Our client is looking for a new Senior Cost Accountant & Financial Analyst that is responsible for the company’s cost accounting, inventory accounting, management reporting, profitability analysis, and budgeting support activities. This role serves as a key business partner to manufacturing operations by providing accurate product costing, variance analysis, operational reporting, and financial insights that support effective decision-making. The position works closely with the Vice President of Finance to support the annual budgeting process, periodic forecasting activities, and monthly management reporting requirements.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Cost Accounting & Inventory Management · Maintain standard costs for manufactured products and support periodic cost updates and cost rolls. · Review bills of material (BOMs), routings, labor standards, and overhead allocation methodologies for accuracy and reasonableness. · Analyze and explain material price, material usage, labor rate, labor efficiency, overhead spending, and overhead absorption variances. · Monitor inventory valuation and support compliance with U.S. GAAP. · Assist with the evaluation and documentation of reserves for excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory. · Reconcile inventory subsidiary records to the general ledger. · Prepare month-end journal entries and account reconciliations related to inventory and cost of goods sold. · Support annual physical inventories and ongoing cycle count programs. · Prepare inventory and cost accounting documentation requested by external auditors. Financial Analysis & Reporting · Prepare and maintain components of the monthly management reporting package. · Perform budget-to-actual, forecast-to-actual, and prior-year variance analysis. · Analyze sales, gross margin, customer, product line, and manufacturing performance. · Develop and maintain financial and operational key performance indicators (KPIs). · Prepare recurring and ad hoc reports that identify trends, risks, and opportunities. · Communicate financial findings in a clear and actionable manner to finance and operational leadership. Budgeting & Forecasting Support · Assist the Vice President of Finance with the annual budget and periodic forecast processes. · Gather and validate operational assumptions and supporting information from department leaders. · Maintain budget and forecast models, schedules, and supporting documentation. · Analyze trends and variances that may affect projected financial performance. · Provide supporting analysis for revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, inventory, and capital expenditures. Operations Finance & Business Partnership · Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Sales to improve cost visibility and operational performance. · Analyze labor utilization, production efficiency, machine utilization, scrap, and manufacturing throughput. · Provide cost and margin analysis to support pricing and customer profitability reviews. · Identify opportunities for cost reduction, process improvement, inventory optimization, and margin enhancement. · Provide ad hoc financial analysis and decision support as requested by the Vice President of Finance. Systems & Process Improvement · Maintain costing structures and related financial reporting within the ERP system. · Support ERP and reporting improvements related to manufacturing finance, inventory, and costing. · Develop and improve reports, dashboards, and data analysis tools. · Assist in strengthening internal controls related to inventory, costing, and financial reporting. · Document and maintain applicable finance and accounting procedures.
Qualifications:
Education · Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required. · CPA, CMA, or MBA preferred but not required. Experience · Three to five years of progressive accounting or finance experience. · Minimum of two years of manufacturing cost accounting experience. · Experience with standard costing, inventory accounting, and manufacturing variance analysis. · Experience supporting budgeting, forecasting, or monthly management reporting preferred. · Experience in a discrete manufacturing environment preferred. Technical Skills · Working knowledge of U.S. GAAP as it relates to inventory and cost accounting. · Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required. · Experience with Infor CSI (SyteLine) preferred but not required. · Experience with Power BI, SQL, or other business intelligence tools preferred. Key Competencies · Cost accounting and inventory control · Financial analysis and reporting · Analytical problem-solving · Manufacturing operations knowledge · Business partnering · Attention to detail and accuracy · Process improvement · Clear written and verbal communication · Planning, organization, and deadline management