Manufacturing Cost Accountant

Fiber Instrument Sales, a manufacturer and supplier of fiber-optic cable assemblies, is seeking a Manufacturing Cost Accountant to serve as a key financial resource to its manufacturing operations. The position translates production activity, material usage, labor, overhead, inventory, and operational performance into meaningful cost information to support management decision-making.

The Manufacturing Cost Accountant works closely with Manufacturing, Purchasing, Engineering, Inventory/Warehouse, Quality, Sales, and Accounting/Finance to improve cost visibility, financial accuracy, operational efficiency, and profitability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain and analyze standard and actual manufacturing costs, including materials, labor, overhead, outside processing, and product cost structures.
• Maintain standard costs, Bills of Material (BOMs), routings, labor standards, and other manufacturing-related data.
• Analyze and report manufacturing, production, inventory, and operational cost variances.
• Investigate significant cost discrepancies and coordinate corrective actions with appropriate departments.
• Monitor and reconcile raw materials, work-in-process, and finished-goods inventory.
• Support physical inventory counts, inventory valuation, and inventory control procedures.
• Support month-end and year-end financial close activities, including inventory, manufacturing costs, accruals, cost of goods sold, and related reconciliations.
• Support financial reporting, audits, compliance activities, and maintenance of accurate financial records and supporting documentation.
• Partner with cross-functional departments to evaluate the financial and cost impacts of new products, processes, materials, equipment, and operational changes.
• Support manufacturing budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning.
• Provide cost information to support pricing, make-versus-buy decisions, capital investments, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Develop and maintain cost accounting reports, procedures, and analytical tools to improve cost visibility, accuracy, financial controls, and profitability.
• Utilize manufacturing ERP and accounting systems to analyze and maintain financial and manufacturing data.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Cross-Functional Responsibilities

The Manufacturing Cost Accountant establishes effective working relationships across multiple departments, including:

Manufacturing

• Analyze production performance, labor, scrap, rework, efficiency, and process costs.

Purchasing

• Evaluate material pricing, supplier changes, purchase variances, and sourcing decisions.

Engineering

• Review Bills of Material, routings, product changes, process improvements, and new-product costing.

Inventory/Warehouse

• Support inventory accuracy, inventory transactions, cycle counts, and material movement.

Quality

• Analyze scrap, rework, nonconformance, and quality-related costs.

Sales/Management

• Provide information for product profitability, pricing analysis, and customer-specific cost considerations.

Accounting/Finance

• Support month-end close, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field, with experience in cost or manufacturing accounting.
• At least three years of accounting experience required.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing cost principles, inventory accounting, standard costing, and variance analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and accounting/ERP systems.
• Ability to interpret manufacturing data, Bills of Material, production records, inventory information, and financial information.
• Ability to investigate discrepancies, identify potential causes, and communicate findings effectively.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across multiple departments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience maintaining and analyzing standard and actual manufacturing costs.
• Experience with materials, labor, overhead, outside processing, Bills of Material, routings, and labor standards.
• Experience analyzing cost, production, inventory, and operational variances.
• Experience with raw material, work-in-process, and finished-goods inventory accounting.
• Experience supporting physical inventory counts, inventory valuation, and inventory controls.
• Experience with month-end/year-end close, financial reporting, audits, and compliance.
• Experience evaluating the cost impacts of new products, processes, materials, equipment, and operational changes.
• Experience supporting budgeting, forecasting, pricing, make-versus-buy analysis, capital investment, and cost-reduction decisions.
• Experience developing cost accounting reports, procedures, and analytical tools.
• Experience with manufacturing ERP systems.
• Knowledge of discrete manufacturing operations and manufacturing cost accounting principles.

Compensation

The wage rate is commensurate with position, shift worked, experience, education, and required skill level.

Pay: From $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Associate (Required)

Experience:

• Accounting: 3 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $60,000