Cost Accountant

Senior Cost Accountant Location

Aurora, Illinois, USA

Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented Senior Cost Accountant to support manufacturing cost accounting, inventory accounting, and financial reporting activities. The successful candidate will work closely with both U.S. and China teams to ensure accurate cost reporting, inventory management, and compliance with audit and financial reporting requirements.

Key Responsibilities1. Cost Accounting & Allocation

• Responsible for full-cycle cost accounting, including materials, labor, and manufacturing overhead, ensuring accurate cost collection, allocation, and month-end closing.
• Maintain accurate costing records and ensure proper allocation of manufacturing and operating expenses.

2. Cost System & Process Improvement

• Establish and continuously improve cost accounting procedures, standards, and reporting templates.
• Enhance cost management processes and reporting efficiency.

3. Cost Analysis & Control (Variance Analysis)

• Conduct regular cost analysis, including unit cost, batch cost, and departmental cost, identify key cost drivers, and support cost reduction initiatives.
• Perform standard cost variance analysis, including usage variance (quantity variance) and price variance (rate variance), identify root causes, and support continuous improvement efforts.

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Reconciliation

• Work closely with production, procurement, and warehouse teams to reconcile material movements and work-in-process (WIP) balances, ensuring alignment between accounting records and physical inventory.
• Investigate and resolve inventory and cost discrepancies.

5. Cost Reporting

• Prepare cost-related reports, including cost detail reports, cost analysis reports, physical inventory reports, and inventory aging reports.
• Provide timely and accurate cost information to the Finance Manager and management team.

6. Inventory Management

• Support physical inventory counts and cycle counts.
• Monitor inventory turnover and help mitigate risks related to excess, slow-moving, or obsolete inventory.

7. Audit & Tax Compliance

• Support external audits and tax examinations by providing cost-related documentation and ensuring compliance with applicable accounting and tax requirements.

8. Documentation & Record Retention

• Maintain cost accounting records, including journal entries, supporting schedules, reports, and analytical files.
• Ensure proper documentation and retention of cost-related records.

QualificationsEducation

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of accounting experience, including at least 3 years of direct cost accounting experience.
• Strong manufacturing costing experience required.
• CPA designation preferred.
• Experience supporting external audits.
• Experience in medical device or industrial manufacturing industries is highly preferred.

Skills

• Fluent in both Mandarin Chinese and English, written and spoken.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with SQL or Python is a plus.
• Experience with QuickBooks and/or AS400 preferred.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Strong sense of ownership and a proactive problem-solving mindset.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and collaborate with cross-functional teams.