Job Description For: Sr. Cost Analyst
Division/Department: Finance
Location: Grandview
Type of Position: Full Time
Salary/Wage: Exempt
Reports To: Finance Director
GENERAL DESCRIPTION The Senior Cost Analyst is a key contributor to financial strategy, responsible for delivering clear, data-driven cost insights that help leadership make informed decisions. This role requires someone who can operate autonomously, quickly assess complex cost data, and translate findings into meaningful recommendations. The analyst will monitor cost trends, evaluate resource utilization, and proactively identify opportunities for improvement.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Perform detailed cost studies, variance analysis, and cost to serve evaluation to support operation and financial decision making.
- Conduct profitability analyses by product, customer, business unit, and production line.
- Track cost behavior over time, highlight emerging patterns, and forecast future impacts.
- Generate clear, actionable cost reports and dashboards for leadership ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
- Assess resources allocation, efficiency, and productivity to identify cost saving opportunities
- Analyze manufacturing labor, material, packaging, overhead, and freight costs.
- Translate analytical findings into proposed initiatives, business cases, and process improvements.
- Partner with operations, supply chain, procurement, and finance team to validate assumptions and align on cost strategies.
- Maintain ongoing oversight of cost drivers, market changes, and internal performance metrics.
- Monitor and investigate material, labor, and overhead variances.
- Recommend and support implementation of cost-control measures and efficiency improvements.
- Analyze production yields, waste, and byproducts to identify improvement opportunities.
- Develop benchmarks and performance standards to evaluate operational efficiency.
- Provide rapid, high-quality analysis for urgent leadership requests with minimal guidance.
- Perform additional duties as a assigned.
WORK EXPERIENCE & PERSONAL SKILL REQUIREMENTS- 4-7+ years of experience in cost analysis, FP&A, operations finance, or similar analytical roles
- Solid understanding of cost accounting principles, forecasting, and financial modeling
- Ability to build automated reporting tools and dashboards
- Experience with ERP systems in a manufacturing environment
- Advanced computer skills (Microsoft Office, excel, etc.)
- Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and highly organized
- Ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment
- Good communication and coordination skills
- Self-motivated with a continuous improvement mindset
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS - Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, business analytics, or related field.
