Sr. Cost Accountant

Sr. Cost Accountant

We are looking for an experienced Sr. Cost Accountant to join a manufacturing-focused team in the Madison, WI area on a contract basis with the potential for a permanent position. This role will partner closely with operations and organizational leadership to strengthen cost visibility, address margin pressure, and identify opportunities to improve financial performance. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in manufacturing cost accounting and can translate detailed cost data into practical recommendations that support better operational decisions.

Responsibilities:

• Analyze product and production costs to identify margin trends, cost drivers, and areas of profitability improvement.

• Partner with operations leaders to evaluate manufacturing performance and recommend actions that enhance efficiency and cost control.

• Maintain and refine standard costing methods to ensure accurate inventory valuation and reliable product costing.

• Prepare detailed cost analyses, variance reporting, and financial insights for leadership review and decision-making.

• Monitor material, labor, and overhead spending to highlight deviations from expected results and support corrective action.

• Support month-end and periodic close activities related to inventory, cost of goods sold, and manufacturing accounting.

• Review costing processes and recommend improvements that strengthen reporting accuracy and operational visibility.

• Collaborate across finance and plant teams to provide guidance on cost impacts tied to production and process changes.