Cost Analyst II - Purchase Price Variances

About the Role

The Cost Analyst II helps Vollrath succeed by compiling variance and spend data, performing analysis, and sharing relevant information and actionable insights with stakeholders who directly influence performance. This position also plays a key role in annual budgeting and standard cost development.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, analyze, and communicate monthly purchase price variances. Identify key drivers, quantify financial impacts, and recommend corrective actions to improve forecast accuracy and operational performance.
• Lead root cause investigations for significant purchase price variances through transaction-level analysis, supplier performance review, and collaboration with procurement and operations teams.
• Partner with procurement and operations leaders to identify margin improvement opportunities, reduce unfavorable variances, and improve cost performance against budget and standard cost targets.
• Coordinate and develop annual operating budgets for assigned manufacturing facilities, including labor, overhead, manufacturing variances, and cost allocations, while challenging assumptions and evaluating financial risks and opportunities.
• Play an integral part in the yearly standard cost roll process through development and validation of standard cost inputs, overhead rates, burden assumptions, and cost adders.
• Complete month-end cost accounting activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, variance analysis, and financial reporting, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and adherence to deadlines.
• Serve as a business partner for cost reduction projects by establishing financial baselines, validating realized savings, tracking project performance against targets, and communicating results to stakeholders and leadership.
• Prepare product profitability and other cost analyses to support strategic business decisions.
• Assist in other projects or duties as assigned by the Senior Cost Accounting Manager.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a typical office setting.
• Ability to sit at a computer or in meetings for extended periods of time.
• Ability to walk the production floor with possible uneven surfaces.
• Travel to other manufacturing facilities may be required.

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years of analytical accounting experience.
• 5+ years of analytical accounting experience, preferably in cost accounting, is desired but not required.
• Bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting or finance.
• Strong self-starter with tenacity, a sense of purpose, and a resourceful, collaborative attitude.
• Proven ability to seek out and successfully complete projects, determine root causes, find solutions, and serve as a collaborative business partner with other functional areas.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a broad technical background.
• Good oral and written communication skills for interacting with all levels of the organization.
• Proficiency in advanced Excel functions such as pivot tables, filters, sorting, complex formulas, and graphs.
• Experience with JDE or other ERP systems and the ability to create ad hoc financial reports using a database report-writing tool is preferred.
• Visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures.

Core Values

• Take Ownership: Match actions with words, building trust and taking responsibility for the success of Vollrath as a whole.
• Empower Action: Foster a workplace where every member can thrive, grow, and contribute with excitement, confidence, and psychological safety.
• Treat All People With Respect: Recognize diverse experiences, styles, and backgrounds, treating everyone with dignity and fostering an inclusive culture.
• Life Beyond Work: Care for the well-being of every individual, ensuring mental and physical safety, and encouraging balance to pursue passions outside of work.
• Commitment to Those Who Count on Us: Drive innovation and practical solutions by understanding the needs of coworkers, customers, owners, and communities, and proactively addressing them.