What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Cost Accountant position at DeWinter Group?
Cost Accountant
Hybrid
Newton
Position Overview The Senior Cost Accountant serves as a core financial partner, establishing and refining the cost accounting architecture that drives strategic decision-making. Designed for an analytical, detail-driven professional, this role brings financial transparency to manufacturing, supply chain, and operational workflows within a fast-paced CPG environment.
Cost Accounting & Inventory Operations
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Hybrid
Newton
Position Overview The Senior Cost Accountant serves as a core financial partner, establishing and refining the cost accounting architecture that drives strategic decision-making. Designed for an analytical, detail-driven professional, this role brings financial transparency to manufacturing, supply chain, and operational workflows within a fast-paced CPG environment.
Cost Accounting & Inventory Operations
- Standard Costing: Direct standard cost architecture across all SKUs—including raw materials, packaging, co-manufacturing, and overhead—updating standards regularly and evaluating variances.
- Inventory Control: Direct inventory accounting practices, oversee cycle counts and physical inventories, and reconcile ERP data with warehouse management systems.
- COGS Analysis: Perform monthly COGS reviews, generating detailed variance reporting against standard benchmarks and historical performance.
- Data Integrity: Collaborate with Operations and Supply Chain to maintain precise bill of materials (BOMs) and routing structures within the ERP.
- Month-End Close: Lead month-end close procedures for cost accounting, including inventory roll-forwards, journal entries, and COGS schedules.
- Budgeting & Forecasting: Partner with Supply Chain, Operations, and Procurement to shape annual cost budgets and quarterly re-forecasts.
- Operational Insights: Deliver actionable analysis on freight, yield, waste, and manufacturing trends to drive efficiency across the supply chain.
- Financial Modeling: Evaluate the financial impact of line extensions, new product launches, packaging updates, and co-manufacturing agreements.
- Annual Operating Plan (AOP): Build granular product- and channel-level cost models to support the AOP framework.
- Audit & GAAP Compliance: Maintain full GAAP compliance and internal control rigor across inventory and COGS, serving as the main point of contact for external audits.
- Cross-Functional Governance: Work alongside accounting leadership to enforce consistent financial reporting and accounting policies.
- System Optimization: Drive process improvement initiatives to enhance data accuracy, reporting automation, and system workflows.
- Documentation: Standardize and document cost accounting workflows to ensure scalability and internal alignment.
- Experience: 3 years in accounting, with 2 years dedicated to cost accounting or manufacturing finance (CPG or Food & Beverage experience strongly preferred).
- Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of GAAP cost accounting, inventory valuation models (FIFO/Weighted Average), standard and average costing, and variance analysis.
- Closing Capability: Proven track record running month-end close procedures and generating inventory/COGS reporting.
- Systems & Excel: Advanced Excel proficiency (financial modeling, advanced formulas, complex data manipulation); experience building ERP reports.
- Communication: Exceptional analytical and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex cost data for non-finance partners.
- Certifications: CPA or CMA credentials preferred.
- Hands-on experience with NetSuite or similar enterprise ERPs (NetSuite highly preferred).
- Working knowledge of contract manufacturing (co-man) operational structures.
- Exposure to CPG trade promotion accounting and deduction management protocols.
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