Job Description

Job Title: Cost Accountant

Department: Accounting & Finance

Reports To: Vice President of Finance

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Overview

The Cost Accountant applies cost accounting principles to analyze manufacturing costs, inventory, and operational performance. This role is responsible for maintaining the standard cost system, performing variance analysis, and providing detailed cost insights to support pricing, profitability, and operational decision-making.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, analytical, and driven to exceed expectations, with the potential to grow into increased responsibility and leadership over time.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze data to determine costs of business activities across all inventory levels.
• Maintain, analyze, and update the standard cost system, including review of bills of materials (BOMs) and routing structures.
• Provide management with reports identifying factors impacting product pricing and profitability.
• Record and review actual manufacturing costs and prepare monthly variance reports comparing standard to actual costs.
• Investigate and analyze:
• Scrap variances
• Usage variances
• Purchase price variances
• Analyze differences between budgeted and actual spending.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee cycle count processes and inventory accuracy initiatives.
• Maintain fixed asset records, including additions, disposals, and transfers.
• Calculate and report depreciation in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Assist with month-end close activities and general ledger support.
• Track capital expenditures and support verification of productivity or cost improvement projects.
• Prepare and update performance-based financial metrics and reports as needed.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and internal procedures.
• Maintain professional and cooperative communication with internal teams and external partners.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this role successfully, the individual must be able to execute all essential functions effectively. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required
• MBA or advanced degree (completed or in progress) preferred

Experience

• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in:
• Manufacturing cost accounting, and/or
• Public accounting with manufacturing exposure

Skills and Competencies

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel)
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., Infor, MAPICS, or similar)
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to meet deadlines with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail