Job Information
GKN Aerospace Senior Cost accountant/Gov't accountant in Cromwell, United States
Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.
GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.
Job Summary
Why You’ll Love This Role
If you’re energized by digging into the details behind product costs, understanding how manufacturing performance drives financial results, and owning the integrity of cost data from shop floor to financial statements, this role is for you.
As a Senior Cost Accountant, you’ll be at the center of cost visibility and control—ensuring accurate product costing, maintaining disciplined cost structures, analyzing variances, and delivering actionable insights that improve operational performance. Your work will directly influence pricing, profitability, forecasting, and strategic decision-making across complex aerospace manufacturing programs.
This is not a transactional role. You’ll own cost accounting processes end-to-end, collaborate closely with operations and program teams, and serve as a key steward of financial accuracy in a highly regulated manufacturing environment.
What You’ll Do
Own and Manage the Cost Accounting Structure
Oversee the accurate accumulation, classification, and allocation of direct and indirect costs
Maintain and continuously improve cost pools (labor, overhead, G&A) and allocation methodologies
Lead annual and interim indirect rate development, forecasting, and monitoring
Ensure consistency and integrity in cost flow from subledger to general ledger
Maintain standard cost structures and ensure alignment with operational realities
Month-end close related activities
Ensure compliance with FAR, CAS, and U.S. Government accounting requirements across active aerospace programs
Support CAS-covered contracts, maintaining consistent and compliant cost accumulation, allocation, and reporting practices
Monitor and document compliance with key CAS standards
Identify and manage unallowable costs in accordance with FAR Part 31
Job Responsibilities
Drive Manufacturing Cost Control & Analysis
Perform detailed analysis of labor, material, overhead, and subcontract costs
Analyze manufacturing variances (labor efficiency, material usage, overhead absorption, purchase price variance) and partner with operations to identify root causes
Monitor inventory valuation, WIP balances, and cost of goods sold
Support standard cost updates, annual cost roll processes, and BOM reviews
Evaluate cost trends and identify opportunities for efficiency and margin improvement
Lead Government Cost Compliance Within the Cost Framework
Ensure cost accumulation practices comply with FAR, CAS, and government contract requirements
Support CAS-covered contracts with consistent cost allocation methodologies
Identify, monitor, and segregate unallowable costs
Prepare and support forward pricing rate proposals (FPRPs), and government submissions
Serve as a key contributor during DCAA and DCMA audits, helping tell the story behind the numbers
Strengthen Financial Controls & Reporting
Maintain documentation supporting cost methodologies and internal controls
Support month-end and year-end close processes related to inventory, reserves, and cost adjustments
Develop clear, decision-useful reporting for leadership
Ensure audit readiness through disciplined process ownership and documentation
Leverage Financial Systems & Tools
Utilize SAP to manage cost accounting structures, standard costs, and reporting
Support consolidation and reporting through OneStream
Build advanced cost models, variance analysis, and dashboards using Excel, MS Office tools, and Qlik
Job Qualifications
What You Bring
US Citizen.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
5+ years of progressive experience in cost accounting within a manufacturing environment (aerospace preferred)
Strong understanding of standard costing, variance analysis, and indirect rate structures
Experience with cost roll processes in complex BOM environments
Advanced Excel skills, experience with ERP systems (SAP preferred), and financial reporting software (OneStream preferred)
Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate cost data into operational insight
Hands-on experience supporting audits and government rate submissions
Working knowledge of FAR and CAS in a government contracting environment
Direct experience preparing forward pricing rate proposals (FPRP)
DCAA/DCMA audit support experience
Nice to Have
CPA or CMA certification
We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?
A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working
Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.
We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.
We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.