Cost Accounting Manager

About Base

Base is building the foundation of American power. The grid is the largest, most complex machine in the world. Yet it’s aging, struggling to keep up with today’s demand, and is unprepared for our electrified future.

Base is modernizing the grid as the first engineering-led, technology-driven power company. We’re deploying a nationwide network of distributed batteries that strengthens critical infrastructure and saves Americans money.

Our team of engineers, operators, creatives, technicians, and electricians design and deploy systems at speed. If you want to tackle the problem that will define this century and shape the future of American energy, now is the time. Join us.

About the Role

Role Overview:

The Cost Accounting Manager will be responsible for building out the cost accounting function and related systems, as well as, support the accounting efforts for deployed inventory. This role will partner closely with operations, engineers, supply chain, and finance to ensure a smooth roll-out of production activities and accurate capture of financial information in the process. This is a unique opportunity to join at the ground level and make the system/process your own.

Responsibilities:

• Own and maintain standard cost methodologies for materials, labor and overhead.

• Lead inventory accounting system and process design, including BOM definitions, routings, and item master governance, in partnership with operations and engineering.

• Establish and maintain cost accounting policies and processes in accordance with US GAAP, including the ongoing documentation thereof.

• Collaborate with operations, engineering, supply chain, finance and others to resolve inventory discrepancies and improve internal controls.

• Own inventory valuation, reserves, and capitalization rules for tooling and builds.

• Conduct routine analyzes of material and production variances, and assess root cause for improvement opportunities.

• Support physical inventory counts, and own related adjustments in ERP.

• Supporting month end close through ownership of the inventory and related production accounts, ensuring timely and accurate reconciliation.

• Support the accounting of deployed battery systems, including the system deployments, installations, system and component swaps, and returns.

• Serve as an educator to the business of key accounting rules and practices in the realm of inventory and costing.

• Maintain a “no job too small” mentality, being able to perform other procedures within the general scope of this role

Required Skills / Qualifications:

• 5+ years of manufacturing and cost accounting experience, including experience managing people and processes.

• Expert knowledge of standard costing, BOM’s, routings, and inventory accounting.

• CMA or CPA, SQL or BI skills for cost analytics preferred.

• Advanced ERP experience, preferably in Odoo.

• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office, including excel, word, and powerpoint.

• Strong variance and root cause analysis experience.

• Clear communication skills, demonstrating the ability to partner across functional groups (supply chain, engineering, operations, finance).

• Exposure to energy hardware or other complex assemblies.

• Experience or desire to operate in a high-growth environment.

Our Values

We’re building a winning culture and we’re looking for people who are up for the challenge. Here’s what we expect from day one:

• In-Person Only: We work full-time in the office. No hybrid. No remote.

• Challenge the Status Quo: Question assumptions. Fix broken systems. Principles > rules.

• Move Fast: Focus on what matters, act quickly, and learn by doing.

• Give & Get Feedback: Be direct, be humble. Challenge ideas–including your own.

• Own the Outcome: Take full responsibility. Deliver results. No excuses.

• Act Like an Owner: Be resourceful, mindful of impact, and committed to the business.

• Be Decisive: Drive clarity. Make bold calls with imperfect info.

• Bring the Intensity: This is not a 9-to-5. We're building something hard which requires real commitment.