Cost Accountant

James Hardie is the industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fiber cement, fiber gypsum, composite and PVC decking and railing products. Our family of trusted brands includes Hardie®, Timber Tech®, AZEK® Exteriors, Versatex®, fermacell®, and Stru Xure®.

With over 8,000 employees and our U.S. operating entities headquartered in Chicago, we boast 31 operating sites, 6 recycling facilities, and 6 research and development centers globally. Powered by a dynamic workforce, we’re united by our purpose of
Building a Better Future for All™through sustainable innovation, a Zero Harm culture, and a commitment to empowering our people and communities.

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The Cost Accountant will be responsible for planning, analyzing, and communicating the profitability of the plant’s manufacturing operations through detailed reports of efficiencies related to the plant’s production and other key financial information for management review. The Cost Accountant II is also responsible for coordinating and conducting cycle counts and annual physical counts within the plant, guiding the cost analysis process, and building and controlling the plant’s annual budget.

• Plan, analyze, and communicate the profitability of the plant’s manufacturing operations to produce informative, detailed reports outlining efficiencies, plant production, and key financial information for management review
• Examine the plant’s production costs, gain/loss, and month-end closing data
• Independently collect and analyze operational data
• Complete monthly cost analysis of controllable expense accounts and material cost variance accounts.
• Forecast, analyze and report the plant performance to leadership teams
• Gain understanding, and explain and reconcile manufacturing financial variances for the plant
• Prepare month-end close activities, including adjusting journal entries and accruals, closing production work orders, settling utility payments, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Identify resources and solutions to control or eliminate gaps to plan and/or plant performance goals
• Participate in daily/weekly plant meetings to explain the results of analysis and identified solutions
• Drive accounting processes within the plant to ensure accurate books and records and compliance to key control requirements including Sarbanes Oxley
• Provide support and documentation for monthly SOX controls, interim SOX testing, and audits from both Internal and External auditors
• Reconcile cycle counts and post adjustments approved by the Plant Controller
• Coordinate data points and provide organized data to senior Cost Accountants or Controller for decision making process.
• Assist in building and managing the annual budget for the plant
• Participate in the annual update of Bill of Materials (BOMs) and Production Routings
• Recognize problems and generate solutions/ideas

• Enter daily production into spreadsheets and SAP
• Identify and resolve any production entry discrepancies or issues
• Enter or scan raw material receiving receipt information and preparing for entry into SAP
• Enter raw material receiving data into SAP
• Maintain movement of inventory through the quality process
• Manage movement of damaged and obsolete inventory
• Own oversight of MRB (Material Review Board) inventory including movements of all quality and non-quality product
• Research and resolve purchasing invoice issues
• Coordinate and conduct cycle counts and annual physical counts within the plant
• Ensure that the cycle count is completed efficiently and accurately, and that all data has been entered properly

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance preferred
• Minimum of one year experience in an accounting or finance role required
• Manufacturing experience preferred
• CPA / CMA certification (or in process) a plus
• Ability to be tactical as well as see the bigger operational picture
• Demonstrated knowledge of standard and cost accounting methods
• Ability to synthesize complex and detailed data and information into meaningful outtakes and decision base information
• Ability…