Plant Accountant

About the role

This role oversees plant-level accounting activities, including full ownership of Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable processes, ensuring accurate financial records, timely payments and collections, and compliance with accounting policies. The position plays a critical role in supporting plant operations, cost accounting, inventory valuation, and the financial close process, while partnering closely with cross-functional teams to drive cost accuracy and operational insight. This role also serves as a primary accounting resource at the plant, providing hands-on execution and ownership of transactional accounting activities.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and post month-end journal entries to ensure accurate and timely financial close.
• Reconcile general ledger accounts and investigate variances to maintain financial accuracy.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, internal controls, and plant-specific accounting policies.
• Support reporting enhancements, including financial reporting, analysis and reporting within ERP systems.
• Maintain accurate production and cost data for operational decision-making and reporting.
• Support the maintenance of standard costs, including materials, labor, and overhead rates.
• Review and value inventory, ensuring accuracy of BOMs, routings, and cost elements.
• Analyze and explain variances for material, WIP, and absorption, partnering with manufacturing and supply chain teams.
• Support plant-level budget tracking and cost monitoring budgeting and forecasting for materials, labor, and overhead costs at the plant level.
• Analyze operational metrics, including scrap, purchase price variances, and zero-cost or duplicate inventory items.
• Support new product costing and business case analysis as needed.
• Serve as the primary accounting contact at the plant for all financial activities.
• Perform end-to-end Accounts Payable activities, including invoice coding, entry, payment processing, and vendor support.
• Manage Accounts Receivable processes, including invoice generation, collections, credit application, and aging management.
• Monitor and support plant-level cash flow objectives, including DPO and DSO performance.
• Provide guidance to plant staff on AP/AR and other accounting processes as needed.
• Audit & Operational Support
• Assist with audits, providing documentation and support for internal and external requests.
• Partner with plant leadership and cross-functional teams to resolve accounting issues and improve financial processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Financial Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• MBA, CPA, or CMA certification is a nice to have, but not required.
• 2-6 years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in manufacturing or plant-based environment.
• Broad knowledge of accounting practices, procedures, and internal controls.
• Proficiency with Oracle or similar ERP systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Comfort operating with a high level of ownership and accountability for both transactional and analytical plant-level financial activities.
• Hands-on AP/AR and month-end close experience.

Qualifications

• Hands-on AP/AR and month-end close experience.