What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Cost Accountant - Aramids position at Arclin?
Senior Cost Accountant - Aramids
Work Location: Richmond, VA
Work Arrangement: Hybrid schedule with regular on-site collaboration
Relocation Assistance: Available for qualified candidates
Department: Finance | Global Cost Accounting
Supported Manufacturing Sites: Aramids Operations – Pontchartrain, LA and Monroe, NC
Reports To: Senior Manager, Cost Accounting - Aramids
Travel: Up to 20% travel may be required periodically to visit the NC sites and other business initiatives.
About Arclin
With ~4,000 team members across more than 30 global manufacturing facilities, we operate with the scale to make a global impact and the agility to solve complex challenges at the molecular level. Rooted in scientific discovery and innovation, Arclin’s materials redefine performance across industries - from Firepoint®’s patented intumescent technology that helps stall flames and save lives to the iconic Kevlar® and Nomex® brands trusted to protect those who serve, strengthen aerospace and industrial systems, and perform where reliability and safety are top of mind.
As we expand our missioncritical materials portfolio and shape the next era of performance technologies, we’re looking for people who want to grow, lead, and solve the challenges others can’t. Together, we’ll advance the innovations that keep the world moving. Because at Arclin, our people are truly Vital Beyond Measure.
Position Summary
The Senior Cost Accountant is a key member of Arclin's Inventory Center of Excellence (COE) and the primary finance partner for the Pontchartrain, LA and Monroe, NC manufacturing sites. Based in Richmond VA, this role is responsible for inventory and cost accounting, manufacturing financial reporting, and business partnering support for the 2 sites. The position also serves as the US Fixed Asset Coordinator, providing oversight of fixed asset accounting, capital project capitalization, and asset compliance activities across U.S. manufacturing operations, representing approximately 25% of overall responsibilities
The Senior Cost Accountant will collaborate closely with plant leadership, operations, supply chain, and finance teams to ensure inventory and product costs are accurately recorded in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This role provides financial visibility into manufacturing performance, inventory management, cost drivers, and operational variances while supporting a strong control environment across assigned facilities.
The successful candidate will combine strong technical accounting expertise with business partnership skills and a continuous improvement mindset to drive operational excellence and financial integrity. As a trusted advisor to site leadership, this individual will provide financial insights that support decision-making, strengthen controls, and improve manufacturing performance.
Key Responsibilities
Manufacturing Cost Accounting and Financial Support
• Serve as the primary cost and inventory accounting resource for assigned manufacturing facilities.
• Maintain standard costs and analyze manufacturing variances, including material, labor, overhead, yield, and production performance.
• Monitor manufacturing costs, identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Partner with site leadership to support operational and financial initiatives.
• Develop a strong understanding of manufacturing processes and cost drivers to support effective business decision-making.
Inventory Accounting and Controls
• Ensure inventory transactions are accurately recorded and reported in compliance with U.S. GAAP, company policies, and internal controls.
• Perform inventory reconciliations, investigate discrepancies, and support cycle counts and annual physical inventories.
• Analyze inventory adjustments, reserves, and valuation impacts while partnering with operations to identify root causes and corrective actions.
• Monitor inventory accuracy and drive continuous improvements in inventory controls, governance, and compliance.
• Support timely completion of inventory accounting activities to ensure accurate financial reporting and minimize risk.
Fixed Asset Accounting and Compliance
• Serve as the site finance liaison for fixed asset activities throughout the asset lifecycle, including acquisitions, capitalization, transfers, and disposals.
• Partner with the Global Fixed Asset Accounting Manager to ensure timely and accurate processing of fixed asset and capital project transactions.
• Provide guidance on capitalization policies, fixed asset accounting requirements, and related internal controls.
• Support SOX compliance, audits, physical asset verification, and transaction reconciliations to ensure accurate records and regulatory compliance.
• Assist with capital project tracking, asset readiness assessments, and fixed asset reporting.
Month-End Close and Financial Reporting
• Prepare and review inventory and cost accounting journal entries and account reconciliations for assigned balance sheet accounts.
• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close activities, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Prepare analyses and reporting related to inventory valuation, manufacturing variances, standard costs, inventory reserves, and working capital performance.
• Provide actionable insights into manufacturing costs, inventory trends, and operational performance to support business decisions.
• Ensure the accuracy, reliability, and completeness of financial reporting and analysis.
Business Partnership
• Partner with Plant Managers, Operations, Supply Chain, and other stakeholders to support financial and operational objectives.
• Translate cost and financial information into actionable business recommendations and performance insights.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on manufacturing costs, inventory management, and operational performance.
• Communicate complex financial concepts effectively to non-financial stakeholders and leadership teams.
• Support initiatives focused on productivity improvement, inventory optimization, quality enhancement, and cost reduction.
Inventory Center of Excellence Support
• Support Inventory Center of Excellence initiatives focused on standardization, process improvement, and best practice adoption.
• Promote consistent inventory accounting, cost accounting, reporting, and control practices across manufacturing locations.
• Assist with ERP enhancements, reporting improvements, and process automation initiatives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and implement scalable solutions that improve reporting quality and operational effectiveness.
• Champion continuous improvement efforts that enhance inventory accuracy, internal controls, and financial reporting.
Qualifications
Education
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline required.
• CPA, CMA, or progress toward professional certification preferred.
Experience
• 5 years of progressive experience in cost accounting, manufacturing finance, inventory accounting, or a related field.
• Manufacturing industry experience required.
• Experience supporting plant operations and manufacturing leadership teams.
• Strong understanding of standard costing and inventory accounting principles.
• Knowledge of U.S. GAAP related to inventory and manufacturing accounting.
• Experience working with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, or similar platforms (preferably SAP).
• Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations preferred.
Technical Skills
• Standard costing and product costing
• Manufacturing Cost Accounting, Inventory accounting and inventory controls
• Advance Excel Skills
• Financial reporting and account reconciliations