Consultant

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Special Projects Consultant to lead a focused initiative to evaluate and improve the organization’s manufacturing quoting and costing processes. This individual will assess the current-state quoting methodology, identify opportunities to improve cost and margin accuracy, and develop analytical models and recommendations for senior leadership.

The ideal candidate brings a blend of manufacturing/inventory costing expertise and operational FP&A, with the ability to move from detailed cost analysis to clear, actionable business recommendations.

Key Responsibilities

• Review and assess the current-state manufacturing quoting process, including methodologies, assumptions, controls, and data inputs.
• Evaluate burden and overhead rate build-up, including labor, machine, manufacturing overhead, and other cost allocations used in product quoting.
• Analyze standard cost versus actual cost performance to identify recurring variances and determine where quoting assumptions may not reflect actual manufacturing economics.
• Review assumptions used in quotes related to materials, labor, overhead, production volumes, efficiencies, scrap, and other manufacturing cost drivers.
• Assess how current quoting practices impact product and customer margins.
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies, and opportunities to improve the accuracy and reliability of cost and margin estimates.
• Develop financial and operational models to evaluate alternative costing methodologies, burden rates, pricing assumptions, and margin scenarios.
• Partner with Finance, Operations, Manufacturing, Sales, and other stakeholders to validate assumptions and understand operational cost drivers.
• Develop recommendations for an improved future-state quoting and costing process.
• Prepare analyses, models, and executive-level presentations summarizing findings, financial impacts, and recommendations.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership and support implementation planning.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in manufacturing finance, inventory/product costing, cost accounting, or operational FP&A.
• Demonstrated understanding of standard costing, actual costing, manufacturing variances, burden/overhead rates, and margin analysis.
• Experience analyzing or improving product quoting, pricing, or cost-estimation processes within a manufacturing environment.
• Advanced financial modeling and analytical skills, including strong Excel capabilities.
• Ability to work with large and complex operational and financial data sets and translate findings into actionable insights.
• Strong business partnering skills with the ability to work across Finance, Operations, Manufacturing, and commercial teams.
• Ability to communicate complex costing concepts clearly and present recommendations to senior leadership.
• Travel to site locations is required.

Ideal Background

This role is particularly well suited for someone who combines the technical foundation of a manufacturing cost accounting professional with the analytical and business-partnering capabilities of an operational FP&A professional. Experience leading process-improvement or special-project work around costing, quoting, pricing, or margin optimization is highly desirable.