Position: Sr. Product Cost Analyst

Department: Finance (Product Cost)

Primary accountability: Independent ownership of complete product cost models and related financial analysis

Portfolio scope: Approximately 5-10 product lines

Position Summary

Product Cost Model is a financial role responsible for independently building, maintaining, validating, and analyzing complete product cost models for an assigned Business unit consisting of approximately 5-10 product lines. The employee is accountable for the cost model from input collection through calculation, validation, analysis, communication, and ongoing maintenance. Partnering with cross functional team in driving cost competitiveness.

Cross-functional teams provide technical and operational input; however, accountability for completeness, accuracy, version control, timely delivery, and financial interpretation of the cost model remains with this role.

End-to-End Cost Modeling Accountability

1. Collect and validate input: Obtain required source data and assumptions from the relevant business owners; identify and resolve missing, inconsistent, or unsupported inputs.

2. Build and update the model: Prepare and maintain the complete Excel cost model, calculations, scenarios, and cost roadmaps for assigned product lines.

3. Check and reconcile results: Verify formulas, logic, source references, and outputs before releasing the analysis for review or decision-making.

4. Analyze cost drivers and variances: Explain changes, risks, opportunities, and gaps between actual cost, modeled cost, target cost, and the approved roadmap.

5. Communicate conclusions: Provide clear financial summaries, recommendations, and decision-ready analysis to management and cross-functional stakeholders.

6. Maintain control and continuity: Keep assumptions, changes, source references, model versions, and supporting documentation current and traceable.

7.Collaborate with the Cross-functional team, monitoring & tracking the cost reduction actions, driving the Cost competitiveness.

Key Responsibilities

1. Full Product Cost Model Ownership

Independently prepare, maintain, and control complete Excel-based product cost models for approximately 5-10 product lines.
Maintain a consistent model structure with clear assumptions, formulas, source references, and version history.
Coordinate with data owners and actively follow up on incomplete or inconsistent information; do not rely on passive data collection.
Ensure each model is complete, accurate, reviewed, and ready for the required business milestone or management review.

2. NPI Costing and Gate Reviews

Prepare product cost models and cost roadmaps for NPI gate reviews.
Analyze changes versus target, prior model versions, and approved assumptions; explain key drivers, risks, and opportunities.
Partners with R&D, Manufacturing Engineering, GCM, and other teams to identify cost-improvement opportunities and quantify their financial impact.

3. Mass-Production Cost Roadmaps

Prepare and maintain cost roadmaps for mass-production products.
Update model assumptions and expected cost changes based on approved BOM, HPU, yield, and other relevant business inputs.
Provide a clear view of current cost, expected future cost, timing, and remaining gaps to target.

4. Cost Simulation and Scenario Analysis

Perform product cost simulations for BOM changes, HPU changes, yield improvement, and other approved scenarios.
Compare alternatives and quantify the cost impact by product and product line to support management decisions.

5. Actual Cost, Variance, and Savings Analysis

Analyze variance between actual product cost and the approved cost model or roadmap.
Identify the main cost drivers and clearly explain whether the variance is caused by assumptions, timing, data, or execution gaps.
Track cost-improvement initiatives and cost-saving realization; validate that reported savings are supported by actual results.

6. FTA and Management Support

Prepare model, form and supporting analysis for Free Trade Agreement (FTA) applications.
Provide management-ready summaries, recommendations, and ad hoc financial analysis as required.
Manage priorities and deadlines across multiple product lines while maintaining accuracy and documentation quality.

Expected Deliverables and Measures of Success

Complete, accurate, and on-time cost models for all assigned product lines.
Clear and traceable assumptions, source data, formulas, model versions, and supporting documentation.
Reliable cost roadmaps, scenario analyses, and variance bridges that management can use for decisions.
Timely identification and communication of cost risks, opportunities, data gaps, and required actions.
Demonstrated ownership: the analyst independently drives the model to completion rather than only collecting or compiling inputs.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor's degree or above in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field. An Engineering background is also acceptable; an MBA is a plus.
At least 5 years of relevant working experience, including product cost accounting or product costing experience in a multinational manufacturing company. Experience with a U.S.-listed company is preferred.
At least 3 years of hands-on product costing experience.
Advanced Microsoft Excel modeling capability is essential. The role requires the ability to build, maintain, audit, and explain complex manually managed cost models, not only operate an automated costing system.
Good knowledge of manufacturing processes and the ability to translate technical and operational inputs into financial cost impact.
Proficiency in Oracle ERP; SAP experience is acceptable. Strong Microsoft Office skills are required, and Tableau experience is a plus.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliverables across approximately 5-10 product lines.
English proficiency sufficient to work effectively with global teams from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Senior Product Cost Analyst