Cost Accounting Analyst

Elk River, MN

Job Description

The Cost Accounting Analyst oversees inventory and job cost accuracy from production close through completion and serves as a key resource for cost and inventory accounting within the ERP system. This role performs detailed cost and inventory analysis, maintains and updates standard costs, and partners closely with manufacturing, finance, and IT to support plant operations and continuous improvement. The position offers significant interaction with leadership and cross-functional teams in a flexible, collaborative environment and has the potential to develop into a long-term opportunity.

Responsibilities

• Oversee inventory and job cost accuracy from production close through completion, ensuring financial information is complete and reliable.
• Review closed jobs to confirm that all costs are properly coded and aligned with established accounting standards.
• Lead standard cost maintenance and updates, including periodic reviews of product standard costs to reflect current production realities.
• Perform inventory accounting activities, including cycle count review, analysis, and reconciliation of variances.
• Partner with the inventory accounting team to resolve count variances and clean up historical inventory issues.
• Provide cross-training coverage and support for responsibilities previously handled by a team member to ensure continuity of operations.
• Serve as a go-to resource for cost and inventory accounting within the ERP system (Epicor), helping users understand and utilize cost data effectively.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with manufacturing, finance, and IT to support plant operations, drive process improvements, and enhance cost visibility.
• Act as a safeguard for financial accuracy while maintaining a practical, business-partner mindset that supports operational decision-making.
• Work independently with minimal need for micromanagement while consistently delivering high-quality, timely analysis and reporting.
  
  

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 4 years of accounting experience within a manufacturing environment.
• At least 2 years of cost accounting experience, including cost analysis and cost allocation in a production setting.
• At least 2 years of inventory accounting experience, including reconciliation and variance analysis.
• Strong cost accounting skills with the ability to analyze job costs and standard costs.
• Proficiency in reconciliation of inventory and cost accounts.
  
  

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Preferred: 1 year of experience working with Epicor ERP in a cost or inventory accounting capacity.
• Experience supporting plant operations and continuous improvement initiatives from a finance or accounting perspective.
• Demonstrated ability to act as a business partner to operational teams, balancing accuracy with practicality.
• Experience providing cross-training and coverage for other team members’ responsibilities.
  
  

Work Environment

The Cost Accounting Analyst works in the office five days per week and has frequent interaction with leadership and colleagues across manufacturing, finance, and IT.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Elk River, MN.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $43.00 - $48.00/hr.

Requirements

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
  
  

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Elk River,MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Apr 30, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® double diamond winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.