Cost Accountant/ Analyst

Our client, a well established manufacturing organization, is seeking a Cost Accountant Analyst to support both plant operations and senior financial leadership. Reporting directly to the CFO, this role plays a key part in maintaining accurate cost structures, evaluating financial impacts tied to production activities, and ensuring consistent application of accounting standards. The position is responsible for end to end cost cycle oversight, variance analysis, bill of material review, and inventory related reporting. This individual also partners closely with leadership to support pricing models and new business estimates. The role contributes to monthly close activities and participates in ongoing financial projects.

Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct ongoing cost reviews for products and plant operations, delivering insights that support operational decisions.
• Establish and maintain labor, material, and overhead standards.
• Compare actual production costs against established standards and budgets, and prepare clear variance analysis for management.
• Work with production teams to verify the accuracy of Bills of Materials and ensure they reflect current processes and outputs.
• Build cost simulations and support pricing development for new business opportunities in collaboration with the sales group.
• Assist finance leadership with performance analysis including customer profitability and product or process cost evaluation.
• Contribute to the preparation and maintenance of cost standards, periodic forecasts, and related updates.
• Support the development of labor and overhead rate structures alongside annual budgets and forecasts.
• Translate detailed cost and financial data into actionable recommendations for leadership.
• Participate in monthly and annual close activities within the finance department.
• Oversee inventory record accuracy, cycle count reporting, and related reconciliations.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance with a focus on cost accounting.
• At least five to seven years of progressive accounting or finance experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Comprehensive understanding of the full cost cycle from start to finish. Candidates must have experience owning the entire costing process rather than relying on cost data assembled by other departments.
• Strong ability to analyze and explain cost movements and financial deviations.
• High attention to detail and commitment to accurate work.
• Advanced Excel skills including proficiency with lookups, pivot tables, and complex formulas.
• Experience using ERP systems. Familiarity with Epicor is helpful though not mandatory.
• Manufacturing industry experience is a major advantage.
• Ability to manage several priorities while meeting deadlines.
• Strong communication skills and comfort interacting across all organizational levels.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.