Manufacturing Cost and Inventory Accountant

About the role

The Cost Accountant is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining cost accounting systems and procedures that provide accurate product costing, inventory valuation, and financial reporting. This position will play a key role in establishing standardized processes for recording, tracking, and analyzing manufacturing costs while working collaboratively with multiple departments to improve operational efficiency and financial accuracy. The Cost Accountant will also perform general accounting duties, assist with month-end close activities, and serve as backup for payroll processing.

What You’ll Do

• Develop, implement, and maintain cost accounting systems, processes, and procedures.
• Establish standardized methods for recording, tracking, and analyzing material, labor, and overhead costs.
• Develop and maintain labor, machine, and overhead allocation rates based on approved budgets and expected production levels to support GAAP-compliant inventory valuation.
• Develop, implement, and maintain product costing methodologies and procedures that support accurate inventory valuation, financial reporting, and management decision-making.
• Analyze manufacturing cost drivers, including material usage, labor utilization, overhead allocation, scrap, and production efficiencies.
• Review bills of material (BOMs), routings, and work orders to ensure accurate product costing.
• Analyze material cost trends and evaluate the impact of supplier price changes on inventory valuation, product costs, and profitability.
• Analyze the financial impact of engineering changes, inventory adjustments, and manufacturing process changes on product costs.
• Maintain inventory transactions and ensure inventory valuation is accurate.
• Analyze production costs and identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements.
• Prepare periodic cost reports for management and provide recommendations based on analysis.
• Participate in annual physical inventory counts and cycle count reviews.
• Avoidance of inventory reconciliations and inventory reserve analysis.
• Analyze applied labor and overhead costs and recommend adjustments to allocation methodologies or rates to ensure inventory valuation remains accurate and compliant with GAAP.
• Review and maintain cost-related data within the ERP system.

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Minimum of 4-5 years of cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of cost accounting principles and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with manufacturing ERP/MRP systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, lookups, and data analysis.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to understand manufacturing processes and collaborate with Engineering and Operations to develop accurate product costs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with employees at all levels of the organization.

Nice to Have

• Experience establishing or improving costing processes and procedures.
• Payroll processing experience.
• Experience with inventory management and inventory costing.
• Experience implementing or improving costing systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Thorough understanding of manufacturing cost accounting, inventory valuation, cost allocation methodologies, and GAAP financial reporting requirements.
• Knowledge of manufacturing operations, production workflows, and inventory control.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to identify process improvement opportunities and implement practical solutions.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly to both accounting and non-accounting personnel.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.

Disclosures

• Equal Employment Opportunity We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.
• ITAR Compliance. Due to the nature of our business, this position may require compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a: U.S. citizen or national, or U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), or Refugee under 8 U.S.C. or 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. or 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.