Cost Accounting Lead

Overview

The Lead Cost Accountant is responsible for end-to-end cost accounting, inventory control, and operational financial reporting across multiple business units, with direct support for Performance Parts manufacturing (sheet metal) and distribution (warehouse operations). This role serves as a strategic finance partner to operations, providing insight into cost drivers, labor productivity, and margin performance. The position blends technical cost accounting expertise with ownership of inventory processes, multi‑entity P&L consolidation, and leadership of billing and transactional accounting staff.

• Maintain and update standard costs for labor, materials, and overhead within the ERP system (Oracle EBS preferred)
• Analyze and explain key variances, including labor, overhead, purchase price, and usage
• Support cost rollups and ensure accuracy of frozen standard costs
• Provide ongoing analysis of cost drivers and margin performance

• Own inventory accuracy, valuation, and reporting across sheet metal manufacturing and parts warehouse operations (including picking and distribution)
• Lead physical inventory counts and cycle count programs across manufacturing and warehouse locations
• Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies in partnership with operations
• Strengthen inventory controls, processes, and data integrity across both manufacturing and distribution environments

• Partner with manufacturing and warehouse operations to analyze labor productivity, picking efficiency, and labor‑to‑sales ratios
• Provide visibility into cost drivers across production and distribution workflows
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and cost structure
• Serve as a primary financial liaison between accounting and operations teams

• Manage and support revenue accruals and related financial entries
• Consolidate and report financial results across multiple P&Ls/business units
• Provide clear, actionable reporting on margins, cost trends, and financial performance
• Support leadership with insights to drive informed business decisions

• Supervise billing clerks and transactional accounting staff
• Ensure accuracy, timeliness, and consistency in billing processes
• Provide coaching, performance direction, and oversight of daily activities
• Drive process improvements and strengthen internal controls

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 5–10+ years of experience in cost accounting, inventory accounting, or operations finance
• Strong understanding of standard costing, variance analysis, and inventory controls
• Experience supporting multiple business units or P&Ls
• Ability to effectively partner with operations and communicate financial information clearly
• Prior experience leading or supervising staff

• Experience with Oracle EBS or similar ERP system
• Experience in both manufacturing and distribution environments
• Exposure to union labor environments and labor cost modeling

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to translate financial data into operational insights
• Proactive, ownership‑oriented mindset
• Effective communication with both finance and non‑finance stakeholders
• Leadership and team development capabilities

• Inventory is accurate, controlled, and consistently well‑managed
• Cost variances are clearly identified, explained, and proactively addressed
• Operations views finance as a trusted partner in decision‑making
• Billing processes are efficient, accurate, and scalable
• Leadership receives clear, concise, and actionable financial reporting
• The role demonstrates strong ownership and continuous improvement

Hussmann is committed to supporting your total wellbeing through a wide variety of benefits and wellness programs to support your physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health. Here’s what you can expect:

• Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
• Voluntary…