Senior Cost Accountant

About the Role

Ampersand Brands is seeking a senior individual contributor to own standard cost and the consolidated inventory number across Hammond’s Candies and Lolli & Pops. This is the first true cost-ownership role in the company. You will set the cost basis for every unit produced and shipped, roll it up to a consolidated cost and inventory position, and provide leadership with clear margin insights by product and account. This technical role reports to the VP Corporate Controller.

First 90 Days

Your initial focus will be to rebuild the cost allocation from a fixed percentage to real drivers across both brands, providing the staff accountant with a driver-based allocation for booking. Currently, costs are reclassified based on a fixed percentage set in 2023. You will establish standard costs tied to actual usage, rates, and mix, then rebuild inventory valuation on these drivers to ensure accurate margin reporting.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and book the monthly consolidated cost and inventory close, reconciling inventory to the general ledger.
• Own, update, and maintain the driver-based cost allocation model and methodology across both brands, providing allocations for booking and setting cost standards.
• Build and maintain standard costs for manufacturing and wholesale operations.
• Value inventory and analyze purchase price and usage variances against actual drivers at the consolidated level.
• Report wholesale margin by account, net of freight and trade deductions, and explain margin movements.
• Cost the supply chain serving wholesale and e-commerce, including inbound/outbound freight, warehouse handling, fulfillment, and platform fees, then report landed margin by channel.
• Consume purchase order and receipt data to explain variances.
• Eliminate inter-company cost and margin between the two brands in consolidated reporting.

Requirements

• Five or more years in accounting, including hands-on experience with a month-end cost and inventory close that you personally owned and rolled up to a consolidated number.
• Direct experience building and maintaining standard costs at a manufacturer, food, CPG, wholesale, or multi-channel (wholesale and e-commerce) company.
• A track record of executing doer work: preparing, booking, reconciling, valuing, closing, and analyzing variances.
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP.
• Comfort working independently in a lean function.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA certification.
• Master’s degree in accounting.
• Early-career experience in an audit firm.
• Experience with Sage software.

Career Growth

This role is designed to grow with you. As you refine and prove the cost model, the path opens to leading the cost function. We seek someone who wants to own and build from this foundation.

Pay

105,000 – 120,000 USD per year (Corporate or Remote within the United States).