Cost Accountant

Position Overview

Universal Air Filter is on a mission to make the world safer, healthier and more productive. As a custom air filter manufacturer and engineering partner since 1959, UAF exists to make OEMs, telecom customers, and design engineers’ projects run smoother and faster. While you have numerous options for air filter suppliers, few offer truly custom solutions designed around your exact specifications, and fewer still back that up with fast prototyping and full certification support.

We are seeking a Cost Accountant for our Sauget, IL location
. The Cost Accountant will partner with the VP of Finance to establish standard costs, perform root‑cause variance analysis on materials and labor, oversee inventory valuation, evaluate, track, and manage the financial impact of production operations. The role must use a hands‑on approach, providing execution, administration, and oversight of the manufacturing operations accounting function, and improve our strong financial controls and compliance.

Responsibilities include ensuring completion of analyses, budgets, forecasts, reports, and data analysis.

• Manage all activities related to cost accounting and inventory processes for a growing manufacturing business.
• Demonstrate knowledge of standard costing concepts in a manufacturing environment, including analysis, research, and reporting of production variances.
• Conduct annual labor and overhead studies to ensure appropriate standard costing rates.
• Lead periodic inventory counts, including year‑end inventory, and implement cycle‑counting processes with operations personnel.
• Perform ERP processes required for maintaining accuracy of inventory quantities and valuations.
• Assess current inventory and costing processes and develop improvement opportunities for closing control gaps and improving accuracy.
• Handle month‑end processes and balance sheet reconciliations for inventory‑related accounts and reserves, driving reliable and compliant financial reporting.
• Establish, maintain, and enforce company and accounting‑related policies and procedures.
• Assist in preparation of reports and documentation for external auditors as needed.
• Manage inventory valuation, accurate reserves for obsolescence, and auditing of the cycle‑count process.
• Track and report labor and material variances to standard, identify trends, and recommend actions to management.
• Explain all prime cost variances on a monthly basis.
• Lead projects to develop annual costing standards.
• Develop and present cost‑saving ideas; implement approved initiatives.
• Perform other special projects assigned by management.

• 3+ years of relevant finance experience in manufacturing.
• 2+ years of cost accounting experience highly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or equivalent discipline.
• Experience with ERP administration and module implementation.
• Strong business intelligence experience for standard reporting.
• Advanced problem‑solving and analytical skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Power BI.
• Strong understanding of financial principles, budgeting process, and business case evaluation.
• Ability to execute change strategies and see projects through to successful completion.
• Strong collaboration skills with ability to work with cross‑functional teams.
• Demonstrated operational finance knowledge and financial analysis skills with hands‑on financial operations experience.
• Base salary: $75–85K annually, exempt.
• Eligible for 10% annual bonus.
• Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and disability insurance.
• Paid parental leave.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.