Senior Cost Accountant

The Senior Cost Accountant is responsible for leading and managing cost accounting activities while supporting key financial responsibilities within the business unit. This role maintains a cost control environment that complies with internal control policies and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements, provides financial analysis, investigates variances and anomalies, and supports operational and strategic decision-making through accurate costing and reporting.

Key Responsibilities Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Finance Apply finance and cost accounting principles to financial and operational planning, reporting, and analysis.

Maintain the manufacturing plant's cost accounting systems, cost controls, and data integrity.

Coordinate, administer, and analyze manufacturing operations, including: sales and cost of sales analysis, labor reporting, product costing, material usage variance analysis, inventory adjustments used for pricing reviews

Develop a comprehensive understanding of cost flows, including machine and labor hours, overhead allocations, and material costs to ensure proper costing.

Inventory Management & Controls Lead the planning, coordination, execution, and analysis of physical inventory activities.

Reconcile financial inventory records to perpetual inventory records on a monthly basis.

Coordinate inventory processes across production departments, outside stockrooms, and vendors.

Oversee and manage the annual Fixed Asset Physical Inventory process and annual 4-Wall Inventory.

Review, analyze, and report on: inventory levels, inventory reserves, including excess and obsolete (E&O) inventory, slow-moving inventory, obsolete inventory, scrap activity, intercompany transfers

Monitor cycle count performance and compliance with corporate cycle count procedures.

Issue monthly cycle count reports and analysis.

Standard Costing Ensure accurate product costing through review of bills of materials (BOMs), overhead rates, routings, and related cost drivers.

Review and load material standard costs into the ERP system.

Perform assembly cost rollups.

Analyze cost changes, margin impacts, and inventory valuation adjustments.

Conduct make-versus-buy analyses.

Execute standard cost update processes.

Develop and monitor labor and overhead rates by department and cost center.

Partner with manufacturing engineering to ensure cost and rate accuracy.

Review cost routings and BOMs for reasonableness and accuracy.

Drive, prepare, and analyze information required for annual standard cost updates.

Perform quarterly LIFO calculations and reporting.

Review and close manufacturing work orders.

Variance Analysis & Reporting Analyze and validate monthly labor utilization and efficiency results.

Review and investigate purchase price variances and material usage variances.

Collaborate with marketing and purchasing to establish appropriate costs for new parts and assemblies.

Prepare monthly manufacturing performance reports and analyze results against forecasts and budgets.

Monitor weekly MMC reports for fluctuations, abnormalities, margin concerns, or other potential issues.

Research and explain financial variances, anomalies, and operational performance trends.

Financial Accounting & Capital Management Prepare recurring monthly journal entries related to inventory, labor reporting, cost of sales, and other assigned areas.

Complete account reconciliations supporting monthly journal entries.

Track capital project spending and maintain the Capital Roll-forward.

Create and monitor accounting for special projects.

Assist in the preparation of annual operating and capital budgets.

Systems, Analytics & Process Improvement Develop computer-driven reports, dashboards, and operational metrics to support manufacturing and business operations.

Analyze and interpret data to support decision-making and operational improvements.

Identify and implement process improvements that enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness of cost accounting and financial reporting processes.

Create, maintain, and update documentation for: cost accounting processes, internal controls, standard operating procedures, compliance and knowledge retention purposes

Collaboration, Compliance & Audit Support Work closely with manufacturing personnel, production planners, engineering, purchasing, and marketing teams.

Support planning and scheduling efforts to improve inventory controls and internal programs.

Assist with internal and external audits.

Maintain compliance with company internal control requirements and SOX…