Cost Accountant

Cost Accountant

Location: Exeter, NH (On-site)

Position Summary

A leading national manufacturer is seeking a hands-on Cost Accountant to join its manufacturing finance team supporting a $150M manufacturing site in Rockingham County, NH. Reporting directly to the Site Controller, this role will serve as a key finance business partner to Operations by providing accurate product costing, inventory analysis, manufacturing variance reporting, and financial support for site operations.

The ideal candidate has experience in a complex manufacturing environment and enjoys partnering with Operations to improve cost visibility, inventory accuracy, and manufacturing performance. This position offers excellent visibility to site leadership and provides a strong career path into Plant Controller or Site Controller leadership for the right individual

Responsibilities

• Maintain and analyze standard costs for manufactured products.
• Assist with annual and periodic standard cost rolls, including review of labor, material, and overhead standards.
• Prepare and analyze material, labor, overhead, purchase price, and manufacturing variances.
• Own inventory accounting activities including inventory reconciliations, cycle counts, physical inventories, excess and obsolete inventory analysis, inventory reserve calculations, and inventory accuracy initiatives.
• Assist with month-end close activities, including inventory and cost accounting journal entries.
• Support manufacturing month-end close by preparing cost accounting analyses, reconciliations, and financial reporting related to inventory and production.
• Analyze manufacturing costs and identify opportunities for cost improvements.
• Analyze product, program, and manufacturing margins and provide recommendations to improve profitability.
• Partner daily with Operations, Engineering, Production, and Supply Chain to understand manufacturing performance, investigate cost drivers, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Assist in developing annual standard costs and manufacturing budgets.
• Prepare financial reports, KPI reporting, and cost analyses for management.
• Support internal and external audits related to inventory and manufacturing costs.
• Ensure compliance with company accounting policies and internal controls.
• Maintain costing data within the ERP system, including Bills of Material (BOMs), routings, labor standards, overhead structures, and product costing information.
• Support ERP system enhancements and continuous process improvements related to manufacturing costing.
• Support the Site Controller with cost reporting, contract profitability analysis, and financial data used in ASC 606 revenue recognition and Percentage of Completion (POC) reporting.
• Collaborate closely with the Site Controller and Corporate Finance on reporting, forecasting, and special projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 3-7 years of progressive cost accounting experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of:
• Standard costing
• Inventory accounting
• Manufacturing variances
• Bills of Material (BOMs)
• Routings
• Labor and overhead allocations
• Product costing
• Margin analysis
• Experience supporting manufacturing month-end close activities.
• Experience working with manufacturing ERP systems such as Costpoint, Oracle, SAP, IQMS, Epicor, QAD, Infor, or similar manufacturing ERP platforms.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work cross-functionally across Finance, Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within aerospace, defense, electronics, medical device, semiconductor, industrial manufacturing, or other highly engineered manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting government contracts or exposure to FAR/CAS regulations is a plus.
• Exposure to ASC 606 revenue recognition, Percentage of Completion (POC), or project/contract accounting within a manufacturing environment is highly desirable.
• CPA or CMA certification is a plus.
• Experience supporting inventory controls and manufacturing audits.

What You'll Bring

• A hands-on approach and willingness to partner closely with manufacturing operations.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to financial accuracy.
• The ability to analyze complex financial data and communicate findings clearly.
• A continuous improvement mindset with a focus on operational excellence.
• An interest in growing into broader manufacturing finance leadership, with opportunities to develop toward a Plant Controller or Site Controller role.

Why Join This Opportunity?

• Join a growing finance organization supporting a $150M manufacturing facility for a leading national manufacturer.
• Work directly alongside the Site Controller and gain broad exposure to manufacturing finance, operations, and executive leadership.
• Play a key role in improving cost visibility, inventory accuracy, operational performance, and financial decision-making.
• Enjoy significant exposure to leadership with clear opportunities for long-term career advancement into manufacturing finance leadership roles.
• Competitive compensation, bonus potential, and a stable organization investing in the continued growth of its manufacturing finance team.