Senior Cost Accountant

Overview

The Senior Cost Accountant serves as a key member of the finance team, providing financial leadership and analytical support for manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for overseeing product costing, inventory accounting, capital investment analysis, operational forecasting, and financial performance reporting. Working closely with manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, and finance leadership, the Senior Cost Accountant delivers actionable insights that support operational efficiency, cost optimization, and informed business decision-making.

This position plays a critical role in ensuring the integrity of inventory valuation, standard costing, variance analysis, and financial controls while supporting budgeting, forecasting, month-end close activities, and continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations.

• Serve as the primary finance partner to manufacturing and operational leadership, providing financial guidance and support for strategic and operational initiatives.
• Analyze manufacturing performance, cost drivers, inventory trends, and operational metrics to identify risks and opportunities.
• Develop financial models and analyses to support decision-making related to production efficiency, resource utilization, and cost reduction efforts.
• Collaborate with operations and engineering teams to evaluate and validate productivity improvements and cost savings initiatives.
• Prepare and maintain manufacturing forecasts, annual operating plans, and long-range financial projections.
• Monitor financial performance against budgets and forecasts, providing meaningful variance analysis and recommendations to management.
• Analyze labor, material, overhead, inventory, and production-related costs to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Support leadership with financial reporting and performance metrics that drive accountability and operational excellence.

• Oversee standard costing methodologies and ensure accurate product cost calculations.
• Maintain the integrity of inventory valuation processes, including raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods inventories.
• Review and analyze manufacturing variances, inventory transactions, and cost allocations to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Partner with operations and supply chain teams to improve inventory accuracy, cycle count processes, and inventory control procedures.
• Support annual standard cost updates and ongoing maintenance of cost structures.

• Lead accounting activities related to manufacturing operations during monthly, quarterly, and annual close cycles.
• Prepare and review inventory reconciliations, variance analyses, journal entries, and supporting schedules.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of manufacturing costs, inventory balances, and cost of goods sold.
• Analyze financial results and provide clear explanations of significant variances and business drivers.
• Support management reporting requirements through the preparation of financial summaries and operational analyses.

• Partner with operations and engineering teams to evaluate capital investment opportunities.
• Assist in the development of business cases, financial justifications, and return-on-investment analyses for capital projects.
• Monitor capital expenditures, capitalization activities, depreciation schedules, and project spending.
• Conduct post-implementation reviews to assess financial performance and project outcomes.

• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, internal controls, and corporate financial policies.
• Support internal and external audit activities by preparing documentation, reconciliations, and analysis as required.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, reporting accuracy, and operational efficiencies.
• Participate in system enhancements, automation initiatives, and process standardization efforts designed to strengthen financial visibility and controls.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement best practices and improve financial and operational performance.