[Hiring] Senior Cost Accountant @Planet

Role Description

We are seeking a versatile Senior Accountant to serve as a key bridge between our newly established Berlin manufacturing facility and our US financial operations. In this dual-impact role, you will lead the cost accounting workflows and local compliance for our German entity (GmbH) while simultaneously supporting global cost accounting tasks, cross-border subsidiary reconciliations, and capital expenditure tracking. You will partner with operational leaders to establish scalable standard costing methodologies, maintain inventory integrity across multiple locations, and ensure seamless financial alignment between EMEA and US teams. Ideal candidates are detail-oriented professionals with background in multi-entity global structures who thrive in cross-functional environments.

This is a full-time, remote position based in Germany. If located near an office, you are expected to work from that office 3 days per week.

Impact You’ll Own

• Partner with Berlin Operations to establish scalable cost accounting workflows, standard costing methodologies, and manufacturing time-tracking for our local production line.
• Lead monthly close processes for GmbH inventory, including raw materials, WIP, and finished goods reconciliations, while overseeing physical cycle counts and analyzing adjustments.
• Ensure local accounting activities comply with German GAAP (HGB), prepare cost breakdowns for German R&D tax incentives (e.g., Forschungszulage), and manage financial documentation for local government grants and subsidies.
• Manage PCard reconciliations for lab equipment and flight materials while reviewing capital expenditure vs. operational expenses (CIP/Expense classifications) for the German entity.
• Serve as the dedicated backup for US cost accountants during time-off, high-volume periods, and initial US-hours coverage through cross-training on US month-end workflows.
• Review and clear consolidated transfer orders between international subsidiaries, managing movements between locations for both PBC and GmbH entities.
• Maintain costs associated with satellite materials, launch, and build processes while tracking movements across inventory, WIP, and internal fixed asset materials.
• Assist in labor capitalization tracking across internal software development, satellite construction, and commissioning efforts.
• Perform purchase price variance (PPV), production variance, scrap, and Excess & Obsolete (E&O) analysis while preparing balance sheet reconciliations, journal entries, and accrued purchases/prepaid manufacturing schedules for US and EMEA operations.
• Support internal and external audits across US GAAP, local German GAAP, and SOX controls.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of relevant cost accounting experience in a manufacturing or high-tech operational environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration (or a relevant German Ausbildung, e.g., Industriekaufmann/-frau, with specialized focus on accounting/controlling).
• Experience with inventory controls and multi-entity global structures.
• Proficiency with modern ERP systems and advanced capability in Excel or Google Sheets.
• Professional fluency in both English and German.

Requirements

• Working knowledge of both US GAAP and German GAAP (HGB).
• Hands-on experience with NetSuite ERP.

Benefits

• Paid time off including vacation, holidays and company-wide days off.
• Employee Wellness Program.
• Home Office Reimbursement.
• Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement.
• Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning.
• Equity.
• Volunteering Paid Time Off.