Senior Cost Accountant - Direct Hire

Senior Cost Accountant – Manufacturing & Defense Programs

Location: Brockton, MA

Industry: Defense Manufacturing / Engineered Products

Position Summary

Our client is seeking a Senior Cost Accountant – Manufacturing & Defense Programs to join their facility in Brockton, MA. This role requires strong Actual Cost and manufacturing cost accounting experience to support a growing defense-oriented manufacturing organization.

The Senior Cost Accountant will be responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, supporting day-to-day accounting activities, and strengthening cost accounting discipline across manufacturing, inventory, labor, and program performance. This position is ideal for a hands-on accounting professional with strong technical accounting knowledge and experience in engineered product, defense, aerospace, or government contracting environments.

The ideal candidate will have experience with actual cost systems, inventory valuation, job costing, manufacturing variances, indirect rates, and government contract cost reporting. This role will work closely with Operations, Engineering, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Finance leadership to improve financial visibility, support operational decision-making, and enhance internal controls.

Key Responsibilities

General Accounting & Financial Reporting

• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close activities.
• Prepare and review journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
• Maintain general ledger accuracy and support chart of accounts integrity.
• Assist with financial statement preparation and management reporting packages.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis activities.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and company accounting policies.
• Coordinate support for external audits and tax-related deliverables.

Actual Cost & Manufacturing Cost Accounting

• Own and maintain Actual Cost accounting processes and methodologies.
• Analyze material, labor, burden, and overhead absorption performance.
• Review and monitor manufacturing variances, including:
• Labor variances
• Material purchase price variances
• Usage and scrap variances
• Over / under absorbed overhead
• Inventory valuation variances
• Maintain and improve job costing and manufacturing cost tracking processes.
• Partner with Operations to ensure accurate labor reporting, inventory transactions, and production costing.
• Analyze margins and profitability by product line, customer, and program.
• Support standard-to-actual cost reconciliation activities where applicable.
• Assist in the development and monitoring of indirect rates, including overhead and G&A.
• Support DCAA-compliant accounting practices and government contract cost reporting as needed.

Inventory & Manufacturing Finance

• Monitor inventory valuation accuracy and reserve calculations.
• Support cycle count programs and annual physical inventory activities.
• Review WIP balances and manufacturing close processes.
• Improve financial controls related to inventory movement and manufacturing transactions.
• Work with Operations leadership to improve financial visibility into production performance.

Systems, Reporting & Process Improvement

• Support ERP system maintenance and financial process improvements.
• Help drive automation and reporting enhancements.
• Develop and maintain financial dashboards and KPI reporting.
• Improve accounting workflows, controls, documentation, and reporting accuracy.

Key Competencies

• Strong Actual Cost and manufacturing cost accounting knowledge.
• Understanding of inventory accounting, job costing, and manufacturing variance analysis.
• Strong analytical and detail-oriented mindset.
• Ability to identify cost drivers and explain financial impact to non-finance stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Finance.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on approach with the ability to wear multiple hats when needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.
• 5 years of accounting experience in a manufacturing environment.
• 3 years of cost accounting or manufacturing accounting experience preferred.
• Strong Actual Cost accounting experience required.
• Defense, aerospace, DoD, or government contracting experience preferred.
• ERP experience required; Infor Visual experience preferred.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills required.
• CPA or CMA preferred but not required.

Preferred Experience

• DCAA, FAR, or CAS exposure.
• Actual Cost accounting systems.
• Defense or government contract cost accounting.
• Manufacturing variance analysis.
• Inventory-heavy manufacturing operations.
• Job costing, project accounting, or program accounting.
• Multi-site manufacturing environments.
• Continuous improvement and process optimization initiatives.

Reporting Structure

This position reports to the Controller / Finance Leadership and works closely with Operations, Engineering, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Executive Leadership.

Important Requirement

Candidates must have Actual Cost accounting experience. Candidates with DoD, defense, aerospace, or government contracting backgrounds are highly preferred, as they are more likely to have the required actual cost accounting and contract cost reporting experience.