Strategic Cost Analyst

Job description

The Strategic Cost Analyst will serve as the cost modeling and profitability analytics expert for the CMSBU Networking cable assembly portfolio. This role will build a detailed understanding of product cost structures, identify the primary drivers of cost and margin, and translate complex operational and financial data into clear recommendations for business decisions. The analyst will partner closely with Product Management, Sourcing, Plant Finance, Corporate Finance, Engineering, and Operations to strengthen cost transparency, improve estimating accuracy, and develop repeatable tools that support pricing, portfolio, sourcing, footprint, and investment decisions. What You Will Do Product Cost Insight and Competitive Analytics Partner with Plant Finance and Operations Finance to understand the manufacturing processes and associated costs of automotive networking cable assemblies, including coaxial, shielded twisted-pair, unshielded twisted-pair, and next-generation connectivity solutions. Translate cost data and operations knowledge into clear views of the material, conversion, process, scrap, testing, logistics, utilization, and investment drivers that influence product competitiveness Develop decision-oriented cost views Benchmark internal cost positions across products, plants, regions, sourcing options, supplier quotes, and credible external reference points to identify where the business is advantaged or disadvantaged. Identify and quantify the drivers behind gaps to competitor pricing and help distinguish true manufacturing cost gaps from differences in design, sourcing, footprint, scale, utilization, or commercial strategy. Build a repeatable fact base that Product Management can use to understand what it costs to make products and where focused action can create value. Quoting and Commercial Decision Support Embed cost insight into customer quotations and RFQ decisions so teams understand the key cost assumptions, sensitivities, and risks behind each offer. Partner with Product Management, Sales, Finance, Sourcing, Engineering, and Operations to evaluate pricing alternatives and recommend quote strategies that balance competitiveness, contribution, risk, and long-term value. Analyze quotations at the appropriate product and part-number level to prevent portfolio averages from masking unattractive configurations or cost gaps. Develop scenario and sensitivity analyses for volume, commodity, labor, utilization, exchange rate, sourcing, footprint, and design alternatives. Compare quoted positions with available competitor intelligence and market evidence, clearly separating known facts, assumptions, and hypotheses that require validation. Support structured commercial experiments and post-quote reviews to improve future assumptions, decision quality, and win-loss learning. Opportunity Identification and Action Planning Use cost and competitive analysis to identify opportunities in design-to-cost, value engineering, sourcing, localization, automation, process improvement, capacity utilization, and manufacturing footprint. Work with functional owners to convert identified cost gaps into specific questions, hypotheses, and potential actions, while leaving execution ownership with the appropriate Engineering, Sourcing, Operations, or Finance team. Partner with new product development teams to establish competitive cost targets, monitor emerging gaps, and elevate risks before major business commitments. Support make-versus-buy, regionalization, supplier, and manufacturing strategy decisions with transparent economic comparisons. Prioritize analytical work based on the size of the decision, the quality of available evidence, and the potential value of closing the gap. Who You Are (Basic Qualifications) Bachelor's degree in Finance, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Economics, Data Analytics, or a related field; or equivalent experience in product costing, cost estimating, cost analysis, operations finance, pricing, sourcing, manufacturing analytics, or a related discipline. Demonstrated experience in product costing, manufacturing cost estimation, operations finance, financial analysis, sourcing, pricing, or a related discipline. Strong financial and economic acumen, with the ability to connect operational drivers to revenue, margin, cash flow, and return outcomes. Advanced analytical and modeling skills, including the ability to structure complex and incomplete data into decision-ready insights. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience working with enterprise financial, manufacturing, or business intelligence systems. Experience collaborating across functions and regions in a manufacturing or technology organization. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex cost topics to business leaders and technical teams. Demonstrated ownership, intellectual curiosity, attention to detail, and a continuous improvement mindset. What Will Put You Ahead Experience with automotive electronics, cable assemblies, wire harnesses, connectors, or high-speed data connectivity products. Understanding of cable assembly manufacturing processes such as wire preparation, crimping, termination, shielding, molding, assembly, electrical testing, and automation. Knowledge of cost drivers associated with conductors, shielding materials, plastics, terminals, connectors, electronic components, labor, and freight. Experience with standard costing, activity-based costing, should-cost modeling, target costing, product profitability analysis, or value engineering. Experience supporting customer quotations, requests for quotation, pricing strategy, business case development, or capital investment decisions. Familiarity with SAP, Power BI, data visualization, and workflow automation tools. MBA, CPA, CMA, or an advanced technical, analytics, or business degree. Key Measures of Success Improved accuracy, consistency, and transparency of cost estimates across the Networking portfolio. Clear identification of the cost drivers, assumptions, risks, and opportunities behind key business decisions. Adoption of standardized cost models and decision-support tools by Product Management and Finance stakeholders. Reduced cycle Identification and execution of measurable profitability improvement opportunities. Effective target-cost management and earlier visibility to cost gaps in new product development programs. Strong, trusted partnerships with Product Management, Sourcing, Plant Finance, Corporate Finance, Engineering, and Operations. Key Measures of Success Improved accuracy, consistency, and transparency of cost estimates across the Networking portfolio. Clear identification of the cost drivers, assumptions, risks, and opportunities behind key business decisions. Adoption of standardized cost models and decision-support tools by Product Management and Finance stakeholders. Reduced cycle time for cost analysis supporting quotations, business cases, sourcing reviews, and portfolio decisions. Identification and execution of measurable profitability improvement opportunities. Effective target-cost management and earlier visibility to cost gaps in new product development programs. Strong, trusted partnerships with Product Management, Sourcing, Plant Finance, Corporate Finance, Engineering, and Operations. Core Competencies Economic Thinking Connect operational choices to profitability and long-term value. Analytical Depth Investigate cost structures beyond headline data and test assumptions. Business Partnership Build alignment across technical, operational, and financial teams. Decision Quality Frame alternatives, risks, sensitivities, and recommendations clearly. Process Discipline Create repeatable methods with strong data and assumption governance. Communication Turn complex analysis into concise, executive-ready insights. At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to cre