We are looking for a detail-oriented Cost Accountant to support project-based and manufacturing accounting activities in San Luis Obispo, California. This role will oversee cost tracking, contract-related financial setup, inventory costing, and month-end accounting processes while helping maintain accurate financial records across multiple workstreams. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical ability, sound accounting judgment, and experience working with ERP systems in environments that require precision and accountability.
Responsibilities:
- Configure and maintain project and contract records in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, ensuring billing and accounting settings align with approved agreement terms.
- Organize project structures such as work breakdown elements, subprojects, labor groupings, and financial dimensions to enable reliable cost reporting across contracts and task-level activity.
- Update contract funding, total values, performance periods, and approved changes so that project data remains current and properly supported by documentation.
- Track project spending, commitments, and budget performance, research unusual variances, and raise potential funding or cost concerns to key stakeholders.
- Prepare project financial schedules and review supporting data for period-end close and revenue recognition activities in partnership with the broader accounting team.
- Direct the monthly inventory close process, resolve costing exceptions in the ERP system, and help ensure actual costs are recorded accurately before financial close.
- Review multi-level bills of materials, production orders, routing inputs, and overhead application to confirm product costing is complete and reliable.
- Analyze manufacturing cost variances, including material, labor, overhead, and scrap drivers, and explain findings through clear root-cause assessment.
- Reconcile inventory and work-in-process balances between subledger activity and the general ledger after each costing cycle.
- Provide cross-functional accounting support, assist with audits, and contribute to special projects and coverage needs within the finance team.
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
- At least 3 years of progressive accounting experience, with manufacturing and/or government contract accounting exposure preferred.
- Hands-on ERP experience is required, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations is strongly preferred.
- Working knowledge of cost accounting principles, general accounting processes, and financial data analysis.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for analysis, reconciliation, and reporting.
- Strong problem-solving, organizational, and multitasking skills with the ability to work independently.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, along with the discretion to handle confidential information appropriately.
- Familiarity with project-based or government contract accounting concepts is helpful, though not mandatory.