Senior Manager – Cost Accounting

• Location: Dallas, Texas
• Type: Dallas:Fin/Acct/HR:Direct Hire
• Job #10102

#10102 Job Description
Senior Manager – Cost Accounting

We are looking for a Senior Manager in Cost Accounting to lead and manage the accounting functions related to the construction and development of new high-performance computing facilities (data centers) and other large-scale capital projects. This role will be instrumental in maintaining precise financial reporting, managing cost control, overseeing cost allocation, and ensuring compliance across both project phases and ongoing operations.
As a vital financial leader, you will be in charge of monitoring cost tracking, analyzing variances, and producing financial reports for all capital investments, ensuring costs are correctly allocated, reconciled, and capitalized. This position requires close collaboration with various teams such as Development, Engineering, Procurement, Operations, Corporate Accounting, FP&A, Tax, and Treasury to provide financial insight and ensure projects are completed on budget, in line with corporate policies.
To excel in this role, you should bring a solid background in cost accounting, financial expertise, and the ability to manage large capital projects in a dynamic, fast-paced setting.
Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee all capital construction and investment initiatives, developing cost accounting models to track, classify, and report on project expenses accurately.
• Manage and reconcile construction-in-progress (CIP) accounts, ensuring assets are capitalized in a timely manner upon project completion.
• Set up and enforce cost control mechanisms, ensuring adherence to GAAP, tax laws, company standards, and internal controls.
• Develop and maintain systems for cost tracking and inventory management to ensure proper allocation of both direct and indirect project costs.
• Establish a cost allocation strategy to charge back expenses to end-users based on capacity utilization and other relevant metrics.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reports on project spending, capital investments, and financial results.
• Act as a financial partner for the Construction, Engineering, Procurement, and Operations teams, ensuring financial goals align with project timelines and milestones.
• Work closely with Corporate Accounting and FP&A teams to facilitate accurate and timely financial closing processes, including journal entries, accruals, and reconciliations.
• Analyze budget-versus-actual data, identifying variances, and providing actionable recommendations to improve cost efficiency.
• Maintain key cost accounting reports, such as Work-in-Progress (WIP) schedules, cost forecasts, and asset roll-forwards.
• Collaborate with Tax and Treasury teams to ensure proper capitalization and tax handling of project expenses and provide capital expenditure forecasts.
• Partner with IT and finance departments to improve automation, cost tracking, and reporting systems.
• Continuously drive process improvements, applying best practices in cost accounting, automation, and financial controls.
• Develop and ensure compliance with internal controls, financial policies, and external reporting standards for capital project costs and fixed assets.
• Support internal audit processes by providing the necessary documentation and insights into cost accounting matters.
• Stay updated on industry developments, regulatory changes, and best practices, and proactively advise leadership on compliance and improvements.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field (CPA, CMA, or Master’s degree preferred).
• At least 8 years of relevant experience, with a focus on cost accounting, project accounting, inventory control, and fixed asset management.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a leadership position.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, cost allocation practices, and financial reporting for capital investments.
• Experience with construction-in-progress (CIP) accounting and managing costs for large capital projects.
• Familiarity with financial platforms such as D365, Coupa, Blackline, Alteryx, or similar systems.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to manage stakeholder relationships.
• Experience in industries such as high-performance computing facilities (data centers), infrastructure, manufacturing, or construction is highly desirable.