Sr Cost Accountant

Job Summary

The Cost Accountant III provides advanced cost accounting, operational reporting, and business analysis support within a dynamic manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for product costing, manufacturing cost analysis, and ensuring accurate financial postings for production and related activities. The position plays a key role in financial close processes, inventory control, and variance analysis, partnering closely with Operations and FP&A teams to provide insights that drive efficiency and cost improvements.

By leveraging expertise in SAP and cost accounting principles, the Cost Accountant III supports compliance, internal controls, and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization.

• Serve as the primary contact for Operations managers on production cost accounting and cost center expense analysis, in collaboration with the FP&A team

• Establish and maintain accurate product costing in SAP S4/Hana, verifying master data and calculation methods

• Calculate, investigate, and follow up on production, operational, and purchasing variances (Inventory, Absorption, PPV, etc.), directing improvement opportunities to the business

• Perform raw material standard vs. actual variance analysis and cost development reviews

• Demonstrate knowledge of fixed asset acquisition, capitalization, and life cycle activities

• Provide technical and practical support for monthly financial close, production-related settlements, cycle counts, and inventory audits

• Perform GL account reconciliations to ensure accurate financial postings

• Assist in the preparation and analysis of manufacturing and supply chain reports

• Review vendor invoices for raw material purchases and follow up on discrepancies

• Support cost accounting efforts for maintaining JSOX internal controls

• Assist with internal and external audit inquiries and samples

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of accounting policies and procedures

• Collaborate on multidisciplinary projects, driving solutions and process improvements

• Apply advanced understanding of supply chain workflows, manufacturing processes, and maintenance order activities as they relate to the general ledger

• Complete work efficiently and accurately, ensuring timeliness of deliverables

• Provide various administrative and practical support as needed

• To ensure health and safety in the workplace and for employee protection, wearing PPE is a possibility and includes equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator. A respirator fit test will be required based on functional area.

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.

• Required:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related discipline

• 4-6 years of cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and procedures (GAAP, IFRS)

• Proficiency in SAP cost accounting

• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel and database functions

• Ability to work effectively in both office and manufacturing environments

• Effective communication and teamwork skills

• Ability to handle confidential information responsibly

• Resilient, self-motivated, and able to perform under pressure

• Ability to operate independently with minimal supervision

• Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English

• Alignment to Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)

• Experience with SAP S4/Hana

• Background in…