

• Microsoft Excel
• SAP HANA
• Power BI