Finance Manager (Manufacturing Cost Accounting Required)

Finance Manager | Santa Barbara County, CA

Posted by The VIRATA Group

We're partnering with a well-established, diversified investment organization overseeing a portfolio of operating companies spanning manufacturing, real estate, and investment management. They are seeking a hands-on Finance Manager to serve as a key financial partner across their portfolio — someone who rolls up their sleeves on the accounting itself, not just oversees it, and brings deep manufacturing/cost accounting expertise.

The Role

This is a hands-on, individual contributor role — not a management or purely strategic position. You'll be directly involved in the accounting work across a portfolio of operating companies, while also providing financial oversight, reporting, and strategic support. You'll act as a key liaison between portfolio company leadership and a centralized finance function, with broad visibility into cash management, financial planning, audit, and investment reporting. Growth potential is uncapped for the right person.

What You'll Do

• Perform cost accounting directly for manufacturing operations — standard costing, inventory analysis, and day-to-day financial operations on the production side (this is a MUST, not a nice-to-have)
• Prepare journal entries hands-on for the investment side of the business, working closely with the company's CPA
• Work directly with external auditors on audit support across multiple LLCs, including hands-on coordination of documentation and compliance
• Oversee cash flow positions, borrowing needs, and available investment funds
• Monitor and evaluate financial and operational performance across portfolio companies — identifying trends, risks, and opportunities
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning alongside business leadership
• Partner with management teams to track KPIs and value-creation initiatives
• Develop standardized reporting packages, dashboards, and analysis for internal stakeholders
• Conduct benchmarking and scenario modeling to support acquisitions and strategic planning
• Manage treasury and banking activity, including fund movements, settlements, and third-party investment account monitoring
• Review and facilitate financial reporting from portfolio subsidiaries
• Evaluate enterprise contracts for financial terms and conditions
• Support real estate finance analysis, including asset performance reporting
• Contribute to special projects, including new acquisitions and exit readiness initiatives

What We're Looking For

• Hands-on cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment — required (MUST-have). Candidates must have direct, practical experience performing standard costing, inventory analysis, and financial operations in a manufacturing setting — not just exposure to it
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
• CPA not required — active CPA, CPA candidate, expired CPA, or never having held a CPA license are all welcome; accounting depth matters more than the credential
• Comfortable working directly with external auditors and with the company's CPA
• Direct experience preparing journal entries, including for investment-side transactions
• 7+ years of progressive finance/accounting experience, ideally including manufacturing and/or real estate
• Strong financial modeling, valuation, and data visualization skills
• Proficiency with ERP and financial systems (e.g., NetSuite, Oracle, Cognos, Anaplan, Power BI)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present financial information clearly to varied stakeholders
• Local to Santa Barbara County or open to relocation — strongly preferred

Compensation

$114,289 – $142,861 annually, commensurate with experience

Location

Santa Barbara County, CA (25% onsite, 75% remote)

Growth

Upward mobility in this role is uncapped for the right candidate.

To Apply: Interested candidates should apply directly through this posting or reach out to Patrick Wacks, CEO, The VIRATA Group, for a confidential conversation.