SUMMARY:As a Senior Cost Accountant, you will lead key cost accounting activities within a manufacturing environment, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of product costs, inventory valuation, and related financial reporting. You will own standard costing and variance analysis, support month-end close and forecasting, strengthen internal controls, and translate complex cost data into actionable business insights. This role partners with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, FP&A, and Finance leaders to improve profitability, operational performance, and decision-making.
JOB DUTIES:- Lead the maintenance and continuous improvement of the standard cost system, including annual cost rollups, new-product costing, and updates to material, labor, overhead, routing, and bill-of-material assumptions.
- Analyze manufacturing performance and communicate material, labor, overhead, purchase price, production, scrap, and absorption variances to Finance and Operations leaders.
- Lead cost accounting activities for month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close, including journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, inventory adjustments, and supporting schedules.
- Ensure accurate valuation of raw materials, work in process, and finished goods in accordance with U.S. GAAP and company policy.
- Review inventory reserves, write-offs, obsolescence, shrinkage, and other adjustments; recommend appropriate accounting treatment and corrective action.
- Lead and support cycle counts and physical inventories, investigate discrepancies, and partner with Operations to improve inventory accuracy and controls.
- Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, FP&A, and Finance to validate cost drivers, improve data integrity, and identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve margins.
- Prepare cost analyses, forecasts, budgets, and profitability reports for products, customers, capital projects, and operational initiatives.
- Maintain cost accounting documentation and internal controls; support internal and external audits and timely resolution of findings.
- Serve as the subject matter expert for costing and inventory processes in the company's ERP system and help define system and process improvements.
- Develop repeatable reports and analytical tools, identify trends and root causes, and present findings and recommendations to management.
- Automate and streamline processes and reporting through the effective use of AI and other technologies.
- Provide technical guidance and review support to accounting colleagues and contribute to cross-functional projects as assigned.
JOB QUALIFICATIONS:- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- Five or more years of progressive accounting experience, including at least three years in cost accounting within a manufacturing environment.
- Advanced knowledge of standard costing, inventory accounting, manufacturing variances, cost of goods sold, and U.S. GAAP.
- Experience supporting financial close, account reconciliations, budgeting, forecasting, and audits.
- Strong ERP or MRP system experience and the ability to assess the financial impact of manufacturing and supply chain transactions.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including experience analyzing large data sets and building accurate, repeatable financial models and reports.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify root causes, challenge assumptions, and recommend practical solutions.
- Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present financial findings to nonfinancial stakeholders and senior leaders.
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively across Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, FP&A, and Finance.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and provide technical guidance to others.
- CPA, CMA, or MBA preferred.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:- Push, pull, carry, and lift 20-50 pounds.
- Walk, stretch, bend, stoop, twist, reach, grasp, and perform repetitive movements.
- Speak, hear, read, write, and comprehend English.
- Work in a non-temperature-controlled environment.
- Travel occasionally.
MENTAL DEMANDS:- Think analytically and make sound decisions.
- Develop options and implement solutions.
- Collaborate effectively with a team.
- Maintain regular and punctual attendance, consistent with ADA and FMLA requirements.
- Demonstrate attention to detail.
- Communicate effectively.
- Manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Work with a sense of urgency.
