Cost Accountant

Schedule: Full-Time | Primarily Onsite with Limited Flexibility

Compensation: $100,000 - $110,000 Base

Overview

A well-established global manufacturing organization is seeking a Cost Accountant to join its finance team in a highly visible role supporting plant operations. This position serves as a key business partner to manufacturing, supply chain, and commercial leadership by providing accurate cost analysis, financial forecasting, and operational insights that drive business performance.

The ideal candidate combines strong manufacturing accounting experience with analytical problem-solving skills and enjoys collaborating across multiple departments to improve profitability, efficiency, and financial decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Own product costing processes, including maintaining bills of materials, labor standards, and overhead allocations to ensure accurate inventory valuation and product margins.
• Lead annual standard cost updates and manage ongoing cost revisions within the ERP system while evaluating the financial impact of cost changes.
• Prepare plant forecasts, cost projections, and financial models to support budgeting, operational planning, and business initiatives.
• Analyze manufacturing variances, identify root causes, and provide recommendations to improve financial and operational performance.
• Partner with Supply Chain to monitor material cost trends, purchase price variances, and sourcing impacts.
• Support inventory accuracy through physical inventories, cycle count programs, and management of excess and obsolete inventory reserves.
• Collaborate with Operations to evaluate manufacturing efficiency, labor utilization, scrap, yield, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Develop recurring and ad hoc financial reports that provide leadership with meaningful insights into plant performance and profitability.
• Work cross-functionally to translate operational data into actionable financial recommendations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Five or more years of experience in manufacturing finance or cost accounting.
• Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, variance analysis, budgeting, and financial modeling.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with experience working in ERP systems.
• Experience with manufacturing ERP platforms is preferred.
• CMA designation is a plus but not required.
• Public accounting experience is beneficial but not required.

What We're Looking For

The successful candidate will be:

• Highly analytical with strong attention to detail.
• Comfortable working independently while partnering across multiple business functions.
• Able to simplify complex financial information into meaningful business insights.
• Proactive in identifying opportunities for operational improvements and cost savings.
• Effective at balancing day-to-day accounting responsibilities with long-term financial planning.

Compensation & Benefits

The organization offers a competitive compensation package that includes:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-matched 401(k) retirement plan
• Generous paid time off and company holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• Health savings account contributions (where applicable)
• Employee assistance and wellness programs
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities
• Employee stock purchase program
• Additional voluntary benefits, including legal assistance, identity protection, pet insurance, and other optional coverage

This is an excellent opportunity to join a financially stable, growing manufacturer where finance plays an important role in operational decision-making and continuous improvement.