Senior Cost Accountant - Operational Excellence

Our client is a leading manufacturer and a globally recognized public company with a remarkable 75-year history of growth and innovation. It offers an exceptional company culture that fosters development and provides diverse opportunities. Forbes has honored it as one of the World's Best Employers, highlighting its commitment to excellence and inclusivity.

• Publicly traded company on a path of continuous growth and recognized by Forbes as a top global employer
• Exceptional insurance coverage and 401 (k) matching program, effective upon hire.
• Employer contribution to your Retirement Savings Plan account each pay period
• Vibrant company culture and collaborative team environment
• Access to excellent training programs for professional development
• Free fitness center membership

This person partners with operations teams to reduce costs and improve gross margin, and manages inventory transaction accuracy to prevent major inventory write-offs or write-downs. Provides timely updates on cost rolls and manages the annual cost roll with new rates. This person supports plant operations through detailed cost analysis, inventory accounting, ERP oversight, and month-end close activities. This position offers strong visibility across finance and operations while serving as a key liaison between accounting, manufacturing leadership, and system users.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong foundation in manufacturing cost accounting, inventory controls, standard costing, and ERP systems within a fast-paced production environment.

• Calculate and maintain department overhead rates
• Develop and maintain actual and standard costs, including direct material, labor, and overhead
• Analyze manufacturing cost variances related to labor, yield, overhead absorption, and production activity
• Partner with operations leadership to identify drivers behind variances and recommend standard cost updates
• Monitor and analyze raw material, outside service, and WIP cost movements
• Support monthly pre-close and month-end close activities within the plant ERP environment
• Maintain inventory costing accuracy across multiple plant and Oracle locations
• Update and maintain LIFO department rates
• Analyze profitability, absorption, and manufacturing performance metrics
• Review and monitor inventory movements, revaluations, physical inventory adjustments, and cost transactions
• Monitor finished goods inventory relief and perform adjustments as needed
• Serve as the Business Process Owner (BPO) for plant ERP modules related to cost, inventory, lot traceability, and reporting
• Support manufacturing teams on lot traceability processes and ERP-related troubleshooting
• Participate in ERP testing, implementation updates, and process improvements
• Monitor and support shop floor labor reporting processes
• Maintain strong internal controls related to inventory management and segregation of duties
• Perform periodic ERP security reviews and business impact assessments
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and inventory valuation reporting
• Support physical inventories and audit-related activities
• Create, review, and approve operational activity instructions
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across accounting and manufacturing operations

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration required
• CPA, CMA, or progress toward certification preferred
• 3–5 years of cost accounting experience within a manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of standard costing, variance analysis, inventory accounting, and manufacturing operations
• Experience supporting month-end close processes
• Experience working within manufacturing ERP systems
• Prior exposure to inventory controls, audit support, and segregation of…